To be confused by this compliment?

[iknowimcoming]

So I'm wandering round Tesco this evening, and I vaguely register a man I've passed several times in the aisles looking at me (because he had no trolley/basket/shopping in his hands I assumed he was some kind of plain clothes store detective) so I turn the corner into the cleaning aisle and he's stood still right in the middle, so I say sorry, step to one side and wait for him to move and he hesitates for a moment then walks away and says 'by the way, if you don't mind me saying, that's a very pretty dress you're wearing'. I say 'oh thank you' laughing slightly and continue down the aisle thinking blimey, 50, fat, menopausal and I got a compliment from a stranger - go me! Then I thought but he complimented my dress, not me, so maybe he's a cross-dresser and wondered where I got the dress from - lol! And no I have nothing better to think about this evening, I'm home alone

see if it's from a woman: cute, sweet, made my day
from a dude: eek, creepy

I'm a crafter and admittedly a bit weird. I have ADHD and so the impulse control is weak with me.
I randomly stare at people's clothes when I see a nice crocheted or knitted pattern.
I have asked total strangers if I could photo their clothes because I adored the colour combo! (they usually find it so funny they let me!)
once an old bloke caught me eyeing him - well I was fascinated by his scarf. so I apologised and explained that I loved the pattern & colour combo. then his wife joined us (she made it!) and we had a nice chat.

another time I just had to ask a woman if I could please take a photo of her cardi because I loved the pattern. she was such a gem, she asked for my email address and sent me the pattern!🥰

but a bloke sort of blocking my path would unnerve even me. so YANBU to feel creeped out

Exact same thing happened to me in Sainsbury’s recently. I’m 63 and he was quite a bit younger! Just took it as a compliment 😊

I compliment men and women. Although it was pointed out to me it can come across has flirting. I honestly couldn't flirt if I tried. I try to compliment men less now but I can't really help myself. Sometimes I notice what I sound like while I'm saying it and cringe.

My DHs friend got asked for ID at the supermarket a week's ago. He said he's nearly 50. The girl at the check out looked him up and down and told him he's "looking really good." He's been walking in air since.

I have loads of vendula shop front handbags. Before the pandemic I got loads of compliments and interest in them , mainly from men. If they were using them to chat me up I totally missed It!

Here’s the thing, men generally don’t notice or “like” dresses. They just don’t. He was hitting on you. Creep.

It's the same old thing tho, from a woman it's fine, from a bloke it's not

I had this recently in a supermarket. Old fella dolled up in a suit and tie, mask under his chin. Complimented me on what I was wearing, stood right in front of me. We had a short chat and as I made to walk off he gently put his hand on my back/shoulder.

He had no basket or trolley. Saw him later lurking around a seating area. That confirmed my first thoughts that he was just a lonely old man looking for human contact. The way he behaved - getting up close, a friendly pat on the back as we parted - would have been acceptable in his day, and I wasn’t going to upset him by telling him anything different.

A bit of a creep maybe, but harmless. Just like women who go to a supermarket for company, and those who revelled in the Covid queues for a bit of companionship. ( I recall one elderly lady tell me she stood in a garden centre queue for two hours on a Sunday morning “it was marvellous”!)

@Greencharge

I had this recently in a supermarket. Old fella dolled up in a suit and tie, mask under his chin. Complimented me on what I was wearing, stood right in front of me. We had a short chat and as I made to walk off he gently put his hand on my back/shoulder.

He had no basket or trolley. Saw him later lurking around a seating area. That confirmed my first thoughts that he was just a lonely old man looking for human contact. The way he behaved - getting up close, a friendly pat on the back as we parted - would have been acceptable in his day, and I wasn’t going to upset him by telling him anything different.

A bit of a creep maybe, but harmless. Just like women who go to a supermarket for company, and those who revelled in the Covid queues for a bit of companionship. ( I recall one elderly lady tell me she stood in a garden centre queue for two hours on a Sunday morning “it was marvellous”!)

Yeah, I knew a 'harmless' older man who enjoyed feeling up young women in the social club I helped out at.

He used that elderly gentleman from another game schtick to grope too.

Not acceptable from any generation and shame on you for allowing it.

*another time.

And sorry for the 'shame on you' comment that was put of order.

I recall one elderly lady tell me she stood in a garden centre queue for two hours on a Sunday morning “it was marvellous”!)

Once a guy came up to me in Sainsbury’s and said politely that he was attracted to me and asked me if I was single. He said he hoped I didn’t mind him approaching me but he had noticed me and didn’t want to lose the opportunity to talk to me. He acted like it was a spur of the moment decision and I admit, I was flattered. I told him I was in a relationship but thanked him for complimenting me and went about my shopping. The next time I was in that Sainsbury’s however, I spotted him approaching another girl with exactly the same spiel! It made me embarrassed that I had been so pleased at the time! He was a creep by the looks of things. Re that man who complimented your dress. It was a bit of a weird conversation starter but it could well have been a sincere compliment or a clumsy chat up line.

God I do this all the time. I ask women where they got the lovely coat/ jacket/bag/kids clothes or ask men what aftershave they’re wearing. That’s how I got my dh Christmas present. I love telling people they look nice and hopefully find out where I can get the same thing! People must think I’m a ducking weirdo!!

@ThanksIGotItInMorrisons

God I do this all the time. I ask women where they got the lovely coat/ jacket/bag/kids clothes or ask men what aftershave they’re wearing. That’s how I got my dh Christmas present. I love telling people they look nice and hopefully find out where I can get the same thing! People must think I’m a ducking weirdo!!

I hate to say it but they probably do 😂

These Sainsbury's and Tesco guys sound like the men approachong random women in the street thread from a few months ago. Most people thought they were following some kind of pick up training advice. Just approaching as many women as possible and relying on force of numbers to strike lucky and get a date or whatever. It's surprising the supermarkets are tolerating men drifting about without even pretending to shop apparantly. I' m afraid I would be completely dismissive and suspicious of some ulterior motive. I suppose the female equivalent is the lonely woman being happy to join a queue for 2 hours.