Compliments
So, for my anthropological linguistics class in school, we had to do this compliments research project. Basically, we were supposed to pay attention to peoples conversations and document compliments that we hear in everyday life. We were allowed to record compliments we received, but none that we gave. So, since normal compliments do not stick out in my mind, I was only able to record the funny ones. I think the people in my class will read some of these and think I made them up? Anyways, some of these involve some of YOU, so, remember, enjoy, smile....=]
1. Compliment: “Oh, I like your shoes!”
Response: “Thanks!”
Compliment: “And I like your outfit too!”
Response: “(Chuckles) Thanks!”
Compliment: “Where’d it come from?”
Response: “Wal-Mart.”
Compliment: “Oh! That’s my store!”
At a 24 yr. old middle-class Caucasian girl’s birthday party, a group of the party’s attendees had made a run for extra beverages, and made a stop at the local gas station. In the parking lot, the Caucasian girl and party came across a white SUV occupied by a family of African Americans, predominately women of about similar age. The compliment was received by a blonde girl wearing a “Sponge Bob Squarepants” pajama set, complete with yellow “Croc” shoes by woman in the front passenger seat of the SUV.
2. Compliment: “Nice shoes!”
Response: (Stares idly)
Mutual Friend: (Nudges Responder) “He said he likes your shoes.”
Response: “Oh, thanks…”
Mutual Friend: “He’s working on his pick-up lines.”
Response: “ I thought so…”
The Responder a 24 yr. old middle class Caucasian girl is spending the evening in a night club with friends. The night club, notorious for its excessive amount of stereotypically “Jock” men, of various ages, who are incapable of understanding the concept that they are not adored by every woman present, was the common ground for the interaction. When approached by one of the “Jock” types, the Caucasian girl ignored his thick Italian accent, assuming the compliment had ulterior motives.
3. Compliment: “You look very pretty today!”
Response: (To Boyfriend, present) “See! My sister thinks I look pretty today!” (Turns to sister) “He doesn’t like the way I did my hair today, or when I wear earrings!”
Occurring in a familiar kitchen setting, two Caucasian sisters, of a middle-class family of differing ages, in the early to mid-twenties, cross one another’s paths, while ones boyfriend tagged along. The Receiver of the compliment happened to be (unusually for her) wearing make-up with her hair stylized, and dressed in a snazzy outfit.
4. Compliment: “I know both of your names, I’m psychic!”
Response: (Both laugh, one responds) “Oh yeah?! What are they?”
Compliment: “You’re Beautiful… And she’s Gorgeous!”
Response: (Both girls laugh as Complimenter walks away smiling)
In a common area of Downtown St. Pete, two best friends of Caucasian decent were taking a stroll in the park, when approached by an older, Caucasian man, in his mid to late thirties. With a bleak smile on his face, shrouded by hair that looks like it was grown in the sixties, and never maintained, he gregariously offered the above compliment. Both of the twenty-something college students were privy to his consistent glare prior to the encounter. His demeanor was nonthreatening, yet, cute and jovial in a “crazy old-uncle” sort of way.
5. Compliment: “I like your hat!”
Response: (Smiles, flattered) “Thank you!”
Compliment: “And if you want to keep it, you’d better tell me there’s something living in it!”
Response: (Bewildered) “Uhh, there’s something living in it?”
Compliment: (Laughs boisterously, and proceeds to the bar to purchase a frothy beverage)
In a dingy, “white-trash”, hole-in-the-wall bar, well known for its low drink prices and a karaoke night that the whole family dresses up for, our familiar 24 yr. old Caucasian girl was approached by an older, much drunker woman, Caucasian, in her late forties. The lights were dim, and the music was loud, yet the woman’s compliment toward a small black “beret”-appearing hat, reigned above all.
6. Compliment: “There’s people you like, but you don’t like, and then there are those that you want to do.” (Looks to her friend) “Like, I think that you’re absolutely gorgeous, but I don’t want to f--- you, I want to f--- him!”
Response: (Stunned) “Uh, thanks…” (Smiles)
In a social setting, two friends are drinking at a bar, and converse about a boy within their familiar circle of friends. Both the girls are of Caucasian families, and are in their mid-twenties.
7. Compliment: “Hey, you’re kinda cute!”
Response: (Smiles)
Compliment: (After a long pause, looks over his shoulder) “But then… so is he!”
Set in a backwater bar, full of middle-aged Caucasians, whose best friends float in the bottom of a glass, where the cigarette smoke creates a thickness only comparable to that of a misty night on the bayous of Louisiana, a 24 yr. old Caucasian girl is engaged in a dance with a familiar male partner, also 24. During the number, a random bar urchin, easily double the age of the twenty-year olds, finds himself in the middle of the duo. After the song ends, the urchin turns towards our girl to deliver the above compliment, surprisingly, about both individuals. All three were immediately dumbfounded after the exchange.
8. Compliment: “You’re really cute today!”
Response: “Really? I don’t feel at all cute today.”
Compliment: “Yeah, you are. Maybe it was like the way you came out, you made a show-host entrance… you know like ‘Herrrrrrre’s C--------‘!”
A male, 24, Caucasian had entered into a friend’s home on his own accord, with the aspiration of surprising his friend inside. Much to his surprise, she (24, F, Caucasian) had already been aware of his entry, and “slid” out from behind a blind hallway onto the linoleum floor into view, announcing her entrance into the room with much enthusiasm, comparable to that of an opening Broadway segment, complete with “jazz hands” and all.
