Feel free to practice, darling.
As with women, I think an obvious double-take and a little eyebrow raise is enough to make someone know you approve without feeling creeped out. I hate catcalls and leers, but love getting a compliment that’s obviously NSA e.g. ‘Excuse me, Ma’am, but I had to tell you you’re beautiful. Have a great day!’ (walks away). That’s just good karma.
When I get a compliment like that–and I think it’s genuine–I enjoy it.
Doesn’t happen all that often, but when it does, it makes my day.
Well,Anaamika, depending on the situation it can be seen as flirting. If if it was something directed at my clothes or something I’d not take it that way, but if it was directed at my physical form in general I’d take it as at least a sign of potential interest. I’d not get all huffy if it wasn’t but my initial thoughts would tend that way. It also depends on how close we are. I’d not suspect a good friend of flirting, but I would possibly think someone I’d just met was.
A uncontrolled sudden exclamation like the OP described would be different matter entirely as I’d doubt there was any calculation behind it. I’ve actually had that happen to me once (apparently I look good in a tux) and, while I was quite complemented, I didn’t think it indicated any real interest.
But to address the OP I would not be upset if someone random told me I was good looking. I once had a 40ish woman offer to be my ‘sugarmomma’ when I was 20 and while I turned her down I was still complemented.
I’ve had several strange women tell me that I have very nice skin.
Not really sure what this means.
:: impatient foot tapping, glancing to the east… ::
Seriously, no I love it when a woman bothers to say something like that. I agree with Jeff too, the flirting is just as much a good feeling. I may never act on it, but it’s nice to know someone finds me attractive.
Something I’ve discovered as I creep closer to being the respectable middle aged guy, is that if done correctly, and non-creepily, most women will take a compliment pretty well too. I did that a few weeks ago at my gym. A girl there that works in the membership department that I see a lot and I are on a “hi there” first name basis - so she’s not a stranger. We happened to be on the stairs that day and out of the blue I just said something along the lines of “I don’t mean this the wrong way, as in - I’m not trying to hit on you or be the creepy old guy or anything, but I’ve always thought you’re one of the prettiest women I’ve ever known”
She was all over it - thanked me, said no it was really nice to hear me say and it was definitely not creepy. Then she said I was looking pretty good myself, gave me a little arm squeeze, and lit up those huge bright blue eyes and smiled.
Then I wet myself and fainted.
I agree with Anaamika, spread the word if someone has some good words coming - whether it’s appearance or whatever.
Oh, and you youngsters out there, listen up: Pay attention to little things women do. The guys may make fun of you, but I guarantee if you say something to a lady about her hair being different, or even just say "something’s different about you today… " and let her explain it’s her nails or make up - you get points. BIG points. Really, just for noticing. Ladies, am I right?
Hijack over now. Everyone back on topic. Eyes front.
It would depend somewhat on the giver. I get an awful lot of, “you’re such a handsome young man… I’m sure my daughter would love you!” stuff from older women. On the other hand, I get hardly any attention from women my own age (ie., 25ish) unless I’m already dating them. For whatever reason, the only time strange women ever randomly compliment me it’s at bars (where I assume they’re drunk ;)) or while pulled up next to me at a stop light or something.
That said, I never get creeped out by compliments. It can make for an awkward moment sometimes.
Ever seen The Silence of the Lambs…?
The last time a strange woman walked up to me and said, “You are a really good-looking man!” I backed up in apprehension and stepped on the paw of her seeing eye dog.
aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!
I think it’s great. Why not make people feel good? I’d only take it as a come-on (and thus possibly inappropriate) if the woman says, “Damn, where did you come from?”
It can be unnerving and possibly have the wrong effect. A long time ago, when I was younger, an attractive woman came up to me at a party, stuck her finger in my chest and said, “Today’s your lucky day.” I was really taken aback and was unable to even have a conversation with her.
Flattery will get you everywhere.
And unlike my fellow Saint Paulite Ethilrist[sup]*[/sup], even compliments from gay men boost my ego a bit.
I think the only uncomfortable part about it is me thinking, “Is she hitting on me or just paying me an honest compliment? and if she’s hitting on me, where can we shag right now?” Well,the last part I don’t actually act on now that I’m married and all.
[sup]*[/sup]You going to be at O’Gara’s on Paddy’s day Ethy?
Don’t worry. She probably just had a great deal for you on auto insurance or something.
