Fishing for compliments
@working4theweekend (2403)
United States
December 15, 2006 3:26pm CST
Do you know people who "fish for compliments"? Do you know what this phrase means? Sometimes people will say "oh, this dress looks so bad on me" to a friend because they want their friend to say "no, it looks great" and make them feel better. Other times people will hint around until you say something nice to them.
Does this annoy you? It doesn't really bother me TOO much, esp. if I know a friend's depressed, but if someone does it constantly, it can be annoying.
3 responses
@euniceeleanor (5967)
• Singapore
16 Dec 06
yeah..i've been in tat situation before and sometimes it's so annoying that they already know the answers but tend to ask to 'fish for compliments' but then i wont give in, i will tell them outright, OH! stop fishing for compliments, you already know the answer! i know im bad, but you gotta make them stop doing that!
@working4theweekend (2403)
• United States
16 Dec 06
It's usually better to just be up front with your friends and tell them the truth - otherwise you have to deal with the guilt later that you were just being nice to them, when in fact, being nice would have been to just tell them what you were really thinking in the meantime.
@Jshean20 (14348)
• Canada
15 Dec 06
Yes I know what you mean about fishing for compliments, I see it all the time. It doesn't bother me so much when someone does it once in awhile, because people do need to hear nice things sometimes and I'm probably the same way. When the same person constantly does this though, especially if it's regarding the same thing (eg- their weight), then I get really annoyed and don't even compliment them anymore lol.
@working4theweekend (2403)
• United States
15 Dec 06
I think that sometimes people fish for compliments to avoid the truth also, like you mentioned someone who says they are fat all the time. They want people to argue that they aren't fat so they don't have to deal with the real situation, which is that they need to start exercising and watching their diet.
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
•
15 Dec 06
yes it is annoying but they are doing it because they feel insecure and need re assurence, maybe best to give it them if you are a friend
@working4theweekend (2403)
• United States
15 Dec 06
I usually do if it's someone I care about, not so much if it's just a coworker that I don't know very well
