Has anyone ever said "you're the complete opposite of me"?

Page 1 of 1 [ 6 posts ] 

Jayo
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,309

27 Dec 2025, 3:55 pm

Like, as if it was some ground-breaking revelation, as if they were stating something profound??
:D :P :roll:
To me, this sort of statement has to be one of the most banal things I've ever heard...and I've gotten it more than once.

With the NT tendency towards indirect communication, even I sensed that what they were really "telling" me was that I'm mentally ill or "not all there", like they are. That my thought processes and way of experiencing emotions are far from theirs. :evil:

When this one fellow gave me that stupid line, I replied: "I'm gonna let you in on a little secret; I'm the total opposite of 99% of people."

I left him speechless :P



uncommondenominator
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 8 Aug 2019
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,706

28 Dec 2025, 9:01 pm

That is not what people mean when they say "you're my opposite".

They are not implying that "they're all there, and you're not".

It's usually intended as nothing more than the observation that two people have a pattern of having notably differing opinions on an assortment of topics, and nothing else. It's not intended as a jab or an insult. It's not meant to be taken absolutely literally, and applied to everything, including implying that they're sane and you're crazy, etc.

It is a common phrase between two people where one person likes horror but the other likes comedy, one likes dark colors and the other likes bright colors, one likes spicy food and the other likes sweet, one is a bit of a pessimist the other more of an optimist, "they're total opposites!" is all that means - in no way is it meant to imply that one is better than the other.

The "profound" nature of the comment is just cos they've realized the pattern in that moment, not cos it makes them feel like some kinda deep philosopher or something. It's just recognizing a pattern. I thought it was pretty common to have an "oh!" moment when one notices or realizes something they hadn't before, no matter how mundane.

The reason for the comparison to themselves isn't "banality" or that they think they're the golden standard of something - just that they are the one person they know best, and - just like everyone else - they're inherently going to see the world from their own eyes. It doesn't mean that they see themselves as the ideal to be compared to, just that they're comparing two different things - one of which happens to be the inherent lens they see the world though. It's just a comparison, not a judgement.

The reason your comment "left him speechless" is cos in the typical context, it didn't make any sense.

I can't help but wonder from what source you got your interpretation, or how you came to your conclusion.



CockneyRebel
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 17 Jul 2004
Age: 51
Gender: Male
Posts: 121,034
Location: In my own little country

29 Dec 2025, 10:46 am

I've had a lot of people say that to me. People said that to me when I was a kid.


_________________
The Family Schlager


Edna3362
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 29 Oct 2011
Gender: Female
Posts: 13,727
Location: ᜆᜄᜎᜓᜄ᜔

29 Dec 2025, 11:43 am

... Actually no.

They cannot mirror me nor seen any inverse within them from myself.
They can compare and contrast specific traits, but barely anything like opposite or inversed.

All I'd get is "you're really different".
If there's a spectrum of comparison, that most people are on a particular axis that they can see in themselves -- and I tend not exist wherever axis it was.


_________________
Gained Number Post Count (1).
Lose Time (n).

Lose more time here - Updates at least once a week.


ASPartOfMe
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 68
Gender: Male
Posts: 39,637
Location: Long Island, New York

29 Dec 2025, 2:55 pm

Yes they do. Most often it is a descriptive comparison, not an insult.


_________________
“Self Acceptance is a process not a performance”
“You are autistic enough. And you always have been”

Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.


nick007
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 4 May 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 28,552
Location: was Louisiana but now Vermont in capitalistic military dictatorship called USA

29 Dec 2025, 3:50 pm

I don't recall ever hearing that but I have said on this forum & to my girlfriend that one of my cousins is kinda the opposite of me or anti-me. He's kind of wannabe gangster player type who could charm the skin off a snake. He moved to California hopping to make it as an actor but is usually doing various short-term odd jobs.


_________________
"I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem!"
~King Of The Hill


"Hear all, trust nothing"
~Ferengi Rule Of Acquisition #190
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Ru ... cquisition