The Silver Screen Oasis

Masha wrote: ↑May 3rd, 2023, 1:22 pm One of my little Fuzzy's favorite throwaway lines is: "The Good Lord, in His Infinite Mercy, did not make me as dumb as I look."

It is obvious boasting when he states it. I have tried many ways to parse if it would be a compliment if some other person said it of him.

From a US cultural perspective, there is a connection between good looks and not being all that smart. E.g., the classic stereotype of the dumb, good looking blonde. Actresses, playing blonde bimbos made a living on this persona, with Janye Mansfield in The Girl Can't Help It being a prime example of this 50s cultural trend.

But telling someone "You're not as dumb as you look", as a way of saying one is good looking, is likely to backfire!

jamesjazzguitar wrote: ↑May 3rd, 2023, 2:18 pm
...But telling someone "You're not as dumb as you look", as a way of saying one is good looking, is likely to backfire!

Oh sure, NOW you tell me this...and after that week of sleeping on the living room couch!

(...my back ain't been the same since, I'll have you know)

Reminds me of that old video of Joe Cocker singing "With a Little Help from My Friends" at Woodstock and with its accompanying rebus "translations".

(...I've always found it very funny)