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From: chrisa@azure.UUCP (Chris Andersen)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Complimenting strangers
Message-ID: <274@azure.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 16-Jun-85 04:14:47 EDT
Article-I.D.: azure.274
Posted: Sun Jun 16 04:14:47 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 18-Jun-85 04:29:07 EDT
References: <476@ttidcc.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 25

> 
> 
> 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.

Because it makes us feel that we have done something worthwhile.  That it
wasn't a totally frivolous(sp?) act.  It makes us feel human instead of
mutant.

Instead of wondering why others like getting compliments, maybe you should
wonder why you don't.

Chris Andersen

"Come on up and e-mail me sometime."