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Quantess

(27,630 posts) Sun Jan 15, 2012, 06:47 PM Jan 2012

Was this a compliment? [View all]

In 11th or 12th grade in high school Political Science class debate, I was assigned to argue that Andrew Jackson was a truly great president, and my opponent was assigned to argue he was a truly awful president.

I reached deep into the bag of spin and convincingly fought back against all the very reasonable, sensible arguments why Andrew Jackson was a lousy president. My opponent lost her cool and her eyes were stinking red and angry while I calmly countered with all the pro-Andrew Jackson spin I could think of.

The teacher decided that I won the debate. As I went back to my desk he said to me, "Good job. Guess you're not an airhead".

23 replies

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Highlight:

Was this a compliment? [View all] Quantess Jan 2012 OP

Ouch. nm rhett o rick Jan 2012 #1

Is this what one calls a back-handed compliment? rustydog Jan 2012 #2

I gotta learn to type faster. :) n/t Cerridwen Jan 2012 #5

Left handed compliment. demosincebirth Jan 2012 #23

I believe the phrase is Cerridwen Jan 2012 #3

That is it right there. +1 Rex Jan 2012 #6

Ugh. Rex Jan 2012 #4

Yes. Quantess Jan 2012 #12

Sorry you had a teacher like that. Rex Jan 2012 #18

Did your teacher have any prior reason to think you were an "airhead"? Crankie Avalon Jan 2012 #7

I was always a really good student. It took me by surprise. Quantess Jan 2012 #9

Was he a jerk who thought he was too good to have to be teaching any of you? Crankie Avalon Jan 2012 #11

No. The comment came as a surprise to me. Quantess Jan 2012 #15

I doubt it was for making Andrew Jackson look good. Crankie Avalon Jan 2012 #17

Yes, like listening to my symbolic logic prof Warpy Jan 2012 #8

Did you use this as one of your pro arguments? sad sally Jan 2012 #10

Probably. It was so many years ago, I forgot exactly what I said. Quantess Jan 2012 #16

You were a successful liar. If you value this skill, it was a compliment. saras Jan 2012 #13

But back then I hadn't decided for sure that he was a lousy president. Quantess Jan 2012 #19

Ouch. n/t LadyHawkAZ Jan 2012 #14

Jackson was a terrible president. FarLeftFist Jan 2012 #20

If you really are that concerned about it, and the fellow is still alive ... zbdent Jan 2012 #21

On the face of it, it seems he thought it was a compliment, but the insinuation was that you The Doctor. Jan 2012 #22