Complimenting strangers.

I do like to pay a compliment to someone who has well behaved children, as it seems to be a rarity now days, i think they deserve acknowledgement. Let's them know it's appreciated & they're doing a good job.

I can't say I actually compliment on a regular basis but I do talk to strangers regularly, a queue, a coffee shop, a frazzled parent etc. Never yet had a negative response - we are naturally sociable animals after all.
Intrigued re. the red hair thread, no idea what it was about ! I am/was a natural redhead, the red has faded to a degree and now streaked with white. I 'm often asked by total strangers where I have my hair coloured , I almost feel guilty saying "Sorry, I don't".

I always compliment strangers but I never thought about it being selfish. Namsnanny is right, though! It makes me feel so good to see the person brighten up. It always makes me feel better when it happens to me, too, especially when I'm feeling down.

Pantglass2. "Foxtrot Oscar"!! What a fun phrase - shall keep that tucked away for the right occasion!!

Please continue, Jacky B and others.
I live on my own and although I'm involved in quite a few activities I rarely receive a compliment, There's no one at home to say 'that meal was nice', or similar positive comments, so when I do receive a compliment, however small, I savour it in my mind for days, if not weeks!
You are brightening other people's days.

I often chat to strangers and like to give compliments when I am able. A while back I heard a young woman in the supermarket stoically refusing her child’s demands for chocolate. I remarked how refreshing it was to hear a parent stick to her guns, instead of caving in to a nagging child. She seemed very pleased by my compliment. However, when I passed them outside the shop, about ten minutes later, she looked very embarrassed. Her little girl was happily tucking into a Mars bar! Oops!

I’ll tell someone trying on a dress or something if it looks good, as I am pleased if they say it to me, without being prompted.

There is an elderly lady in our town - much older than me! - and she always looks amazing. She has real style and her outfits are eye catching; flowing scarves, subtle colours and always nicely applied makeup. We came face to face in a shop doorway once and I blurted out - 'You always look so marvelous'. She went pink and thanked me - I hope I made her day and didn't embarass her!

Namsnanny I don’t know what random men would think if I went up to them and complimented them they would probably be as happy as a woman to receive compliment lol but I would be more inclined to compliment ladies, not saying that a man shouldn’t be complimented of course, I think it makes everyone feel good to have a compliment,

My hubby is another one who happily chats to anyone and everyone! I'm not so keen, but do smile at people. I have paid compliments to others sometimes, and agree that it's cheering to have someone do that for you.

I often do it.
I once told a lady how elegant she looked after I followed her up an escalator at John Lewis and she burst into tears as it was her Wedding Anniversary and she had dressed that way especially to please her husband who had forgotten the date!
It has happened to me too.
Three times about clothes I was wearing and once about my legs !
Doesn’t half make one feel good!

I am happy to compliment strangers. I don't see the point in thinking it and not saying it. A compliment can make someone's day if and when they are feeling low. I know it makes me feel good.

I talk to Absolutely everyone, if I’m in a shop or a queue or petrol station on a train any where really. Drives my DD mad.

When the dogs are with me, I invariably talk to other dog-owners. When in a clothes shop, if someone is holding something up to them, and it looks good, I tell them!

On the odd occasion, I've complimented women on their hair or something they're wearing.

But when it comes to babies and toddlers, I run out of complimentary adjectives.

I do it all the time, i remember being in a department store and a young woman was trying on a coat, her Husband was stood beside the pushchair huffing and puffing, he was sulking like a teenager, she was saying how much she loved the coat and hadnt had a new one for years, he replied that it was horrible and didnt suit her and anyway he was going away the following day on a stag do and if they bought it he wouldnt have as muuch money as he wanted to take.
I appeared from behind the handbags and told her she loooked like a model in the coat and was just so gorgeous, her face was a picture( so was his) she smiled, gave me a hug, said thank you and went off to the till to pay for it.

I told a taxi driver his taxi smelt really nice and asked if it was the thing hanging from the mirror. He said that had long since dried up so it must be his scent!?

I offer compliments as well. I was amused at a childrens' Carols service at Christmas my son's new partner was complimented on her eyebrows - she is stunning but it's not something I would specifically pick out from the rest of a lovely face

I usually talk to the dogs as I don't have one with me any more.

I too compliment strangers especially on seeing consideration and kindness. Find I am also sparking to strangers more often nowadays, losing my inhibitions!

4allweknow - I think as we get older we lose our inhibitions about what folks think and just say what we feel!

If people don’t like it (never had a bad response personally) then move on, not the end of the world is it? Their problem, not mine!

Just before Christmas I was walking across Tesco carpark, it was a horrible day and I was feeling a bit down--a lady in a mini stopped--wound down her window and shouted to me " Madam you look absolutely gorgeous" she made my day-and year! As a larger lady with very bad health, I have lost a lot of the confidence I had..However, I refuse to be seen without a full face of makeup, hair done and a lovely dress etc. Even if it does take me a couple of hours to do my face due to not being able to hold my hands up for long! She will never know how that made me feel.

A stranger complimented me on how I'd applied my blusher. She said it was nicely done ?. I said " thankyou, but I'm blushing now !

I'm very obviously a straight woman. I once complimented another woman on her beautiful eyes and she blushed, said thank you and the avoided eye contact with me for the rest of the interaction!

What does an obviously kstraight woman look like?

I’m Welsh! I’ll talk to anyone! I compliment people, too, if I see something that deserves one! I love it when someone gives me a compliment, so I like to compliment other people.