When I was a Japanese teacher at a university and ALL of the evaluation cards said "we want more of him", "he really listens to his students" and so on. I was complete.

When I volunteered for a week at a shelter for children in Japan after the 3/11 earthquake and this one kid - perhaps 5 or 6 yrs old - and I became really good friends. Every smile, laughter and every other sign of joy of theirs made me feel like life was worth living.

When my Japanese ex wife told me that she's grateful for me freeing her of the oppressive and toxic femininity norms that the Japanese countryside had indoctrinated her with since childhood. It felt like there is still hope.

When one of my clients (I'm a parole officer) started crying uncontrollably and told me that they never imagined that they would be met with kindness and compassion from the justice system. That felt like I actually could be the change I want to see in an otherwise increasingly inhumane justice system.

Also, good question. Thanks.

A girl in high school told me once that I had "pretty eyes." That's the only compliment I have ever received, it was 30 years ago. I was too stupid to understand that she was into me. Fuck my life as they say.

Several years ago I was taking economic classes at my local university out of interest and to be more informed about intentions in our geopolitical world.

A few years after those classes I ran as a candidate for city council in my local municipal elections on a platform based on sound economic policy. I did not get elected, not even close, as I was running opposite an incumbent.

A few years after that I saw this man at a coffee shop that I knew I recognized from somewhere, but had no chance of remembering him on my own. He came up to me and prompted me, and I then realized that he was one of my economic profs, retired now, from when I was taking courses all those years ago.

After brief pleasantries he said: "I recognized your name in the last election. I wanted to say that I voted for you."

Quite surprised, I managed to respond with a sincere smile on my face: "coming from an economist, that really means a lot to me, thank you".

Got told I looked like someone who'd have a screwdriver handy by another volunteer at the red cross helping kids with homework.

I was able to provide them with a tiny multi tool too.

A girl once came to stand next to me because "at least you look normal".

I feel like there's something bigger somewhere in my memory but the thing that occurred to me most recently is when patients fall back asleep while I'm getting their AM bloodwork.

years ago i heard some advice. "if someone walks past while you're working and says 'good job!' then sure, it's nice, but you've forgotten by the time they've turned the corner. whereas if someone insults you, if they say your nose looks like a fishing hook with a rotten worm dangling on the end, you can remember that for the rest of your life. it's not because we only remember bad things, it's because one is specific, the other general. when you give a compliment, try and be as specific as possible." i still remember my child hood best friend's response to 'why do you hang out with me?' "because you're the sort of person who, if i ask you to come and shoot a knockoff version of the hobbit with me in the local woods wearing a dressing gown, i know the answer is gonna be yes, no matter how silly the idea."

I was at an Job interview and was asked how my friends would describe me in one word. I didn't know an answer to that.

Later i asked my friend and they instantly said "loyal". That felt good.

A dying man I was not related to wanted to shake my hand and tell me how much they respected me as a person. I barely managed to keep myself together.

Random 6-7 year old kid in the Chicago Union Station:

"Are you a movie star?"

"No sweetie, I work with computers."

"YOU'RE A MOVIE STAR!"

Her mom and I had a good laugh over it. She's got to be like 37 now!

Hmm. I think my favorite compliment may have been indirect, I overheard someone at my work telling someone else that I was so smart & funny, I don't even know what the context was but a compliment behind my back, not to me, seemed so authentic.

She told me I was wonderful. More than the words, it was the way she said it.

I used to be a team lead and left because management was a bunch of cunts. I received two compliments I still treasure when I left. One was from someone on my team who said work was so much nicer when I took over because he was exposed to less bullshit. The other was from a fellow team lead who said that someone from his team said that he wanted to be like me during meetings. I always strive to keep them on track and as short as possible. Those were both really nice to hear.

In college my job was making pizzas. Late one Saturday night I got a call for a carryout order. As I handed the guy his food later he told me I have a voice for radio, which is a lot nicer to say than having a face for radio.

I'm a guy so they all get put on the core memory shelf. Three from the top row:

Recently went to Japan to participate in an international gathering. Part of that was people doing short demos, maybe 5 techniques unplanned. Once I got back to the US, I spoke about it with my teacher who had also attended. He said, "Proud isn't the right word but" and I understood that to mean the result of his instruction and my efforts over the past 20 years had been gratifying.

The other two both had to do with getting hit on and neither was a direct one.

First was when I was chatting with a woman while we were waiting for baggage at the airport. Once she got hers, she came back to me to say bye and ripped off the tag that had been attached to her bag and gave it to me. It had her phone number on it.

Second was a simple exchange: "Are you single?" "Nope." "Are you available?"

Someone once told me that when faced with a challenging ethical situation they asked themselves how I would handle it.

"I hope my kid grows up to be just like you."

I got this one when I was 19. I haven't seen the family in over a decade, as the mom was always changing phone numbers, then moved away and we lost contact. The kid's almost an adult now, and I can't help but wonder how she turned out. As much as her mom wanted her to be like me, I hope her lot in life ends up better than mine.

"You look terrifying". More fun if left out of context.

I am an explainer of things. I love working with kids and helping explain the world to them, with a special interest in the places where the answer is that we don't know. I absolutely adore taking a question or comment and finding the full exploration which can bloom from that moment of curiosity. I do this on Lemmy too, and before that Reddit. Sometimes someone will post an article and it will be way too complex or not really answer any real questions and I will go ahead and explain it in much more simple English with analogies and simplifications which don't lose the important details.

If you want you can dig into my comment history and find it, but my favourite complement ever is someone who said I took a kegstand on the font of knowledge. If absolutely jives with my excitement and joy at learning while also being way less serious and stodgy about science and knowledge.

Not sure it has ever happened, not that I don't receive compliments. For some unknown reason those just doesn't work, basically do nothing. Just completely meaningless empty words.

Someone once said that they never knew what I was going to say next.

nice cock

Once someone told me they liked my jumper...

Probably the ex who drew my penis as art. Pretty tough to top that level of flattery. She said I was "like a sex god" and "should do porn," among other borderline worshipful things.

It really put the self-doubt to rest. I'm good now!

Problem is there's no topping being fucking worshipped by a proper crazy girl.