The Word "Exotic" -- your thoughts about it?

**~~Luso~~** · 05-10-2021, 01:50 AM

So all my life I've been (in some capacity) referred to or mentioned as "exotic" looking. For a while, (especially as a kid) I took it as a compliment as I was youthful and "cute", but now as an older man being called such sounds like an insult. Hear me out... I think as a woman if you're called "exotic" that is a very telling way to know you're being complimented on being gorgeous. I suppose if a guy is complimented by a woman as being "exotic" that could be a compliment as well, just seems rarer. But as a man being called such by other men sounds like an insult right? Well basically, I'm in a fraternity and the guys are calling me Joe "Exotic" *my lastname* and ofc at first I laughed at it, *shrug* whatever right? But then I realized it seems a bit like an insult to me for being dark-skinned, it's like calling me a fruit, or some object. I don't like it at all, and it seems weird to be called such by other guys especially.

What are your thoughts? If you were called exotic would you take it as an insult or compliment?

**Tooting Carmen** · 05-10-2021, 01:55 AM

To a large extent, it is what Ayn Rand would've called an "anti-concept": an irrational, unusable term designed to replace or obliterate a legitimate concept.

Alexandro · 05-10-2021, 01:59 AM

I think it is a dehumanizing, idiotic term and a lot of the time when someone refers to someone as ""exotic"" on this forum its because they are, in fact, ashamed that people with those traits deemed ""exotic" exist in their country. These people do not want to accept in front of foreigners that such ""exotics"" are part of their ethnic group, because they would rather their countrymen have a more Nordic appearance....

Are people actually calling you ""exotic"" irl? I've never seen a guy called this outside of this forum, only women.

**Creoda** · 05-10-2021, 02:05 AM

Originally Posted by Tooting Carmen

To a large extent, it is what Ayn Rand would've called an "anti-concept": an irrational, unusable term designed to replace or obliterate a legitimate concept.

What? It has a clear meaning of very foreign, with an oriental connotation in the Anglosphere.

**PlattitüdenPaule** · 05-10-2021, 02:07 AM

Please dont refer to yourself as an "older man". It just makes me feel older than I really am.

You`re not exotic, you look average south southern European to me. In fact I know south Europeans who are darker skinned as you.

**~~Luso~~** · 05-10-2021, 02:10 AM

Originally Posted by IberianAlex

Are people actually calling you ""exotic"" irl? I've never seen a guy called this outside of this forum, only women.

Yes, recently I was called exotic irl by a few. And it's not like everyone there are nordics, hell even some italians, jews, etc. I just so happen to be the darkest, besides one indian.

Alexandro · 05-10-2021, 02:12 AM

Originally Posted by Luso

Yes, recently I was called exotic irl by a few. And it's not like everyone there are nordics, hell even some italians, jews, etc. I just so happen to be the darkest, besides one indian.

That's weird.

**Creoda** · 05-10-2021, 02:16 AM

It's a fairly polite, if strange, nickname tbh. If you don't like it just ask in a good-humoured way (not acting offended) to be called something else.

**Grand Admiral Thrawn** · 05-10-2021, 02:24 AM

Originally Posted by Stahlbestie91

Please dont refer to yourself as an "older man". It just makes me feel older than I really am.

You`re not exotic, you look average south southern European to me. In fact I know south Europeans who are darker skinned as you.

I Disagree, in my personal opinion most South Europeans usually are naturally "Light skinned" with Dark hair and eyes and tend to look more European than he does, he on the other hand has a very MENA shift in his phenotype and skin tone which is clear, regardless if his ancestry is mostly European. Although I do agree with you that he sometimes can exaggerate how dark he is, never the less he is without a doubt exotic.

**Mortimer** · 05-10-2021, 03:15 AM

If you are called exotic in a certain context that means you are still white, just "unusual" if your fraternity is a white organisation and you are "exotic" that means "you are the unusual white guy" but still a white guy. If you are not white, it would not be neccessary to refer to you as exotic, because a ginger is exotic too in a room full of african americans. Then the ginger is exotic. It depends on the context. Im not sure. You are certainly a white guy.