(....this was supposed to be done as descriptive as possible, im not crazy!...)
1. Compliment: “Oh, I like your shoes!”
Response: “Thanks!”
Compliment: “And I like your outfit too!”
Response: “(Chuckles) Thanks!”
Compliment: “Where’d it come from?”
Response: “Wal-Mart.”
Compliment: “Oh! That’s my store!”
At a 24 yr. old middle-class Caucasian girl’s birthday party, a group of the party’s attendees had made a run for extra beverages, and made a stop at the local gas station. In the parking lot, the Caucasian girl and party came across a white SUV occupied by a family of African Americans, predominately women of about similar age. The compliment was received by a blonde girl wearing a “Sponge Bob Squarepants” pajama set, complete with yellow “Croc” shoes by woman in the front passenger seat of the SUV.
2. Compliment: “Nice shoes!”
Response: (Stares idly)
Mutual Friend: (Nudges Responder) “He said he likes your shoes.”
Response: “Oh, thanks…”
Mutual Friend: “He’s working on his pick-up lines.”
Response: “ I thought so…”
The Responder a 24 yr. old middle class Caucasian girl is spending the evening in a night club with friends. The night club, notorious for its excessive amount of stereotypically “Jock” men, of various ages, who are incapable of understanding the concept that they are not adored by every woman present, was the common ground for the interaction. When approached by one of the “Jock” types, the Caucasian girl ignored his thick Italian accent, assuming the compliment had ulterior motives.
3. Compliment: “You look very pretty today!”
Response: (To Boyfriend, present) “See! My sister thinks I look pretty today!” (Turns to sister) “He doesn’t like the way I did my hair today, or when I wear earrings!”
Occurring in a familiar kitchen setting, two Caucasian sisters, of a middle-class family of differing ages, in the early to mid-twenties, cross one another’s paths, while ones boyfriend tagged along. The Receiver of the compliment happened to be (unusually for her) wearing make-up with her hair stylized, and dressed in a snazzy outfit.
4. Compliment: “I know both of your names, I’m psychic!”
Response: (Both laugh, one responds) “Oh yeah?! What are they?”
Compliment: “You’re Beautiful… And she’s Gorgeous!”
Response: (Both girls laugh as Complimenter walks away smiling)
In a common area of Downtown St. Pete, two best friends of Caucasian decent were taking a stroll in the park, when approached by an older, Caucasian man, in his mid to late thirties. With a bleak smile on his face, shrouded by hair that looks like it was grown in the sixties, and never maintained, he gregariously offered the above compliment. Both of the twenty-something college students were privy to his consistent glare prior to the encounter. His demeanor was nonthreatening, yet, cute and jovial in a “crazy old-uncle” sort of way.
5. Compliment: “I like your hat!”
Response: (Smiles, flattered) “Thank you!”
Compliment: “And if you want to keep it, you’d better tell me there’s something living in it!”
Response: (Bewildered) “Uhh, there’s something living in it?”
Compliment: (Laughs boisterously, and proceeds to the bar to purchase a frothy beverage)
In a dingy, “white-trash”, hole-in-the-wall bar, well known for its low drink prices and a karaoke night that the whole family dresses up for, our familiar 24 yr. old Caucasian girl was approached by an older, much drunker woman, Caucasian, in her late forties. The lights were dim, and the music was loud, yet the woman’s compliment toward a small black “beret”-appearing hat, reigned above all.
6. Compliment: “There’s people you like, but you don’t like, and then there are those that you want to do.” (Looks to her friend) “Like, I think that you’re absolutely gorgeous, but I don’t want to f--- you, I want to f--- him!”
Response: (Stunned) “Uh, thanks…” (Smiles)
In a social setting, two friends are drinking at a bar, and converse about a boy within their familiar circle of friends. Both the girls are of Caucasian families, and are in their mid-twenties.
7. Compliment: “Hey, you’re kinda cute!”
Response: (Smiles)
Compliment: (After a long pause, looks over his shoulder) “But then… so is he!”
Set in a backwater bar, full of middle-aged Caucasians, whose best friends float in the bottom of a glass, where the cigarette smoke creates a thickness only comparable to that of a misty night on the bayous of Louisiana, a 24 yr. old Caucasian girl is engaged in a dance with a familiar male partner, also 24. During the number, a random bar urchin, easily double the age of the twenty-year olds, finds himself in the middle of the duo. After the song ends, the urchin turns towards our girl to deliver the above compliment, surprisingly, about both individuals. All three were immediately dumbfounded after the exchange.
8. Compliment: “You’re really cute today!”
Response: “Really? I don’t feel at all cute today.”
Compliment: “Yeah, you are. Maybe it was like the way you came out, you made a show-host entrance… you know like ‘Herrrrrrre’s C--------‘!”
A male, 24, Caucasian had entered into a friend’s home on his own accord, with the aspiration of surprising his friend inside. Much to his surprise, she (24, F, Caucasian) had already been aware of his entry, and “slid” out from behind a blind hallway onto the linoleum floor into view, announcing her entrance into the room with much enthusiasm, comparable to that of an opening Broadway segment, complete with “jazz hands” and all.
(....this was supposed to be done as descriptive as possible, im not crazy!...)