Thought or Rant of the day!!!

[Doug R.]

I don't think telling someone they have beautiful eyes is creepy.

If it's a man giving the compliment, it's 100% creepy, because it will be seen as a come-on. If it's a woman giving the compliment, there's room for leeway there (a man wouldn't be sure if it was a come-on or not, and men are generally flattered by come-ons).

@Vega - I believe that you need to adjust your behavior and expectations depending on the location. I don't feel the same way about people when I'm in the sticks with my in-laws that I do when I'm in the city where I live.

[SumBum]

OK, I'll fess... It was on a dating website so if you don't want to get compliments there, then don't sign up and post pics.

I was pumping gas on a very windy day and I think the guy at the next pump noticed my frustration with my hair blowing everywhere. At that very moment I was thinking "I'm chopping it" then he says something about my hair being pretty. It wasn't in a creepy tone, I thanked him and after I got over the shock and watched my rearview mirror for a few miles I realized he was just trying to make me feel better. It worked.

[Vega]

Yeah, I know it...
I'm more suspicious now. I've told you, really REALLY weird and unconfortable and, using your words, creepy situations...

[Wolfsong]

I'm one of those incredibly self-conscious, bitter, jaded specimens of the female sex and as such, I take any compliment with a grain of salt and assume they're either A. lying through their teeth to make me feel better or B. being intentionally mocking. But I still feel better about myself anyway after being complimented. Usually.

[SekoETC]

I don't think telling someone they have beautiful eyes is creepy.

If it's a man giving the compliment, it's 100% creepy, because it will be seen as a come-on. If it's a woman giving the compliment, there's room for leeway there (a man wouldn't be sure if it was a come-on or not, and men are generally flattered by come-ons).

I once had a woman tell me I have beautiful eyes and it left me wondering if she was coming onto me, she must've been about ten years older than me but overall it was a nice experience, because I don't usually talk to strangers and we had a good conversation. It happened on a train. Possibly the only time I've been traveling alone by train.

[Snickie]

I'm one of those incredibly self-conscious, bitter, jaded specimens of the female sex and as such, I take any compliment with a grain of salt and assume they're either A. lying through their teeth to make me feel better or B. being intentionally mocking. But I still feel better about myself anyway after being complimented. Usually.

Person F says: "Oh, you have such (a) pretty [something], [Snickie]!"
Me says: "Oh, um... *fake smiles and fake happy tone* Thanks, Miss."

Person M says: "Wow you have such (a) pretty [something innocent], [Snickie]!"
Me says: "Um... *gets all flustered and uncomfortable and mumbles* Thanks I guess..."

That's me.



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I was called earlier this week by some older lady who wanted to know if I was still interested in some workers union for older people. (I finally got around to listening to the voicemail today.)
And I'm constantly called by these debt collectors who are looking for someone named "Kimberly Nichols."
Why do these types of people keep calling me?!
I really should answer and do one of those stupid telemarketer acts if it's a real person ("Sorry, I'm in the middle of dinner, but could you give me your home number so I call you back when I'm done?" - Courtesy of Randi) or just do whatever to opt out if it's one of those stupid robots.

[gejyspa]

Snick -- you're called by debt collectors looking for Kimberly Nichols because she used your phone number on whatever credit card application/loan applicatoin, etc., she filled out. Deadbeats do that. I've gotten stuff like that all the time. At our first apartment, we kept getting calls for someone named Joy Shaleeda. Around mid-December, my wife and I recorded the following outgoing message on our answering machine (ask your Dad what that is):
{to the tune of "Joy to the World"}
Joy Shaleeda does not live here,
So leave no word for her.
The ___s do,
So if you're inclined to,
Leave a message at the beep
Leave a message at the beep
Leave a me-e-e-e-ssage at the beep.

As far as complimenting strangers. My wife constantly thinks I'm crazy for even waving or saying "hello" to strangers. But then, she grew up in The Bronx, and I grew up in what she derisively refers to as "Mayberry" (cf. The Andy Griffith Show) The other day, I said the rider across the subway from me had nice gloves (they were leopard print) and she considered for a very long moment before she said "thank you". And this is a woman who've I've commuted with (without knowing her name) for like two years. She at least knows my face.

