Compliments

Something caught my eye on Yahoo news today - a list of 10 compliments that "WOW" a man, when spoken by a woman. I figured that this might be useful information at some point in the future, so I read the article. Here they are:

(1) Your arms are definitely looking bigger
(2) Ha ha ha (as in laughing at their jokes, I assume, not at them)
(3) Wow
(4) You the man
(5) The kids just adore you
(6) What do you think?
(7) Cute feet
(8) Meow
(9) Impressive!
(10) I want you


OK, so Yahoo is not the New York Times, but I expected something a little less . . . a little less . . . I can't even think . . . juvenile? Basic? Below the belt? Driven by the lower brain, if you know what I mean?

Sure, I can imagine commenting that his arms are looking bigger, if he has been working out, and laughing at his jokes, if they are funny. And I have been known to say "wow" or "impressive" or "I want you" from time to time, when appropriate. And, if the kids adore him, I will say so. I constantly ask people, in general, what they think, so that isn't a big deal. In fact, I bet there are a lot of men that don't want to be asked what they think, particularly by women.

But . . . meow or "you the man" or "cute feet"? Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't get out any of those phrases with a straight face. Seriously, is saying that stuff really a compliment? Or is it more of a sarcastic joke?