Or do you prefer other adjectives? Do you consider it to be insulting or do you take it for a compliment if it was meant as one? (Assume an amenable relationship between the two people, not a random stranger or creeper)

  • Godthrilla@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    The most important thing I ever realized, if I want to compliment a woman, you never compliment her on her features, you compliment her on her choices. “Hey you look cute” is automatically going to put her hackles up. “Hey, I really like your dress” is a neutral statement you can make that doesn’t make you a danger. Which is what most women view men as after a lifetime of being treated as prey.

    Source: three daughters

  • ShaunaTheDead@fedia.io
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    1 month ago

    If my partner calls me cute, yes, I like that. Anyone else, it’s very context specific. Do I know you and like you and trust you and your opinions? Then probably yes, otherwise pretty much always no.

  • Remy Rose@lemmy.one
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    1 month ago

    In the context you’ve given, sure! I like it but I have trouble believing people when they say it.

  • apotheotic (she/her)@beehaw.org
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    1 month ago

    I love being called cute by people I know and have a relationship with! I try to channel cuteness, so it is definitely a compliment for me :)

  • OurToothbrush@lemmy.ml
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    1 month ago

    If you want to say you like how I look compliment one of the grooming, fashion, or accessory choices, and I’ll get the hint.

    Hell, compliment my muscles. Literally just compliment anything I have agency over.

  • rawn@feddit.org
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    1 month ago

    Cute used to describe a person? May work out in some cases, but in most it really will not for various reasons. She may feel you’re infantilizing her, you don’t find her appealing as a woman or appealing for the wrong reasons, you belittle her …

    As many wrote, used to describe her choices it’s perfectly fine though.

    If you’re looking for a way to express how this person makes you feel - for example a continuous stream of “awwwww” may be expressed by calling someone cute - rather describe your feeling: “I could fawn over you all day.” Ideally you also explain why, so it’s clear where this is coming from: “The way you dress is a perfect compliment to your outgoing personality. I really enjoy just watching you exist.”

    Depending on who you want to be to this person and how far along on that road you are, my examples may work or be entirely out of question.

    • SpacetimeMachine@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      Serious question from an autistic dude who is awful at this kind of thing. If you are genuinely attracted to a person and are interested in dating them is it wrong to just state that outright then? Because I see plenty of women where I like their dress, or their hair color etc. but that doesn’t mean I’m actually attracted to them. I suppose simply stating “I find you very attractive” might be best as it is just all encompassing?

      • rawn@feddit.org
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        1 month ago

        Since attractive just refers to outer features, if you’re interested only physically, that’s fine. If you want a relationship, pick something that describes your person of choice better or encompasses more features.

        “I think you’re amazing, would you like to grab a coffee/dinner with me sometime?” would probably work.

        If you choose to be this direct, make it clear you don’t need an immediate response. The other party didn’t have any time to prepare for this, so they may actually need to think about you in this way first of all. This may be the hardest part, because you will not know if you’ll get a reply (depends on maturity and courage). You could ask them again once, but then I’d drop it and just assume it’s a no, otherwise you may come across as pushy.

        The reason most people don’t do this is, that they’re scared to be turned down or ridiculed (teenagers are assholes). I think from 30 onwards it gets a lot clearer and easier.

        Good luck!

        • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          1 month ago

          I think from 30 onwards it gets a lot clearer and easier

          It unfortunately does not, lol. The caring about being rejected does, but other problems crop up, like meeting people in the first place.

          For instance, I don’t use apps, I don’t frequent bars, and I don’t want to get HR on my ass (everyone at my job is married or like 19 anyway). So where do I meet someone? Hobbies. Ok, well my hobbies are reading, walking around in the woods looking at cool nature stuff like frogs and salamanders, and going to (music) shows. Maybe I could meet someone at a show, but mostly it’s loud and not conducive to conversation, and nobody wants to talk to strangers in a book store or library, and they’d rather meet a bear in the woods than me as we all know lmao.

          Basically I haven’t been doing this because I don’t want to be creepy, but I’m thinking about just saying fuck it and throwing out a “hey you look cool, wanna go grab some coffee sometime?” just whenever, wherever the situation arises, and then get to know if I think she’s amazing over time (if we continue, yadda yadda you know how it goes). I mean what else do I have left? And by whenever, wherever I don’t just mean Shakira’s hit, I mean anywhere, including but not limited to common places where it is often complained about like the grocery store, book store, where she works, just anywhere.

          But yeah, anyway, things change when you get older, some things get easier but some get harder. Know where I used to meet women (well, girls)? School. And after that I had a stint in the bars. Back then I was afraid of the rejection sure but never questioned where to meet people. My flip has now flopped, however.

          • rawn@feddit.org
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            24 days ago

            Hey, sorry it took me so long to respond.

            I mostly meant the whole rejection/people being mean about it thing.

            I get where you’re at, I’m 40ish and had the same problems a few years ago. Please don’t try where they work, that’s not cool, but other than that … why not, as long as a no is cool.

            I used bumble at the time but ultimately the person I’m with now was someone I already knew. I don’t believe in apps, but it’s a way to get a feel for someone else, filtering out anyone who doesn’t want to meet someone at all.

            I think meeting through hobbies (I think library or bookstore are kinda okay, particularly if you have a recommendation for the book they’re looking at) is the way to get to know someone, but whatever you try, I wish you good luck!

  • Don_Dickle@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Used to work at a restaurant in the south. And cute was like saying oh you sweet boy. Or while your doing something a person saying oh aren’t you cute. Kind of has to do with context but majority of the time when someone calls me cute I just look at them in a confused look because I wear scrubs most of the time and no make up or perfume. So most of the time I think what does this person want?

  • wuphysics87@lemmy.ml
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    1 month ago

    Male here. There are many contexts. If I was still in high school, and a coach says “Don’t be cute with me”, I would take it as a compliment. It would mean I was doing a good job pissing him off.

  • 2ugly2live@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    In the context of an argument or when I’m clearly trying to be taken seriously? No. If I’m actually angry, what happens to you is above me.

    Any other time? (◡‿◡🌸) ✨Thank you ✨

  • jsomae@lemmy.ml
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    1 month ago

    really depends on the context. if i’m showing off my cosplay, no. If I’m receiving an award and posing for the camera – yeah my looks aren’t relevant.

  • teawrecks@sopuli.xyz
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    1 month ago

    Not a woman, but I think what it comes down to is: the other person needs to immediately know what you mean when you say it without you having to explain it, or else it will be a mix of confusing/unsettling/creepy.

    If they use the word “cute” a lot to describe things they like or looks they are going for, then it could be taken well. If they never use it and you don’t either, then it will probably be percieved as unsettling. If they get hung up for any reason on what it means for you to call them “cute” (or any other adjective), then it’s not coming across how you want.