Is it inappropriate to compliment strangers on their impressive beards and moustaches?
I (m, 24) sometimes can't help but express appreciation and adoration when I see a (usually) older, more mature gentleman sporting a magnificently wild and unkempt beard, or one whose moustache is so precisely maintained it must take wizardry to keep it groomed.
Or any of the impressive variations in between that require equal dedication to shape and maintain.
My question comes from something I've noticed:
Most men react really positively to these compliments, and even sometimes soften up from their hard shell, but sometimes one/few will see it as weird or inappropriate. Most recently, a guy actually grabbed me and told me off for being presumptuous, seemed like he wanted an apology, but could constrain himself.
Now I'm wondering: Is there some line I'm crossing when I compliment strangers on their facial hair, or does it just depend on the person? I mean, they invest all the time to keep it tidy and up - if I were able to grow close to any of such beards that are coming by, any praise I could get would sweeten my day.
Sorry for the wall of text, but getting grabbed on 2 hours ago for a question like this and almost getting choked leaves me with a question.