I don't take compliments based on physical appearance very well. Perhaps it is due to my longtime dedication to developing myself as a whole person, or perhaps to a childhood of mild classmate abuse, but I find myself reacting badly to compliments on my appearance from strangers. My reactions range from bewilderment to downright irritation, depending on how the person has approached me.
I can take any other type of compliment well. Tell me how intelligent I am? Interesting profile, wise, a good listener, a great blog writer ... tell me any of those, I react with the appropriate happiness and sense of accomplishment. Tell me how sexy I am? I'm annoyed.
Perhaps it's because I am bewildered and annoyed by the typical male's reliance on physical appearance as a major, and in many cases, sole determining factor for attractiveness. While I do not completely dismiss physical attraction (I am human, after all), I find it stupefying that men would want to date a woman based solely on her photos. I read a profile first, then check out blogs and stash items... I tend to hit photos last.
Of course, I have a physical "type" who makes me look twice. As I said, I'm human. He tends to be tall, lanky, baby-faced, and young. Unfortunately, if he's a moron, that interest quickly disappears. The men I've been intensely attracted to in my lifetime have actually never fit that physical type. On the other hand, many men seek me out based entirely on my photos, and don't even bother to read my profile.
I grew up feeling I was physically unattractive. Yet, since I developed into a mature adult, I've never doubted my attractiveness in general. But I base my self-image not on what I look like, but _who I am_, and thus I am not complimented by references to my looks.
In the end, compliments on my looks from total strangers don't mean much to me, because my looks are just a shell. They have nothing to do with who I am. And if a guy is interested solely in what I look like, and not who I am, he's not worthy of all that I am.
