"nice girl"

“She’s a nice girl,” they say. What is that supposed to mean? Its one of the most common, vague compliments I receive. The statement itself cannot be decoded into any real meaning. It is the tone used to present it that worries me most. “Oh, yes, she’s a *pause* nice girl.” Its as though they just can’t find the words to describe me. Or maybe the words that arise in their minds are far too offensive, so they’re stuck saying a neutral, safe phrase. Unfortunately, their true emotions sneak out into their tone.
Every once in a while someone will be a little risky and say, “Well… She’s interesting.” Am I honestly that unexplainably odd? Most of the time it makes me laugh, other times the curiously toned, simple comment will wrinkle my mind. I want to ask the person exactly what they meant, but too often I hear these things indirectly; something my friend’s mom said about me. I end up prodding for answers and my friend usually gets annoyed and says, “Gosh! I don’t know. Ask her! Its not THAT big of a deal. She just said that you’re nice! Is that SO bad?”
They fail to see the phony compliment, so I’m forced to fend off my need for explanation and remain the “nice girl.”