During a class discussion, we somehow got onto the topic of compliments. One of the students shared what her sociology teacher taught in class: compliments actually degrade one's self. For example, if I went up to a friend and said, "Wow. What a cute haircut," I am also starting to think things like, "Why can't my hair look as good as her hair." Thus, I would be degrading myself by complimenting another.
A fellow student spoke up and disagreed, stating that she gives compliments all the time - most of the time when she doesn't mean it. She'll see someone wearing the most hideous skirt she's ever seen and will say, "What a pretty skirt!!!" In the student's mind, she's making the ugly skirted girl feel better; the student also feels good about her own self, being that she isn't wearing the hideous skirt.
I think giving false compliments is wrong. To me, there's no point in going up to someone with bad skin and saying, "What beautiful skin you have!" I also don't think I'm degrading myself when I compliment someone, but I notice I have been hesitant to give out compliments. As for taking them, it depends on the person. I don't trust most of my students' compliments, thinking they are just kissing my butt to get on my good side. HAHA
