It's often gratifying to be identified with some good property P of a group G you belong to; but that's nicest when they say it about group G, not about you personally. "You Dutch are quite enlightened in these things."
That way, you don't have to be embarrassed about dealing with a personal compliment, and yet you can be pleased.
It's also nice when they say that (specifically) you have some good P, like all of group G: they say they something nice about you, and extend it to the group.
/IMHO
It gets annoying when people start assuming properties /because/ you belong to group G. "You're Dutch, so you must be liberal on this issue."
In conclusion: to me, it's OK when they apply it to you, and then extend it to the group; it's also fine when they say it about the group and don't apply it specifically to me, so that I'm still free to deny/quibble -- you feel such an ingrate if you quibble on a compliment that was aimed at you.
It's NOT OK if they first apply it to the group, and then 'therefore' to you. |
