General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: National Tell a Girl She’s Beautiful Day is pure bullshit, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. [View all]pipi_k
(21,020 posts)my basic cynicism would kick in...
Someone I don't know comes up to me and pays me a compliment...I say "thank you" and then he walks or moves away a bit without saying anything else. It's all good.
If, however, he sticks around trying to make small talk, the red flag goes up and I shut down. I have this weird thing about strangers/people I don't know well trying too hard to be ingratiating.
I've even had people I don't know well accuse me of being snobbish and stuck-up because I wouldn't let down my guard and be all friendly with them even though they were being (IMO) overly friendly to me.
I guess I learned a long time ago not to trust someone who is trying too hard to be friendly to me. It usually means they want something back, like you pointed out in your last paragraph.