It is among members of the upper class that you have to refrain from making compliments, which are taken to be rude… The paying of compliments is a middle-class convention, for this class needs the assurance compliments provide. In the upper class there’s never any doubt of one’s value, and it all goes without saying.
Paul Fussell, Class
Class and Compliments
Clarissa's Blog 
Interesting. I grew up with “compliments should be rare, gratitude frequent”, and the opposite in the working world has always been uncomfortable.
I thought of you today, as this year’s Christmas tree is host to a large, nimble, and pretty spider. We have named him Tom.
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