To take you seriously, ThelmaLou, one of Anaamika’s points is identical with mine: “it’s nearly impossible with guys because there’s always that guy that immediately thinks you are hitting on him!” Or for guys, it’s almost impossible with girls, for the same reason.
But you go right ahead thinking that it’s easy and uncomplicated to bestow praise on random strangers. Me, I’m going to ice down this big bruise on my right cheek.
Seriously, ThelmaLou, I do this all of the time. I thought many others do to. Try and relax a bit. You’ll get enough people in here taking you seriously. FWIW, at lunch I told our server she was AWESOME, but that’s because it was written across the back of her shirt. I also told another woman that she had beautiful curly hair, but that was sort of flirting, so not sure it counts.
Best I can do is I told a guy he didn’t look THAT drunk.
ThelmaLou hands him a bag of frozen peas.
Here, use these. They conform to the shape of your face. Did I do that?
I think the old friend I bumped into this morning must have read this thread, because later today I got this email:
[Lily], I was so happy to see you today. I was a little distracted, as we all were, but I wanted to tell you how pretty your hair looked. I know that’s a silly comment, but we all have a little vision in our heads about how it should look, and you’ve got it.
Which was especially nice since I am sensitive about my hair!
Alright, ThelmaLou, here ya go…
I read this thread earlier today, then headed out to the library. As I handed the worker a stack of CDs to check out, I noticed how quickly and smoothly she processed them. It wasn’t a simple matter - she had to slide each out if its plastic outer case using some desktop device, then stack them, then scan them. She was a model of efficiency (and I had 10 discs).
I recalled this thread, then smiled and said to her, “you are very good at your job.”
Alas, she didn’t even acknowledge my compliment.
I love to receive compliments from strangers! I do it all the time, it’s just my nature if I like someone’s shoes or service I’m going to speak. I was shy most of my life but as I get older I get so much bolder. I’m really big on complimenting tattoos especially. I don’t have a single one myself and never plan to get one but I appreciate them.
Thank you, people. I’m better now. 
Carry on.
I had a problem with my DirecTV reception day before yesterday. (Missed recording six episodes of Cold Case- OH NO!!) I’ve been a customer for so long that my service call was free. The fixit guy was on time today, he was extremely polite and well… respectful. He fixed the problem promptly, and I told him he was a freakin’ genius. Which to me, he was. He looked about 12 years old… farm boy, lives near me (I live in the country). Then he said he had a wife and child. I think he will go far in this world. Showin’ up and doin’ your job… that’s what makes the world go 'round.
Its amazing how thoroughly you can make someone’s day with a compliment. I was sitting on a bench in a subway station once, and a woman went walking past me, down the platform. As she passed, she looked at me and said, “Hey gorgeous,” with a big, genuine smile. It was obvious she wasn’t hitting on me, but rather just being nice and telling me she liked my appearance as she went by.
Here’s the thing: That was twenty years ago, and I still remember it like it was yesterday. I remember what she looked like, what I was wearing, how I was sitting, where I was going, etc. That’s how big an impact you can make with a small effort.
I don’t think I complimented anyone except my girlfriend today. Will remedy that tomorrow.
I saw a middle-aged lady in the grocery store in a floaty 3-piece floral skirt ensemble, very conservative yet quite pretty and feminine.
I told her she was a lovely vision of springtime. She seemed pleased, and no one was slapped. The other guys are just doing it wrong.
Seeing an ~55yoa woman preparing to pay at the register after having glasses re-fitted I noticed she looked even better with the glasses. [glasses don’t usually improve people’s features imo]
I said, “wow those frames really do you justice.”
We had a short conversation; the frames were modern/contemporary and she had wavered over the choice.
I realized when she left I would have trusted her opinion on my frame selection. Too late, she was gone. Albeit with a smile on her face.
I told a young couple with a baby on the train, that I would love to be like them when I decide to have a family. It took them some time to process what I said, but they seemed really happy.
They might have chalked it down to me being a 「Crazy foreigner」.
I do this at work sometimes too. If someone does something well, I make sure to tell them with a mail.
Personal comments to single women or men, never.
I compliment people all the time ThelmaLou; it’s true that the look on their face can be priceless, and you just know you’ve really made a difference to their day. Too many of us just don’t take the time to say how great someone looks now that they’ve lost their fat arse, or that their brilliant new dental work means that they no longer have a face like a bucket of smashed crabs. Sometimes it just leaves them speechless, and I like that feeling of having just taken someone’s breath away.
6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast, our guiding principle and first and foremost rule here at the Straight Dope Message Board is “don’t be a jerk” and comments such as yours constitute threadshitting, the second such instance I have noticed from you today.
I refer you to the registration agreement which says, in part:
We would welcome you as a community member, and if you would like to continue posting here, please adhere to these rules.
Ellen Cherry
MPSIMS Moderator
ThelmaLou,
I just wanted to tell you that I admire your optimism in posting a thread that asked people to give total strangers a compliment and not expect other posters to derail it with smartass comments. It shows a lot of trust in humanity and the Internet to say something like that.
May I recommend trying the same thing over at 4chan?
Apologies to all; I meant it as a joke.
Being serious THELMA its a good idea and a good idea for a thread.
I’m a great believer in what goes around, comes around.
I see now that it was a joke, more or less in the same vein as others had posted, 6Impossible. I’m sorry I misunderstood! Go forth, be fruitful and multiply. Or at least have a good Memorial Day.
Ellen Cherry
MPSIMS Moderator
I just told my mail man that he is the best mailman I ever had. I bet he wonders how one gets that title? How much range can there be in slipping a letter in a box?
I love giving random compliments to those that I think probably don’t get many. If I see two little girls, one gorgeous, and one kind of homely, I will find something about the homely one to brighten her day a bit. Let the gorgeous one suck it up, for once. Also, I try to be careful not to give out obvious compliments because I am sure a very beautiful woman hears it all the time. No need to beat them in the head with it, they probably get tired of it.
When I was a kid, I was the homely one amongst several gorgeous sisters. My dad used to really ham it up with me as far as compliment were concerned, and that helped.
I think the trick to a woman complimenting a man is just to toss it and keep it moving. “I like your jacket!” with a bright smile, as you briskly pass shouldn’t really cause him to feel the need to hit on you. I don’t guess.
I also like to compliment big mamas. If I see an overweight woman that carries it well, is shapely, and sexy, I am sure to let her know it. I really don’t think it will encourage her to have an extra dougnut or anything, and it feels good when someone does it to me.
I am one of those people that can completely shake off an insult, but a compliment goes straight to my heart. No matter who it is from; male or female.
Also, I am one of those rare woman who doesn’t get offended by catcalls or construction men wolf whistles. I don’t knock the women who do get offended, though, because if it happened often enough to me, I can imagine that it would get old fast.
::Sigh:: (And related to the thread in IMHO) I saw a woman with really cool glasses. Like, really cool. If not that my fiancee prefers retro-styled glasses, I’d totlly want to know where this woman got hers, so my girlfriend could try the frames.
“Hey, you have really cool glasses!” Said I.
“I have a husband.” She answered.
“…He wears them too?” I replied all confused.
:smack: I really hope it came across like a witty/snarky retort, but it was really just confused babble.