How would you interpret this comment?

[DaveS]

An old friend that we drifted away from made a comment on my wife's Facebook photo page:

"You two are the picture of Dorian Grey"

I have read the play before, seen the Twilight Zone version, and read the wikipedia entry... we are still not totally sure what she means.

[TheChief]

She probably meant to say that you two look young & healthy.

What she actually said was that you look every minute of your age and bear witness to every illness and injury that ever ailed you.

I'd give her the benefit of doubt. And heck, even if she did intend to insult I'd at least give her credit for something more creative than the usual jibe!

[OpaDC]

Based on what I remembered (verified on Google search) you are either hedonists, are physically beautiful and will do anything to stay that way, or look like this guy. So, yea, kind of a weird Facebook comment.

edit: forgot to mention she spelled it grEy and not grAy, so may be altogether something else

[Alex Franke]

Clearly what she was trying to say is that your family bedazzles like the impassioned cornerstone of an obsequious tardigrade on a warm winter night. I would simply respond with, "You, too!"

[herb fellows]

I believe the classic interpretation of that phrase is that you look like you haven't aged a bit. A compliment to be sure!

[LCHIEN]

I think Herb's interpretation is correct, assuming this is your friend speaking.

But it could also be a subtle back-handed compliment saying you are too good to be true and must be hiding something, given the story. its a complex story so there could be hidden meaning.

possible double entendre

[poolhound]

I agree with Herb, they meant that you look younger than your years although the comment said you look like the picture whcih technically means you look really old as in the story it is the picture in the attic that ages and not the person.

They just got it a bit A$$ backwards....

[DaveS]

Thanks for justifying my confusion, folks. I agree it is an unusual comment.

This person is one of those friends that just stopped interacting with us for some unknown reason. Then they moved away, and well, we just don't hear from them.

She is very intelligent, and reads more than anyone I know... so, it seems unlikely that she mistakenly made this reference.

So, my wife thinks she means:
- you look great and haven't aged

I think she means something like:
- she thinks it looks like our life of debauchery has effected us
- looking at a picture of us reminds her of things she did in her past that she is not happy about

I guess if I really want to know I will have to just ask her... **shrug**

[Alex Franke]

She is very intelligent, and reads more than anyone I know... so, it seems unlikely that she mistakenly made this reference.
[snip]
I think she means something like:
- she thinks it looks like our life of debauchery has effected us
- looking at a picture of us reminds her of things she did in her past that she is not happy about

I can't imagine someone would reappear after a long time just to say things like that. Plus if she made a mistake with the title, then maybe she could make a mistake with the content, too.

I think if you ask most people what "picture of Dorian Gray" means, most will probably either not know, or have a vague image of beauty or agelessness before they can recall the intricacies of the plot.

So it's an obscure metaphor, but I'd probably side with your wife on interpretation -- unless you have a reason to believe she'd come back after all these years with an obscure insult.

[Tom Miller]

I wouldn't take any chances -- tell her to go to h3LL!













Regards,
Tom