AngelRho wrote:
Authentic comments are always good.
Think of it this way: The kind of woman who takes compliments well=decent human being. The woman who can't take compliments=not datable material for you.
It really is that simple. I don't put much stock in the foaming-at-the-mouth type of feminist narrative (no, not ALL feminists are like that, nor is that even the only feminist narrative out there). It seems to me we're choosing to believe only the meanest, nastiest, LOUDEST narrative that portrays ALL men negatively.
Ignore them.
If a woman can take a well-intentioned and APPROPRIATE compliment, that is an early sign she MIGHT (but not necessarily) be someone you could at least be good friends with.
Personally, I tend to be fairly reserved with compliments. In education, a male teacher complimenting a female student might be seen as grossly inappropriate. "Congrats on coming in 1st at the 5000 meter" is ok. "I really like what you did with your hair today" might be pushing it.
With friends and co-workers you are well-acquainted with, you can get away with a bit more, maybe even some subtle flirting. Make sure you CAN, though. I once cracked a joke and almost lost my job. When I got called in to see the boss, I made sure someone else went with me. Not my first trip to the "principal's office," but my coworkers have a nasty habit of ambushing me.
Now, if we're talking public places and situations were socializing is expected, there really aren't any "rules." You know the difference between inappropriate and appropriate language. In practice you'll generally get a more positive response to genuine compliments than negative.
I tend to avoid complimenting people in general because I don't know how to do it without coming across as either a sycophantic creep or a condescending prick. I prefer to use double-negatives since they sound much more casual and genuine to me.
Naturally I don't believe all women or even all feminists go around spouting anti-male propaganda. But as somebody that struggles with self-esteem it's really disheartening to see articles and comments that seem designed specifically to paint all men in a bad light. That article just reeks of bitterness to me. If the original intention is to point out a social inequality there's better ways to go about it than this whole "piss of any man with this!" thing they've got going on here. When you do that you change things from equality to a perpetual gender war that nobody needs. If men and women keep throwing contempt at each other there'll always be anti-feminism and anti-men groups going around being bitter.