How Do I “Like” Thee?

/ Diane Henders

Last week’s post was based on some interesting conversations about “appreciating” people besides one’s significant other.  That got me thinking, which is usually dangerous.

A few days ago, I was at the gym, surreptitiously ogling the magnificent upper body development of a couple of half-naked guys.  And no, I’m not going to tell you where I work out.  That’s my eye-candy.  I don’t share well.

The point is, I enjoyed looking, and I wasn’t the least bit interested in doing anything else.  But it made me wonder:  would they want to know I was appreciating them?

If the situation was reversed, I’d like to know.  Then again, I’m at the time of my life when being appreciated for anything pretty much makes my day.  (You:  “That’s an unusually-shaped freckle.”  Me:  “Thank you!”  *beams*)

I don’t want to go back to the days when we lived with the fact that we’d get groped and leered at and propositioned wherever we went.  I’m not talking about appreciating people to the point where you sidle up to them and lovingly run your sweaty tongue down their neck.  I’m pretty sure that kind of thing needs to be restricted to your significant other.  Preferably in private.  ‘Cause, y’know, the rest of us don’t really want to see that.

But how about a no-harm, no-foul code word that just means “I appreciate you”?  The equivalent of a “Like” button, minus the contact with sweaty anatomical bits.

I’m not just talking about appreciating members of the opposite sex, either.  I’m talking about appreciating anyone you find attractive, physically or otherwise.  Personally, when I notice an attractive person of any age or gender, my brain says, “Nice!”

I realize that this is not particularly eloquent, but it’s versatile.  It can be applied with equal appropriateness to the old lady who smiles at me with joy written in every wrinkle, and the hot hunk in his well-filled jeans.  Though in the latter case, I find that extra vowels and/or syllables may get added.  “Niiiiiice!”  And sometimes, “Ni-yi-yi-yi-yice!!”  But that might just be me. And I usually remember to use my inside voice.

How would it feel if you were out getting groceries one day, and a total stranger walked up to you, smiled, and said “Like!”  And then walked away.  No innuendos, no pressure, no lingering drool.  Just simple, innocent appreciation.

True, you wouldn’t know whether you were being appreciated for your face, your shoes, your kindness in allowing them to precede you through the lineup, or the fact that they’ve never before seen a person who’s capable of causing a landslide of produce by removing a single apple.  But it wouldn’t matter.  Just like Facebook, you don’t know exactly why you’re being “Liked”, but it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling anyway.

I realize this is a ridiculously naive and possibly dangerous idea.  I know that some people wouldn’t appreciate being “Liked”, no matter how innocent it might be.  And I know there are far too many people out there with no sense of appropriateness or boundaries, so it couldn’t possibly work.

But… I kinda wish it could.

What do you think?  Would you like to be “Liked”?

17 thoughts on “How Do I “Like” Thee?”

  1. That reminds me of a dream I had a few months ago. I had a like button above my head and no one would click on it 😛 Facebook addiction I guess.

    And as usual great read!

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  2. Haha great blog! I have to say, at one point I did check out the guys in the gym! But I have a hunk all to myself now so truthfully, no one attracts my attention in quite the same way. I do know what you are talking about when you say appreciating the beauty of other people, if I see a beautiful woman I say so, if I see a handsome man I’ll comment too, but it’s kinda funny because it’s no longer in a “checking out” way but more of an appreciation of God’s creation! I was told that I was beautiful the other day by a random man who didn’t try to hit on me or anything, he just wanted to say it and I have to admit, it did make me smile just a little bit bigger!

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    • Thanks for the comment, Sharon. When I wrote this post, I had actually expected to have some people comment that they’d be offended by a “Like”, but it looks as though the opposite is true. Maybe it’s time to start a guerilla “Like” campaign!

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  3. I “like” the idea. hahah. I get so happy when someone compliments me. It gets difficult when it is the opposite sex and you are commenting on their body. They might take it the wrong way. But as long as you are good intentioned, I say, “say anything!”.

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  4. NICE. I like it. And a warm word of appreciation does make one’s day. I love it in Italy when friends greet you with a ‘Ciao, bella!’
    Let me count the wrinkles, but that wipes them all away.

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  6. Niiiiice post! 😉

    I had something akin to this happen to me the other day as I was walking into the grocery store. A perfect stranger smiled at me and said, “I love how you bounce when you walk — you look happy!” (It was an older lady, so didn’t immediately assume she was talking about a specific part of my anatomy.)

    You know what? I WAS happy, and even happier after her comment. It was…well, nice. 🙂

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    • Thanks, Linda! Whoa, a bonafide “like” from a stranger – how cool is that? That’s never actually happened to me, but I have to confess I smiled for a week after a store clerk told me I had an exuberant signature. Hey, I’ll take what I can get. 🙂

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    • Thanks, Ed! Okay, I obviously have a twisted mind. As I read your comment, my brain substituted “pubic” for “public”. I’d apologize for that, but I just surfed over and read your May 25 post, so I suspect an apology isn’t strictly necessary. 🙂

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  8. I wouldn’t like to be “Liked.’ I’d love it! 😀 (As long as it was a genuine “Like,” as are those your get in “Real Life.” Facebook “Likes” don’t count, IMO.) 🙂

    I rarely Like strangers in Real Life, but when I do, I show it with a polite smile for women, and a huge grin for men. Of those rare occasions, I almost always get a smile back.

    Before I married my chauffeur, I walked everywhere. And over a decade later, I still fondly remember the guy- a stranger- who on several occasions called out “Beautiful!” or “I love you!” as I walked past his house. I would smile and wave, and it didn’t go any farther than that. Perfect.

    So yes I absolutely appreciate ogling / attention / pitying bemusement from strangers, as long as they don’t- as you mentioned- try to lick my neck. lol

    BTW Ni-yi-yi-yi-yice . . . . . hair. 😉

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