Articles On Sexual Harrassment

Q: Is this considered proper anymore? With all the things going on these days about sexual harrasment etc. I'm afraid that something could be interpreted the wrong way. I did say something nice about a necklace someone was wearing a few weeks ago and she seemed to appreciate it. I'm not looking to start anything with the women I work with but just don't know if I should say anything at all.

A:It may not be improper but it's a little strange. In saying so, I admit to being influenced by classic stereotypes of male and female behavior. Also by the case of Darren Hunnemann, who as a teenager engineered the murders of his mother and grandmother by a couple of his friends. Rumour is that his sociopathy has fully blossomed in prison and he is a man to be feared now. As a boy, he had the habit of complimenting his granny on her clothes... It's one thing to say "You're looking really nice tonight" to your date, quite another thing to say I like the cut of the dress you have on there." IOW, compliments referring to the overall effect are fine, but ones that relate to specific articles of clothing are, well, a bit odd coming from a man. It's girl-talk to discuss the details. Unless, of course, you are studying women's fashion design.