Ladies - do you like it when a stranger tells you that you are beautiful?

[GuiltyCowboy]

Did something a little different with my hair this morning. Walked into the office and one of my coworkers complimented me on it.

Before this thread I would have thought it was a basic, polite, civil interaction between two human beings.

Based on this thread I've learned that in reality my co-worker is a terrible manipulative person who had an ulterior motives, and I'm apparently terribly insecure.

I really hope that this thread is the usual performative virtue signaling and people aren't actually serious, because I'm reminded of something Ricky Gervais said.
"You were offended.
I thought it was funny.
That's why I'm happier than you are."

Having read this entire thread and, for my sins, contributed a fair bit, I’m pretty sure that there isn’t a single person who has a problem with what you’ve described. Enjoy the compliment!

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Having read this entire thread and, for my sins, contributed a fair bit, I’m pretty sure that there isn’t a single person who has a problem with what you’ve described. Enjoy the compliment!

I wouldn't agree with that assessment. There have been multiple attempts to analyze, and generally impugn the motives of anyone delivering a compliment using some pretty unambiguous language.

 

[nice90sguy]

I was nine years old, when a girl I'd never met said to me, out of the blue, "You know, you're going to be really good-looking when you grow up." I've never, ever forgotten that complement, to this day, and remembering it now makes me feel better about myself.

THAT's the potential differnce to a life you can make. And the potential missed opportunity if you're overly concenred that a compliment will be taken the wrong way.

 

[Venefica]

To be honest:

NO

They all say that with intentions and I know that. I am 49, I heard that often, I know it by myself and hubby tells me that, too.

No need for it ...

 

[Jorunn]

I have never had anyone come up to me and say, “Hey, aren’t you that good writer on Lit?” Nor, “Hey, I like the changes you made to that one website”. Strangers don’t know me or my work. And I am happy for any complements from those few who know me and my accomplishments.

So we return here to things a stranger would say to someone they don’t know. All they have is physical appearance. If my hair looks like an old mop, and I am wearing wrinkled athletic clothing, I don’t expect any compliments (and get very few). If I dress up, and present myself well, I still won’t get asked about my accomplishments. But at that point, I don’t mind a few people noticing and letting me know.

 

[Justtina]

I personally do

 

[NaughteeDragon]

The best advice I ever got about giving compliments is, “compliment them on something they made a decision about.” Telling a woman “that dress looks great on you” will be a better compliment than “you have a great body.”

 

[DeMont]

I was doing my thing of people-watching while waiting for my doctor's appointment (and boy, today was a 10 for fodder material), and the first event was this man telling a woman that she looked beautiful in that dress. She thanked the man and kept on her way. I think this dude was saying that as a line to ask her out. Clearly, timing and context matter, as well as what the person says. IMO, a woman wants to know that she's of value and inspires others (clearly, this doesn't apply to strangers). IMO, a woman has no control over her looks, but she does have control over how she presents herself, what value she adds to the table, and wants to be respected.

this is research for a female character that's at the C-Level

@SebastianHolt,
Drinking games aside @AwkwardMD, I think it's situational and I've been in a lot of situations over the decades. As for examples,

I saw a lady one day who, no word of a lie was one of the most beautiful, elegant and poised women I have ever seen. I grabbed a single rose, approached and said, "Ma'am, I hope you don't mind me saying this but you are breathtaking!" I gave her the rose and got the hell out of there.

I approached a woman at a bar one evening and said, "You are much too attractive to be sitting here lonely, can I buy you a drink?" (Yeah, stick a finger down your throat but she'd been there quite some time) She replied "I'm waiting for someone!" (My cue to exit stage left)

I was at a nightclub that I frequented regularly, saw a girl dancing, by herself, that I'd seen there before. I moved on in, got with the groove and said to her, "You look a million dollars tonight!" Well, one thing led to another and...er... so on and so forth.

Three shots, two strikes (I think)

Honestly, I've never been able to figure it out exactly because I'm just a mere male.
Respectfully,
D.