I told someone that when men - especially strangers - tell me I am beautiful, it is a turn off. She was shocked.

First, I had absolutely nothing to do with how my facial components turned out. It is why I respond with, 'it is genetics'.

Secondly, men have used it to abuse me.

And yes, I am talking sexual abuse.

The 'uncles' who put their hands in my vagina when I was a child would do so whilst saying how beautiful I was.

The men in the market who grabbed my breast and butt would say, 'see as you fine', and proceed to touch my body.

The man who made it impossible to run when it is dark said 'fine girl' just before he grab my left breast, squeezed and ran away laughing.

So no. Telling me I am beautiful is not the compliment you think it is. I only accept it when I have built a trust for the man in question.

With women, I know the compliment is usually good natured. And it is followed by mutual gassing of each other. Even with them, I am uncomfortable with the compliment... again, because I had absolutely nothing to do with my facial composition and how they look together.

And lastly, I hate that people treat others differently based on the conventional ideas of beauty.

We are all beautiful; that is my honest belief. And we should be treated well as the humans that we are, not because we are 'fine' or 'hot' or whatever adjective we want to use.

It is why my favorite type of compliments are those about my work. THAT is something I had everything to do with.