# How do you take/receive compliments? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 30, 2005, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-take-receive-compliments/333333 "2005-11-30T04:56:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-take-receive-compliments/333333/1 "2005-11-30T04:56:00Z")
Are you one to become really shy or blush? Do you shrug it off? Say thank you, perhaps? Get all egocentric with a big head? Or are you one who denies it and doesn’t believe any of them? What is your typical reaction when paid a compliment? How well do you take them? Me, I usually say thanks and blush a whole lot. It depends on what type of compliment it is, of course…but I’m just talking general compliments. Not like “You have the nicest ass I’ve ever seen on a woman!” I guess I take them all right. I don’t deny them or try to contradict the complimenter…I’ll usually just thank them but, in my mind, wonder if they’re nuts or something if they really think that. I guess that just comes from not having a very high self esteem. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-take-receive-compliments/333333/2 "2005-11-30T05:00:30Z")
I take them just fine, and scold other people who don’t know how to take them correctly. False modesty is not becoming. If you really deserve a compliment, smile, say “Thank you very much” or “Much obliged” and move on! ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-take-receive-compliments/333333/3 "2005-11-30T05:04:31Z")
I accept compliments gracefully. I say, “Thank you.” A well-placed compliment can make my day. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-take-receive-compliments/333333/4 "2005-11-30T05:08:09Z")
I say “thank you.” And then there’s kissing, and maybe sex. Oh wait, that’s just if it’s my wife. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-take-receive-compliments/333333/5 "2005-11-30T05:15:27Z")
I usually get embarrassed a little bit but am appreciative. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-take-receive-compliments/333333/6 "2005-11-30T05:19:19Z")
I often think people are just complimenting me to be nice, but I’m starting to get better at just thanking them and accepting the compliments at face value. I tend to blush, though, especially if it’s a really sweet compliment. Can’t help it. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-take-receive-compliments/333333/7 "2005-11-30T05:20:47Z")
I take them terribly. I get embarassed and start stammering and often try to convince the complimenter that the compliment was undeserved. Sometimes I make an effort to avoid doing this and end up overcompensating, making me sound incredibly arrogant. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-take-receive-compliments/333333/8 "2005-11-30T08:31:24Z")
For a long time my default response if someone complicated me was to throw the compliment right back at them. "Rodgers, you’re so nice! " “Thanks, you’re really nice yourself!” It got to be so instinctual that sometimes it wouldn’t even make sense. “Rodgers, you aced that test!” “Thanks, so did you!” I think I’m getting better now at accepting compliments graciously, even if they tend to catch me off guard. People have a tendancy to only believe their critics, and think their fans are just flattering them. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-take-receive-compliments/333333/9 "2005-11-30T10:11:02Z")
I’m surprised, then I say thank you, and mean it. Took a while to get to the “thank you” stage, though. There are so many folk out there who _don’t_ handle compliments with that simple phrase, but instead say the equivalent of “_This_ old thing? Oh, I’ve had it for _years_!” that I don’t tell them off. Just insist that the compliment is sincere. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-take-receive-compliments/333333/10 "2005-11-30T10:31:31Z")
I used to be horrible at taking a compliment, but I’ve forced myself to be a lot better, and say a sincere “Thank you.” ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-take-receive-compliments/333333/11 "2005-11-30T10:40:58Z")
Pepper, no salt. Sometimes mustard, chutney or mayo. ---
**Author:** ![Grossbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@Grossbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grossbottom)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-take-receive-compliments/333333/12 "2005-11-30T14:00:54Z")
I take them horribly, acknowledge them barely if at all, and move on as quickly as I can. I can’t stand them. I’m happy to give them though, and I’m always amused when I run into other people who take them as badly as I do. At least I don’t get offended by other compliment non-takers. I’ve got that going for me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-take-receive-compliments/333333/13 "2005-11-30T14:23:46Z")
I tend to feel shy about recieving compliments. I’m always appreciative and sincere with my acknowledgement, but I’m not always confident that the person giving the compliment perceives it as such. If possible, I try to reciprocate with a compliment in return. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-take-receive-compliments/333333/14 "2005-11-30T14:57:11Z")
I try to smile and say a simple “thank you.” Years ago I was at a high school reunion (the only one that I went to) and I approached a woman that I had known and told her what a beautiful woman she had grown into. She smiled and said “Thank you.” It struck me as so elegant that I have remembered it to this day and try to emulate it. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-take-receive-compliments/333333/15 "2005-11-30T20:28:12Z")
I usually say “Thank you, you’re very kind,” or words to that effect, and try to change the subject. Don’t want to be seen as wallowing in praise (much as I’d like to). My sister was once walking down an airport hallway some years ago. She noticed a young man walking towards her, catch her eye and start to smile. She wondered if she knew the guy - why was he smiling? They got closer and closer, and just as they passed, the guy said cheerily, “Nice tits!” and kept on walking. She didn’t know whether to be complimented or insulted… so she went with Option 1. Never saw him again.