87% of American women (18-64) claim to have been harassed on the street by men

[Peikko 1,575]

I think complimenting a woman on her appearance is normal as long as it's within the realm of respect. I've done it a few times and always gets smiles and a thank you. Even when I was interested and single, I've always kept it classy and had no issues. Like Teddy and BJ said, it shouldn't be a bad thing when someone takes the time to say something nice about you.

Let's try this again. You think you are doing a woman a favor by complimenting her on her looks. Why? When you say you've had no issues, how do you know? A smile and a thank you, what does that even mean? Polite people have no better response but they shouldn't have to respond in any way to an unwanted remark from a stranger. Again, the point is that why do some woman preen when someone compliments them for something that they have little to no control over and why is it that you and others think this should be universally accepted because you think you are doing a woman some kind of favor? In public places, women have as much right to be left alone by strangers as anyone else. Your idea that you are doing something nice is based on your perception that 'looking nice' to complete strangers has some value to women, that in fact you are respecting them by saying something 'nice'. I think that's a completely bone headed idea. We are talking in this thread about a survey where 87% of women have stated that unwanted attention from men is harassment to a greater or lesser extent. Clearly you think that 87% of women are wrong for taking that view, they are just stupid for getting upset because you have 'honorable intentions'. Women are more than just attractive objects. Please, do your best to understand why your attitude is just wrong.

Edited April 4, 2014 by The Truth™

[mota bhai 2,675]

Yakkity yak.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Let's try this again. You think you are doing a woman a favor by complimenting her on her looks. Why? When you say you've had no issues, how do you know? A smile and a thank you, what does that even mean? Polite people have no better response but they shouldn't have to respond in any way to an unwanted remark from a stranger. Again, the point is that why do some woman preen when someone compliments them for something that they have little to no control over and why is it that you and others think this should be universally accepted because you think you are doing a woman some kind of favor? In public places, women have as much right to be left alone by strangers as anyone else. Your idea that you are doing something nice is based on your perception that 'looking nice' to complete strangers has some value to women, that in fact you are respecting them by saying something 'nice'. I think that's a completely bone headed idea. We are talking in this thread about a survey where 87% of women have stated that unwanted attention from men is harassment to a greater or lesser extent. Clearly you think that 87% of women are wrong for taking that view, they are just stupid for getting upset because you have 'honorable intentions'. Women are more than just attractive objects. Please, do your best to understand why your attitude is just wrong.

Do you have many cats?

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Let's try this again. You think you are doing a woman a favor by complimenting her on her looks. Why? When you say you've had no issues, how do you know? A smile and a thank you, what does that even mean? Polite people have no better response but they shouldn't have to respond in any way to an unwanted remark from a stranger. Again, the point is that why do some woman preen when someone compliments them for something that they have little to no control over and why is it that you and others think this should be universally accepted because you think you are doing a woman some kind of favor? In public places, women have as much right to be left alone by strangers as anyone else. Your idea that you are doing something nice is based on your perception that 'looking nice' to complete strangers has some value to women, that in fact you are respecting them by saying something 'nice'. I think that's a completely bone headed idea. We are talking in this thread about a survey where 87% of women have stated that unwanted attention from men is harassment to a greater or lesser extent. Clearly you think that 87% of women are wrong for taking that view, they are just stupid for getting upset because you have 'honorable intentions'. Women are more than just attractive objects. Please, do your best to understand why your attitude is just wrong.

Truth,

I'm a gentleman. Been one since birth. It's not a favor, it's a compliment. You don't owe me a response if I say, that's a lovely hat you're wearing. My wife gets compliments when she dresses up, but that's more because she wears things from Malaysia and when a man or a woman says, that's a nice dress, there's no harm done. If I compliment someone, it's because I genuinely mean it. As far as respect goes, that's a given no matter what.

I think if we had this conversation IRL, it'd be easier to convey our thoughts.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Truth,

I'm a gentleman. Been one since birth. It's not a favor, it's a compliment. You don't owe me a response if I say, that's a lovely hat you're wearing. My wife gets compliments when she dresses up, but that's more because she wears things from Malaysia and when a man or a woman says, that's a nice dress, there's no harm done. If I compliment someone, it's because I genuinely mean it. As far as respect goes, that's a given no matter what.

I think if we had this conversation IRL, it'd be easier to convey our thoughts.

IRL, she would kick your a s s.

[Operator 1,927]

The sex ratio for the entire world population is 101 men to 100 females.

In 2014 the worldwide women's clothing market is expected to exceed US$621B.

In 2014 the worldwide men's clothing market is expected to exceed US$402B

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

IRL, she would kick your a s s.

#true

[Teddy B 17,252]

The sex ratio for the entire world population is 101 men to 100 females.

In 2014 the worldwide women's clothing market is expected to exceed US$621B.

In 2014 the worldwide men's clothing market is expected to exceed US$402B

That's a whole lotta sweatpants.

[Operator 1,927]

There is an industry magazine called Nails. "Dedicated to the success of nail professionals"

I'd say there are more than a couple of women out there that care about how they look in public...yet compliments are harassment.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Women don't dress up to be told by strangers that they look nice. They are dressing up for themselves, for their friends, for people they know.

[LibCampFireClub 635]

In China, the ratio of men to women is 120 men for every 100 women.

[mota bhai 2,675]

[B_J 2,752]

From the OP, this is harrassment:

The first time a man harassed me on the street, I was 13. I had just gotten my braces off and was learning how to tame my hair with a curling iron. I could barely fill out a training bra, and I hadn’t even started my period yet. The man, probably in his late 30s, let out a low whistle and told me he “liked the way I walked,” while following me through the mall parking lot.

In the decade since then, I’ve been catcalled more times than I can count. I’ve been called “#######” or told to “go #### myself” (for not responding to said catcalls), been followed home by men on foot and in cars, had a man whisper in my ear that he “wanted to make me come,” had a man stare me down while grabbing his genitals, and been called “#######,” “######,” “#######,” and “######” for doing little else than wearing a summer dress and walking from my home to the train station.

I don't see anything close to saying, "that's a pretty hat".

[Teddy B 17,252]

Women don't dress up to be told by strangers that they look nice. They are dressing up for themselves, for their friends, for people they know.

Right, they dress up for themselves to make themselves feel good. And what makes someone feel better about themselves than a compliment? Especially a compliment from a complete stranger who has no obligation to give that compliment.

Edited April 4, 2014 by Teddy B

[LibCampFireClub 635]

Women don't dress up to be told by strangers that they look nice. They are dressing up for themselves, for their friends, for people they know.

Depends on the woman don't you think? I'm quite sure actually that some women dress up specifically to attract attention from strangers.