What are you compensating for?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 8,729
Likes: 1,508
From: Redmond WA
What are you compensating for?
So I was at a gas station getting gas and as I get back in the car, the middle aged woman at the pump next island over asks me
"What are you compensating for?"
I wished I'd had a more clever response, but the best I could do in the heat of the moment was:
"I dunno, but it must be tiny because this car is awesome", and I left.
Of course, later I thought I could have worked my size 13 4E shoes into the response, but thinking "What I should have said" later rarely helps!
Next to "mid life crisis" this is probably the most common cliche, so I'm curious what comebacks others have used...
Any good ones to file away for next time?
"What are you compensating for?"
I wished I'd had a more clever response, but the best I could do in the heat of the moment was:
"I dunno, but it must be tiny because this car is awesome", and I left.
Of course, later I thought I could have worked my size 13 4E shoes into the response, but thinking "What I should have said" later rarely helps!
Next to "mid life crisis" this is probably the most common cliche, so I'm curious what comebacks others have used...
Any good ones to file away for next time?
Popular Reply
Sep 12, 2017, 04:40 PM
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 7,079
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From: DFW, Tejas!
The 7th zero in my bank account.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,062
Likes: 9,825
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Having owned Corvettes for 45+ years I have heard that question many times. I just tell them I wanted one before I was old enough to drive and once I had a well paying secure job I purchased my car and kept upgrading like everybody else does as time goes by.
Bill
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,254
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From: Chirper Island
I always tell them I'm compensating for a really tiny dick. The look on their face is usually reward enough while they try and figure out exactly what I meant by that. 
:
Ask a girl a stupid question, get a stupid answer.
:Ask a girl a stupid question, get a stupid answer.
Last edited by owc6; Sep 12, 2017 at 05:57 PM.
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Melting Slicks
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From: Baton Rouge LA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2015
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From: Denver Colorado
Had a guy tell me that my car was a poor financial decision.
Mothereffer, you're towing around $750,000 worth of children and you're telling me my $65k car is a bad financial decision?
Mothereffer, you're towing around $750,000 worth of children and you're telling me my $65k car is a bad financial decision?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 477
Likes: 58
From: Chicago (northern suburbs) Illinois
I've been asked questions like that. What I say if it's a stranger who asked is usually some variation on the following basic psychological truth: "You know, that's an interesting question. You don't know me at all, so I'm guessing that your question says a whole lot more about you than it does about me."
If they hang around for an explanation, which they generally don't, I'll offer something like: "It's been my experience that when a person asks a question like that of someone whom they don't know, it generally means that the person asking the question has an issue about themselves that they'd rather not admit. It becomes easier to put it onto someone else."
There are a number of psychological processes, all of the defensive variety, that can be implicated when someone asks a question like that of a stranger.
If they hang around for an explanation, which they generally don't, I'll offer something like: "It's been my experience that when a person asks a question like that of someone whom they don't know, it generally means that the person asking the question has an issue about themselves that they'd rather not admit. It becomes easier to put it onto someone else."
There are a number of psychological processes, all of the defensive variety, that can be implicated when someone asks a question like that of a stranger.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Best Island in the U.S.
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '17
I've never been asked that question. I'd probably ignore it and not try to answer.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,789
Likes: 500
I've been asked questions like that. What I say if it's a stranger who asked is usually some variation on the following basic psychological truth: "You know, that's an interesting question. You don't know me at all, so I'm guessing that your question says a whole lot more about you than it does about me."
If they hang around for an explanation, which they generally don't, I'll offer something like: "It's been my experience that when a person asks a question like that of someone whom they don't know, it generally means that the person asking the question has an issue about themselves that they'd rather not admit. It becomes easier to put it onto someone else."
There are a number of psychological processes, all of the defensive variety, that can be implicated when someone asks a question like that of a stranger.
If they hang around for an explanation, which they generally don't, I'll offer something like: "It's been my experience that when a person asks a question like that of someone whom they don't know, it generally means that the person asking the question has an issue about themselves that they'd rather not admit. It becomes easier to put it onto someone else."
There are a number of psychological processes, all of the defensive variety, that can be implicated when someone asks a question like that of a stranger.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
This thread reminded me of that Seinfeld episode where George doesn't have a good comeback for an insult but thinks of one later and goes to a lot of trouble to try to recreate the scenario all over again so he can say "the jerk store called and there all out of YOU!" 
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 13,300
Likes: 2,510
From: Bluffton SC via Canton Oh
Depending on my mood......
It's not my car I'm just taking it to get gas or washed
It's just a chevy doesn't even have a back seat
Compensating? Believe me I got more then enough but you'll never find out
Or
Just stare at them and shake my head
Really I get few negative comments.
It's not my car I'm just taking it to get gas or washed
It's just a chevy doesn't even have a back seat
Compensating? Believe me I got more then enough but you'll never find out
Or
Just stare at them and shake my head
Really I get few negative comments.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 36,838
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From: Manassas Park VA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08,-'13-'14, '16-'17
