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Max000
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09 Sep 2012, 3:30 pm

CyclopsSummers wrote:
On a related note, a second point on receiving compliments I'd like to discuss, is how you RESPOND to the person giving the compliment. I find that I usually brush it off (even if it made me feel great), or sometimes even fail to notice that it's actually a compliment in the moment itself, only realising that it was one in hindsight. I tend not to give a counter-compliment.

So, how is it with you guys?


I'm pretty much the same way. Compliments really have little or no effect on me. I also just brush them off. First IMHO, most compliments given are totally insincere. They are just words, that people repeat over and over. Like thank you, have a nice day. When in reality the person saying it could care less if you get hit by a bus. "Good job" even if they are obviously unimpressed with your work. People usually just give complements when they want something from you.

OTOH, I do take criticism to heart.:x That will piss me off. People usually mean it when they criticize you. What I really, really hate is when someone gives me a bunch of negative feedback, little or none of it constructive criticism, and then adds one little insignificant stupid compliment to try and make me feel better. F**k that, I'm ready to go postal at that point. :bom:



lostgirl1986
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09 Sep 2012, 3:32 pm

I like them but at the same time I kind of feel like, "Really it's nothing", kind of thing. Almost like I don't deserve it. I kind of brush them off so the focus isn't on me. I feel over flattered by them.



MirrorWars
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09 Sep 2012, 3:58 pm

I always experience great discomfort when receiving compliments or congratulations.



younginflavor18
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09 Sep 2012, 4:03 pm

Whenever I respond to compliments, I simply say thanks to the person who was complimenting me at the time.


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Xena_Sophia
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09 Sep 2012, 4:09 pm

I usually say "Thank you" (if the compliment is obvious enough that I notice it), but I feel embarrassed and often will duck my head and/or blush while I say it.


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Toy_Soldier
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09 Sep 2012, 4:32 pm

I like compliments. They can brighten a whole day or even last several days. Sometimes when I am desperate I even like insincere and computer generated ones, like 'due to your outstanding financial standing, we are able to offer you a reduced price on....' I will sometimes sit and read that sort of junk mail over and over until I feel good about myself again.

I also like criticism and negative feedback, even when it's piled on. It kinda means someone at least notices you.



LtlPinkCoupe
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09 Sep 2012, 4:38 pm

I don't really "register" compliments or praise anymore. I think this has to do with how when my stepmom would come home from work in a stinky mood and take it out on me, she would apologize afterward, and my dad would tell me, "she won't do it again," or "it's going to get better" only for her to do the exact same thing again in the next couple of days.

.....Actually, now that I think of it, she was hardly ever the one to apologize; my dad usually did that on her behalf.

Anyway, after a few years of this, I just got the message that people don't really mean what they say. So if someone said, "I'm really proud of your grade in Spanish," or "Wow, you're good at drawing" I smile politely and thank them but don't really take it on board.

Another thing is that I just don't feel as if I'm a person who's deserving of any compliments, and to receive them makes me uncomfortable.


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Last edited by LtlPinkCoupe on 09 Sep 2012, 6:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

windtreeman
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09 Sep 2012, 5:13 pm

Since I'm someone who's developed their personality to be as pacifistic as possible, I always find myself complimenting even mediocrity which leads me to believe that all others are willing to compliment something even if it's particularly unspectacular and therefore, it shouldn't be taken seriously. I know it's not true of everyone and every compliment, but I really can't take praise at face value.



japan
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09 Sep 2012, 5:18 pm

CyclopsSummers wrote:
I have recently found that receiving compliments has a different effect on me than it used to when I was younger.

When I was younger, compliments on, for example, achievements in school, or on drawings that I made, or things in general, would make me feel very happy and good. It's related to how I suffer a bit of fear of failure, and am also a perfectionist as a result of that fear. I'm prone to insecurities, and compliments really used to lift me up.

These days, however, following a couple of years in which I saw myself fail to achieve certain goals that I had set for myself, I found that whenever someone is complimenting me on doing my work well, or making good progress in my courses, or on my knowledge on certain subjects, I find that it has the effect on me of shutting me down, like a clam closing its shell. I tend to get shy and brush the compliment off like I used to when I was younger, but instead of seeing the compliment as an impetus to continue on that road, I instead dwell on my insecurities and view the complimented achievement as an exception to the rule, that rule being that I mostly fail at things, and only succeed by extraordinary exception (making my successes almost like flukes).
Even online, I have been complimented on writing reports about activities I had done (mostly reviewing conventions, festivals and the like) and when some of the posters requested in advance that I write a report of a cultural festival, I just closed down completely and couldn't go through with it (because of the expectations).

On a related note, a second point on receiving compliments I'd like to discuss, is how you RESPOND to the person giving the compliment. I find that I usually brush it off (even if it made me feel great), or sometimes even fail to notice that it's actually a compliment in the moment itself, only realising that it was one in hindsight. I tend not to give a counter-compliment.

So, how is it with you guys?


I know what you mean. I'm not very comfortable with compliments either. I always feel pressure to keep doing whatever I've been complimented on well. The compliments often completely shake my confidence.

I usually just respond by saying thank you, and then quickly change the subject.



MercuryRose
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09 Sep 2012, 5:36 pm

I don't like compliments. But I have learned to just say thank you



OCD_Angel
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09 Sep 2012, 6:09 pm

Toy_Soldier wrote:
I like compliments. They can brighten a whole day or even last several days. Sometimes when I am desperate I even like insincere and computer generated ones, like 'due to your outstanding financial standing, we are able to offer you a reduced price on....' I will sometimes sit and read that sort of junk mail over and over until I feel good about myself again.

Um, you have a very handsome pair of antlers.



Embertayle
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09 Sep 2012, 6:23 pm

"Thank you".

Anything more, and I risk embarrassing myself.



Toy_Soldier
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09 Sep 2012, 6:38 pm

OCD_Angel wrote:
Toy_Soldier wrote:
I like compliments. They can brighten a whole day or even last several days. Sometimes when I am desperate I even like insincere and computer generated ones, like 'due to your outstanding financial standing, we are able to offer you a reduced price on....' I will sometimes sit and read that sort of junk mail over and over until I feel good about myself again.

Um, you have a very handsome pair of antlers.


Thank you! :D My Avatar self's day has been made! 1047 blessings upon you.



OCD_Angel
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09 Sep 2012, 6:46 pm

Wow thanks! I'm not quite sure what m supposed to do with 1047 blessings but I appreciate the offer.



Toy_Soldier
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09 Sep 2012, 7:12 pm

OCD_Angel wrote:
Wow thanks! I'm not quite sure what m supposed to do with 1047 blessings but I appreciate the offer.


Err... I am not sure how to say this but it is not exactly an offer per se. You see I already made the payment via Paypal to Mustafascheapblessings.com and the genie has been released. :oops: So... you will have a genie following you around until you use up the 1047 blessings. :cry: But maybe there is something I can do to help. I can tell the genie there was a math error and that it was only 1000 blessings. I think they might buy that.



Webalina
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09 Sep 2012, 11:33 pm

Add me to the list of people who aren't comfortable with compliments. I've even gotten to where I rarely wear makeup anymore because people act all "WOW! You look REALLY nice!". It embarrasses me, and since I HATE being the center of attention, I just stopped trying. It partially comes fron low self-esteem (thanks Dad) and partially from the number of compliments that made my eyes light up only to find out that the person dishing out the compliment was being sarcastic and cruel and didn't mean a word of it. It got to the point where someone would compliment me and I would say "Thanks, even though I know you don't mean it." These days, I've learned to just say "thank you."