Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ttidcc.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!ttidca!ttidcc!regard
From: regard@ttidcc.UUCP (Adrienne Regard)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Complimenting strangers
Message-ID: <476@ttidcc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 12-Jun-85 16:06:12 EDT
Article-I.D.: ttidcc.476
Posted: Wed Jun 12 16:06:12 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 16-Jun-85 06:29:36 EDT
Organization: TTI, Santa Monica, CA.
Lines: 15



I've never liked being complimented, even by people I know, so I wouldn't
much appreciate some total stranger walking up and telling me I looked
nice, or friendly, or cheerful, or whatever (ala "impulse" commercial).
I probably wouldn't knock his teeth out, though.  When it happens, I
say, "oh, do you think so?" in a pleasant tone of voice, and let it go.

The question is, why not just appreciate silently?  What are we _really_
trying to express by complimenting strangers?

I've been guilty of telling people on occasion that they were looking good,
usually because they had done something notably different, and I find that
most people respond to such comments favorably.  I've always wondered why.