I had a week or two ago the thought to compliment SekoEtc about her "sweater" picture, but I thought she might take it the wrong way, so I didn't... what a world....

[the_antisocial_hermit]

If you are living in the US and have problems with telemarketers, then put your number on the official, government regulated "Do not Call" registry online.

https://www.donotcall.gov/

It's a blessing and will greatly reduce the amount of telemarketing calls you might get. And a hell of a lot easier than trying to use their systems to opt out or to tell the person you want on the list.

[Snickie]

At our first apartment, we kept getting calls for someone named Joy Shaleeda. Around mid-December, my wife and I recorded the following outgoing message on our answering machine (ask your Dad what that is):
{to the tune of "Joy to the World"}
Joy Shaleeda does not live here,
So leave no word for her.
The ___s do,
So if you're inclined to,
Leave a message at the beep
Leave a message at the beep
Leave a me-e-e-e-ssage at the beep.

The song made me LOL. I should do something like that, except I have teachers who call me during school hours and they'd be like, "Why is this student singing about some lady named Kimberly Nichols on her voicemail?"
And I know what an answering machine is. I might be a teenager in 2011, but I was born in the '90s!

But then, she grew up in The Bronx, and I grew up in what she derisively refers to as "Mayberry" (cf. The Andy Griffith Show)

I've never seen The Andy Griffith Show that I can recall, but I know what Mayberry is.

[phoenixannwn]

I don't think telling someone they have beautiful eyes is creepy.

If it's a man giving the compliment, it's 100% creepy, because it will be seen as a come-on. If it's a woman giving the compliment, there's room for leeway there (a man wouldn't be sure if it was a come-on or not, and men are generally flattered by come-ons).

This particular comment I've gotten used to, as I've been told I have unusual eyes (You all have seen them, they're completely normal...but I've had people literally do a double take and stop me on the street... ). When people go "Oh! You have such beautiful eyes." I smile a quick smile and hurry on my way thinking "Uh, thanks?" What am I supposed to say to that? It's not like I had anything to do with it.
Now, I was raised in the south, where you did a polite wave to people, but my mom was from California (Or maybe it's some other reason) so I have a strong aversion to strangers. Random acts of kindness make my day, but if you just come up to me and go "You're pretty!" I don't care who you are, male, female, in-between, I think you're a creep. Stop it. Please don't talk to me in public. I either assume you're going to rape, rob, or murder me, or that you're a mormon in disguise (No offense JM).
If I was single, yeah, it'd probably make a difference if I thought you were attractive, but I'm not.
And if you stare at me, I assume you think I look atrocious and are judging me, so I'm going to be very not-nice.
As far as babies--bottom line, don't touch other people's babies, or pregnant bellies. IT'S NOT YOURS DO NOT TOUCH. Sometimes I smile at babies/toddlers on the bus, but I know better than to touch, that's just rude.
Also: I'm on the DNC list, and still get calls from bill collectors of people I don't know, as well as friends of the person who last had my number. Do I sound like a male mechanic named Jose to you?

[Rebma]

I feel like I'm in college again. Dinner = half a bowl of oatmeal almond cereal, a piece of bread with jam, a large orange, and a jos loius (joe louie)

[phoenixannwn]

jos loius (joe louie)

WEEEIRD
I keep forgetting you're canadian. You seem so normal.
Those things kinda looks like a cross between a moon pie and a ho-ho.

[the_antisocial_hermit]

DNC list only wards against telemarketers, not bill collectors looking for the errant person that gave them that number.

[Comy]

I feel like I'm in college again. Dinner = half a bowl of oatmeal almond cereal, a piece of bread with jam, a large orange, and a jos loius (joe louie)

In my dorm days, that would have been a feast! Or a day's worth of food. We were sort of at the extreme end of the poor college student spectrum. Often we just drank lots of water and watched Food Network.

[Rebma]

I feel like I'm in college again. Dinner = half a bowl of oatmeal almond cereal, a piece of bread with jam, a large orange, and a jos loius (joe louie)

In my dorm days, that would have been a feast! Or a day's worth of food. We were sort of at the extreme end of the poor college student spectrum. Often we just drank lots of water and watched Food Network.

Oh, I remember those days too. But I mean the randomness of the meal.