I was pondering what we mean when we say someone is likable. Then I realized I don’t know anyone I’d describe that way with no qualifications. It’s always something like “likable but annoying”. Then it hit me that a minimum viable archetype is always [good-trait]-but-[bad-trait].
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What if you switch the clauses? "He can be annoying, but he is likable"? Or even just "annoying but likable"?
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Changes the meaning. You’re describing the evil twin of the one I described.
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I'm pretty sure most people use 'likable' without qualifying it with negative traits. I think the most common qualifier is 'very', as in 'very likable'. Are you someone prone to giving frequent compliments? If not, that may be why it seems like there's always a 'but' attached.
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OK, I think I get it:
“Venkatesh is likeable, but he insists on putting ‘but’ after likeable.”
Am I on the right track?
(ha!)





