Neighborly peace might require fence and a camera
Example:
Friend: "(Gasp!) What happened to your leg?"
Me: "Oh, it's just a birthmark."
Friend: "Are you SURE?"
I'm hoping you can supply me with some responses that will not seem rude or overly sensitive, but will reinforce the wisdom of refraining from ANY form of comment on a person's body. (Except, "You look great!")
-- Not Stained
Dear Not Stained: You have been dealing with this your whole life, and you are in a better position than I to cope with these comments, rebuff them, or respond to them.
I agree that any comment about your birthmark, certainly along the "eeeewwww" spectrum, is not welcome, but this mark is on the back of your thigh. Some people -- fearing that it might be a recent bruise, injury, or sign of illness -- might assume that you cannot/have never seen it.
Yes, I agree that you should respond: "Oh, it's a birthmark. Don't worry about it. I've had it my whole life."
If someone presses you on this and you want to mess with them, you can respond, "Oh, did I say it's a birthmark? I mean it's a tattoo."
...continued