It usually freaks me out a little, but that’s because I rarely get compliments on my looks. Rather, I get compliments on my smell. Older women, younger women (and this freaks me out because anyone enough younger than me for me to really notice is underage, since I’m 21), gay men of all ages, all have told me that I smell good. I don’t use cologne or aftershave, and even my deodorant is fairly weak, so I assume it’s actually my smell itself. As someone with a very weak sense of smell, I don’t understand this very clearly, either. From someone I know, it’s not a big deal, but from a stranger it’s pretty unsettling.
First, you totally should’ve went for it! Waddya have to lose? Ya just never know. 
As a guy, I’ve been told this by a few women I wasn’t terribly into, including (actually, mostly from) older women. Depending on my mood (I have self-esteem issues), usually I wouldn’t believe them and would say things like “Get outta here!” or “Maybe you need to get your vision checked” or “Just how drunk/crazy/desperate are you?” Other times it would just be a “Thank you.” In either case, it was easy to separate the compliment (which was usually flattering even if I didn’t agree) from the pursuit that would sometimes follow (which was more painful than flattering).
I’ve also been told similar things by women I was interested in, and that gets much uglier, inevitably turning into “OMG YOU TOTALLY LEAD ME ON!111!!!1” and mucho mutual regret a week or two later.
But it always feels good, at least 
In fact, I almost wish social greetings would be mandatorily simplified into “Hi! Do you think I’m attractive (yes/no)? Wanna get it on (yes/no)? What will we be tomorrow (SOs/friends/nothing)?” Then both sexes could give and receive compliments (and more!) without all the unnecessary bullshit.
Assuming that this happened at a carnival, it was probably a good thing that you didn’t have a conversation with her. Those games are rigged.
<sniffs deeply, points to username> I love a man who smells like apple cider!
My wife swears that women flirt with me semi-regularly, and I’m just too clueless to realize it. Having said that, I don’t recall anyone walking up to me and complimenting me out of the blue.
Frankly, I’d like that. It beats the heck out of what I’m doing now, which is complimenting myself out of the blue. Sometimes, as I’m standing in line at McDonald’s, for example, I’ll say, “I might just be the most attractive man I’ve seen all week!” in a very complimentary voice.
That seems to unsettle people, for some reason.
I don’t think age/race matter except for where you hoped it might lead. If you’re just giving a compliment and moving on, no problem. As some others have posted, when a man receives a compliment from an older woman, he usually (?) assumes she doesn’t mean it’s going anywhere. If you really wanted to get to know him beyond that, you should be more forward about it, make it clear you’re not just complimenting him and moving on. Maybe handing him your phone number or something along those lines.
I’ve posted elsewhere about a date I had with a woman who was maybe ten years older than me. I think a lot of guys would date older women, but I read somewhere that women have traditionally required three things of men: they should be older, taller, and richer. I find a lot to recommend older women—they’re often more settled, less fickle, and a host of other things. But I often surrender without much of a fight because the percentages are working against me. If you’re willing to take a small risk, you might get a big reward.
What about stopping back at the same burger joint next week, same day and time? People are creatures of habit; maybe you’ll see him again.
Thanks, everyone. Lots of different opinions here, but somehow it still helps to get all this feedback. And even some funny ones too. Thanks for making me LOL.
I usually worry that I will repulse the guy but in reality that’s very unlikely. I just need to work on discarding the self-doubt. And it helps to know that some young guys don’t mind being complimented by older women. I have occasionally complimented strange men but usually I’m also blushing myself. That also means I’m not a bold lip-licker type, yikes! I really don’t want sex with strange men, no matter what the age.
It’s also interesting that appleciders mentioned the smell. Those of you who want more compliments from women should wear a little cologne. Seriously. I never hesitate to talk to a guy who smells good. Even if he just smells of soap from a recent shower, or if his clothes smell freshly laundered, my shyness will immediately evaporate and I’ll talk to him. Or at least I’ll linger downwind awhile. LOL.
But the other thing is what I’ve mentioned above, that I can also find a non-attractive guy attractive. So I know if I compliment him he will likely be too surprised to respond well, or he’ll think I’m not really sincere. Not sure what to do about that yet. It’s just not encouraging to be perceived as a nutty woman. Anyways you guys should know that it’s absolutely true that some of us women seriously drool over Mr. Less-than-perfect. I sure have.
As a matter of fact I’ve already been returning to the library at the same time looking for another special guy. He’s still younger than I am, but a little closer to my own age. He’s not a typical pretty boy but definitely is my type. I’m just sorry I let him get away the first time.