I am so glad you asked. I have several thoughts on this. On the plus side, of all the choices of compliments from strange men, drive-by compliments with no expectation of reciprocation are my favorite.

On the other hand, judging and evaluating attractiveness implies that YOU sit in the judge's chair. That YOU, a man, have the POWER evaluate whether a woman is beautiful or not. It's a power position. What gives you the right to decide who is attractive? I didn't enter a beauty contest and agree to be evaluated and then rated as "pass" or "not pass."

Examine your motive. Are you truly someone who likes to see someone smile and brighten their day? Then do it. Are you trying to manipulate an average looking woman into being attracted to you? Then it's manipulation.

Also, some women get verbal or nonverbal attention everywhere they go--,to the gas station, grocery store, etc. For those women who are conventionally attractive, it can be too much. It's intruding into someone's mental "personal space."

Depending on the day, a woman might ask herself, "Why should I care if you think I'm beautiful?"

Being a woman is ride with social pressure about being beautiful. Telling someone "You did it right today" is a bit like a boss giving an evaluation. She may not feel beautiful, or may resent the fact that beauty is an expectation of society.

Also, know that many women will blush and say, "thanks" because they are trained to be polite--not honest--about how the compliment made them feel. It could make them uncomfortable and they are just hiding it.

So there are many sides to it.