QotD: Win Me Over

What's the best way to get on your good side?
Submitted by Manon-It-All.

For total strangers, they should say something like, "I love your blog." That totally swells my unnecessarily huge ego because it means 1) They know who I am  2) They read my blog  3) Presumably they do like my blog or at least want to please me enough to say it.

Real fact: I've met partners at work who have actually asked if I am the 'Vanessa Tan from vantan.org'. [sorry, most people don't read my Vox blog I think!]

Generally I like people who are great conversationalists and have a wide knowledge on many issues. They must be sincere and not try to be fake and politically correct. That makes me feel like I can't trust the person. The person doen't have to agree with me on all issues (that would make me suspicious) but must have valid points of view. I won't accept arguments like "Just because."

After our first encounter, they must continue to stay in touch and not pop up whenever they want me to buy insurance from them. I don't like feeling 'used' by friends. A sense of humour is always welcomed. If it's a guy, talking geek stuff and football is a plus.

Perhaps it's easier to talk about how NOT to get on my bad side.

1. Trying to brag or lecture me on certain topics when I actually know more than the 'lecturer'. In time usually they come to realise it. E.g. a guy who's never done web design before, tried to lecture me on web design when I had just finished a two-year stint as the sole designer for regional Volkswagen and Audi websites.
   
2. Being uncommunicative or saying things really vaguely, like grunting, causing confusion within teams. In my old band we had a member who did not communicate when he was ready to start playing, so we would just wait for him to get ready indefinitely. When we did go ahead and started playing a song, he scolded us.
   
3. Dissing other people's cultures and showing a total lack of understanding and interest in other people. We've had lunch plans quashed by fuddy-duddies who, without having even tried a new type of food from a different culture, immediately assume the food will be bad. Usually it's quite the opposite.
   
4. Preaching to me that I should be going back to doing web design when I've actually moved on to project management. Especially bad - expecting that I can still do freelance web design, and at a dirt cheap price.
5. Dismissing things as 'lousy' when that is not the case. Especially if I had just announced that I'm really into that trend or product or service. It's just plain rude. Surely if I had chosen something I'd have my own reasons and they should respect that. They can voice opposing views but shouldn't be rude about it.
   
6. Having perpetual BO and not doing anything about it - armpits, breath, crotch, hair, clothes, whatever. I also don't hang around people who smoke because that shortens my life span and causes a stink.
7. Having chauvinistic views. I still hear comments like "Women are useless for..." and "Women have no strength to do this..." when it is not always the case.
   
8. Being very stuck-up. That actually makes me feel the person is insecure and could also in future attempt to put me down to make himself feel superior.