# Pay a compliment to a total stranger today and report it here **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 28, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069 "2010-05-28T13:57:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/1 "2010-05-28T13:57:46Z")
This doesn’t apply if you live in a hostile, dangerous war zone. But in a normal neighborhood in a normal city, doing this can really be fun! (The compliments have to be sincere.) For example, last week I was going into the grocery store and a guy (a 70-ish, attractive, African-American man) was pushing his grocery cart to his car. In the front of the cart was a big pineapple, and the man was wearing a gorgeous Hawaiian shirt (this is south Texas). I stopped him and said, “You look like the very picture of a tropical vacation with that pineapple and that beautiful shirt!” He fairly beamed. A lady came into the barbecue restaurant where I was eating lunch wearing great shoes. I went over to her and told her, “Those are some fabulous shoes!” She loved it, and we had a brief discussion about beautiful shoes and comfort. I probably do this two or three times per month. It makes me feel good and usually the OP, too. And no, I’m not a Pollyanna. I struggle with depression and cynicism… but this practice feels good. Like I said, it has to be sincere. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/2 "2010-05-28T14:06:53Z")
I try to do that every day. I haven’t yet today, but I did give a sincere compliment to my project manager, who I can’t stand. Hey, her dress really does look good! ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/3 "2010-05-28T14:09:05Z")
I went up to this really attractive young woman in a very low-cut V-neck blouse on the subway just now and said, “Wow! That shirt really looks good on you!” and her boyfriend punched me in the eye. Thanks a lot. Great idea. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/4 "2010-05-28T14:24:09Z")
I try to do this sort of thing all the time! The other day I was at the grocery store and I saw a young woman in a cute sundress, so I paused by her and said, “That’s a really cute dress you’re wearing.” She kind of did a double take and made sure I was talking to her. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/5 "2010-05-28T14:32:17Z")
On Mother’s Day the guy behind me in the supermarket checkout line was carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers. He looked to be in his 80’s. Me: That’s a really gorgeous bunch of flowers…(dramatic pause)…Are they for your mother? Him: 😕😃 No. My wife. Everyone in earshot laughed. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/6 "2010-05-28T14:35:17Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > I went up to this really attractive young woman in a very low-cut V-neck blouse on the subway just now and said, “Wow! That shirt really looks good on you!” and her boyfriend punched me in the eye. > > Thanks a lot. Great idea. Yeah, “NICE TITS!” didn’t work either; my face still stings. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/7 "2010-05-28T14:37:00Z")
FWIW, Dean tried it today. The results were not good… [http://comics.com/liberty\_meadows/2010-05-28/](http://comics.com/liberty_meadows/2010-05-28/) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/8 "2010-05-28T14:45:19Z")
No cynics allowed here! Start your own cynical thread! There’s enough of that in the world already. Grrrrr!!!:mad: Don’t make me come over there! ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/9 "2010-05-28T14:54:17Z")
Nice thread, **ThelmaLou**! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/10 "2010-05-28T14:57:13Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > No cynics allowed here! Start your own cynical thread! There’s enough of that in the world already. Your optimism is really attractive. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/11 "2010-05-28T14:59:42Z")
I did this last night on the subway. A woman who was standing near me was wearing a beautiful dress. After I complimented her we spent a few minutes discussing the best places to shop within the city. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/12 "2010-05-28T15:02:59Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] Your optimism is really attractive. [/QUOTE] Thanks for that. 🙂 I freely admit that it is a struggle. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/13 "2010-05-28T15:04:59Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > No cynics allowed here! Start your own cynical thread! There’s enough of that in the world already. > > Grrrrr!!!:mad: > > Don’t make me come over there! Did anyone ever tell how attractive you look when you get really mad? I love the way your cheeks get all red like that. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/14 "2010-05-28T15:12:55Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Did anyone ever tell how attractive you look when you get really mad? I love the way your cheeks get all red like that. I thought that was the alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/15 "2010-05-28T15:15:15Z")
I do this all the time. This is my recurring New Year’s resolution - be nicer to people, and my specific resolution for this year - if you see something you admire about a stranger, tell them. It’s a little harder to compliment on purely physical attributes without coming off as false, I admit. And it’s nearly impossible with guys because there’s always that guy that immediately thinks you are hitting on him! But I have been doing very well so far. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/16 "2010-05-28T15:16:13Z")
To Swallowed and Ruberx2: _The biggest eyeroll God ever made_ \*ThelmaLou pulls her pigtails out of the inkwell and wraps the tips in blotting paper. She peers over her glasses and knits her brows together. \* ETA: Thank you, Anaamika. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/17 "2010-05-28T15:19:00Z")
I told this woman at Starbucks that she carried herself very gracefully for someone so heavy. She dumped her orange mocha frappuccino on my groin. I, too, thank you for this great idea. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/18 "2010-05-28T15:35:50Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > I told this woman at Starbucks that she carried herself very gracefully for someone so heavy. She dumped her orange mocha frappuccino on my groin. I, too, thank you for this great idea. And then she licked it off? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/19 "2010-05-28T16:11:12Z")
Thanks y’all for crapping all over my idea. And don’t tell me I have no sense of humor. I have a fabulous sense of humor when something is funny. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069/20 "2010-05-28T16:24:51Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Thanks y’all for crapping all over my idea. You’re playing to a tough crowd. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-a-compliment-to-a-total-stranger-today-and-report-it-here/541069.md?page=2)