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Was my compliment really inappropriate or too forward in the Indian context?

So today in this Cafe in Indiranagar area of our city Bangalore in India which is often called the Hipster neighborhood of the city, i saw this mixed gender group of men and women who are MBA students too. They were talking among themselves and i approached the women saying them hello. They responded and i said them just saying Hi to new people. They are Indians too by the way. So i asked them what they are studying and they said MBA. Then i replied that wow we are basically peers then as I am freshly done with my MBA. They smiled and said yeah So I asked both the women their names and they said it and I said my name too. Also asked which University and they answered and I answered mine too. So before ending the conversation, i gave a mild compliment to one of the woman i was talking to.

I said her "I was in a bit of a bad mood due to a bad dream at night but your smile has made my mood much better". She smiled and replied "Okay nice" and then i said "Okay have a great day" and walked away. The men in her group were staring at me full surprised as this is rare behavior in India. The women were definitely peers tho within 21-25 age range and I am also 25. I only complimented her smile tho so was it really too forward in a cold approach? I didnt even push for her number or Instagram. Is it really strange in india? Sadly plenty of Indian women are reserved and many Indian men are less confident due to conservatism in India but i did it in one of the most upscale part of the city.
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Boeing · 36-40
I don't think this is only India but a whole world's behaviour... Usually when men and women form groups, men take this role of caring for the group in a way of protecting it and therefore when someone foreign comes, they make sure the women aren't offended or harassed. Maybe it would be nice if you address the men too when approaching a group and not just the women, it may seem as predatory behaviour, even if you are supposedly gently.

I'd suggest to make your intentions clear, are you approaching them friendly or flirty? Because if you are flirty then maybe some of the women is dating one of the men and you don't want to seem impolite and as if you are ignoring the men.
Heroisthebest25 · 22-25, M
@Boeing Not for fully dating. I am just freshly done with campus and currently searching for a job so it gets lonely in home and I am not able to meet people like I could in University so i just go out to socialize with people especially women as i was shy near girls in my teenage days and some of early 20s too due to bullying in school so i missed out on talking to girls for years and only overcome my shyness at 23. So now at 25 i am talking more with women. Also how is it predatory? Its predatory when adults go for teenagers. They are in their early to mid 20s and I am also just 25 so we arent just adults but also peer aged.
Boeing · 36-40
@Heroisthebest25 I understand where you are coming from and how you want to socialize and I think it's great and brave how you are going around! Of course I do not understand the whole culture and all of your background.

Just make sure you're not impolite, I mean, don't go talking to girls that might date the guys next to them, and you are unsure about your intentions...you'll get into trouble!

You can also try a club or library or join some yoga or some sports class..
Heroisthebest25 · 22-25, M
@Boeing i appreciate your advice about clubs or Library but i live with parents so have less freedom for that. I also live in a local and boring residential part of the city. For clubs and classes i need to visit the Central part of our city which is 15-17km away from my home. Even for normal weekend outings, i have to make some excuse to go out. Yeah its normal to live with parents in India even in our 20s. My mom is like why do you want to go out so i have make some excuses for that. Its hard.
Boeing · 36-40
@Heroisthebest25 what have you studied?
Heroisthebest25 · 22-25, M
@Boeing MBA