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Out of context: Reply #70527
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- mg331
Hypothetical question that my wife and I could not answer last night. This honestly sounds like something for Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Let's say there's a woman you see regularly at work - not a coworker or anyone you really have a reason to know or talk to other than common courtesy. Let's say she's pregnant and happens to be the type of woman that looks incredibly happy, glowing, beautiful, really looks meant to be a mom and just seems suited to it. You dads know what I mean.
Let's say your impulse as a man is to want to compliment this woman, to say something that speaks to being a parent yourself, remembering how happy and glowing and beautiful your own wife was when she was pregnant.
It's a matter of simply wanting to give a compliment that might be a nice thing for a woman to hear.
In this day and age, is there any possible way to give such a compliment without seeming creepy, or awkward, or like you're hitting on the woman?
We couldn't answer that and couldn't exactly think of the right thing to say under any condition if that person is a stranger.
- there is not enough information
for this decision.sted - I would do:
a, pack that compliment in something nice to keep the proper distance.
b, to persuade someone to make such a comment and watch the results.sted - c, talk my wife into a play where we can find out the answer. ( e: she makes the compliment, what opens an opportunity to be honest with her lol)sted
- These are the wrong times for that kind of crazy talk. Back away slowly. Don’t make eye contactGnash
- @Gnash I don't think that a change like that in your behavior would be a good idea.sted
- do it, then plot twist: she's just a fat chick._niko
- adding the disclaimer, "I'm married and I'm a dad" helps I guessmonospaced
- If your intent is honest and supportive - which it seems it is - why worry. It's nice to be nice. If they takes offence then i suggest they have the problem.Morning_star
- ‘Their’ problem would be fully supported by HR, thoughGnash
- congratulations, you're glowing! so nice to see that.renderedred
- *only if you're sure she's pregs otherwise you fucked ;)renderedred
- risky to ask 'whens the due date?' .. could just be over-weight or something... best to just say 'good morning' or something....exador1
- "your impulse as a man" sounds fun...SimonFFM
- The real question is... Why do you need to do a compliment?OBBTKN
- "not a coworker or anyone you really have a reason to know or talk to other than common courtesy." - okay so knowing that, how personal do you thinkben_
- you can be without overstepping some social boundary? If she's 100% pregnant why not just say "congrats" and if she acknowledges you in a positive way thenben_
- slide in your compliment. But if this is a person you're barely an acquaintance with and you're unsure, then maybe just resist?ben_
- "you remind me of my wife when I got her pregnant"nb
- I think his point is that he’s painfully aware of the social boundary. Explaining it over and over is redundant. The point is that the boundary has shifted.monospaced
- I remember strangers saying similar to my wife when she was pregnant and it was never really creepy. It was clearly meant in earnest kindness.monospaced
- there is not enough information