The question of compliments

by

Last Saturday a good friend dragged me to the Liverpool match. Despite being two of four women in the entire pub, we had a great night. That being said there was one incident that added a slight ugly undertone to the evening.


Seats being few we leapt at a free booth when it became available & were then promptly joined by a Mancunian father and son. Seemingly harmless we had some light conversation and they bought us a drink. After almost an hour of banter back and forth I was at the bar when the son turns to me and says 'by the way, you've got cracking cans'.

I looked at him, and decided to play dumb. 
'What do you mean?'
'You know'
'No I really don't'
'Don't be like that. Not in front of me dad'.

I turned heel and told my friend all. He apologised hastily before his dad returned and I struggled to neutralise the atmosphere. Until they left all I could think was what had I done to invite such a statement. Furthermore, after almost an hour in my company, why was that the only thing he could come up with? 

The saddest part of it all? His dad was a real sweetie. Not quite like father like son. To return to the point though, why was that the first compliment to spring to his mind and in what universe did he think any woman, never mind me, would be flattered? He'd just spent an hour in the sunshine of my company and all he could comment on were my tits?

Don't all scream sexist at once but I feel like this is atypical, that I shouldn't be shocked, that I should be flattered almost? Maybe I am horribly out of practice or maybe he's an amoeba with no chat. I think it's probably the latter. But look here guys, don't comment on a woman's breasts. Don't comment on her body full stop. If you must comment on her smile, tell her her eyes sparkle and you like her hair. Tell her you like the sound of her laugh or that she has a great giggle.

There's no need to point out the obvious, if she's any kind of woman she already knows she has amazing breasts and pins to kill. Compliment her mind, her humour and her wit. Don't lower the tone, there's no need. We don't like it. Rant done.