5 ms·

I wouldn't say that. For many people (especially women), unwanted sexual attention from strangers is a problem. When in doubt, it is probably more polite to lea

by a3_nm 10y ago

I wouldn't say that. For many people (especially women), unwanted sexual attention from strangers is a problem. When in doubt, it is probably more polite to leave people alone.

ianai 10y ago
A compliment probably shouldn't be sexual. Just a simple "I like your hair" or "I like you " even (though not really a compliment) but with no further content.
eanzenberg 10y ago
What's the problem? If I see a woman I want to compliment, I have the freedom to compliment her. She has the freedom to accept, reject, laugh it off, or get offended, if she so chooses. But her possible reactions won't impede mine. Approaching a woman to let her know my 'intent' isn't 'unwanted sexual attention', and what is an example of that anyways?
- ianai 10y ago
  For one, after she's rejected you continuing to approach her. One rejection is all it should take.
- a3_nm 10y ago
  > If I see a woman I want to compliment, I have the freedom to compliment her. If too many people everyday have the same idea for the same person, it may become unpleasant for that person, even if each individual approach was non-obtrusive. (It's like if you meet someone with a funny name: even though it's harmless to point it out or make a light joke about it, you generally abstain because you assume that maybe too many people are doing it already, so it may become tedious. Same thing for someone whose physical appearance is unusual.) My point wasn't about what you are "free" to do -- of course you are probably free to say nice things to people unless they tell you to leave them alone. The question is about what it is polite to do. (It's a bit like what XKCD says about freedom of speech: https://xkcd.com/1357/ https://xkcd.com/1357/)
  - tropo 10y ago
    Sure, this can annoy desirable people, but... Suppose that people actually took your advice. Those desirable people, along with everybody else, would soon be lonely. In the long term, population would decline.
- DanBC 10y ago
  > Approaching a woman to let her know my 'intent' isn't 'unwanted sexual attention' In some situations in some countries, especially in the workplace, it is unwanted sexual attention and it will cause problems for you.
  - eanzenberg 10y ago
    I would never recommend this in the workplace unless you knew the person pretty well.
- random_upvoter 10y ago
  So do you also do this with men?
  - eanzenberg 10y ago
    Of course! It's not a sexual thing, unless you found them sexually attractive. But I do pay compliments to men if I want to.

by a3_nm 10y ago

I wouldn't say that. For many people (especially women), unwanted sexual attention from strangers is a problem. When in doubt, it is probably more polite to leave people alone.

ianai 10y ago

A compliment probably shouldn't be sexual. Just a simple "I like your hair" or "I like you " even (though not really a compliment) but with no further content.

eanzenberg 10y ago

What's the problem? If I see a woman I want to compliment, I have the freedom to compliment her. She has the freedom to accept, reject, laugh it off, or get offended, if she so chooses. But her possible reactions won't impede mine. Approaching a woman to let her know my 'intent' isn't 'unwanted sexual attention', and what is an example of that anyways?

ianai 10y ago
For one, after she's rejected you continuing to approach her. One rejection is all it should take.
a3_nm 10y ago
> If I see a woman I want to compliment, I have the freedom to compliment her. If too many people everyday have the same idea for the same person, it may become unpleasant for that person, even if each individual approach was non-obtrusive. (It's like if you meet someone with a funny name: even though it's harmless to point it out or make a light joke about it, you generally abstain because you assume that maybe too many people are doing it already, so it may become tedious. Same thing for someone whose physical appearance is unusual.) My point wasn't about what you are "free" to do -- of course you are probably free to say nice things to people unless they tell you to leave them alone. The question is about what it is polite to do. (It's a bit like what XKCD says about freedom of speech: https://xkcd.com/1357/ https://xkcd.com/1357/)
- tropo 10y ago
  Sure, this can annoy desirable people, but... Suppose that people actually took your advice. Those desirable people, along with everybody else, would soon be lonely. In the long term, population would decline.
DanBC 10y ago
> Approaching a woman to let her know my 'intent' isn't 'unwanted sexual attention' In some situations in some countries, especially in the workplace, it is unwanted sexual attention and it will cause problems for you.
- eanzenberg 10y ago
  I would never recommend this in the workplace unless you knew the person pretty well.
random_upvoter 10y ago
So do you also do this with men?
- eanzenberg 10y ago
  Of course! It's not a sexual thing, unless you found them sexually attractive. But I do pay compliments to men if I want to.