for anyone who wasn't taught how to handle a compliment as a child, here's how you do:
Thank you, with a protracted vowel sound around the 'an', and the same, heightened protracted vowel sound on the 'o' in you, and a quick cut off around the 'u' sound so it doesn't sound sarcastic
Then, often, you pay them a compliment in return, often to the same degree/significance as yours to them
Such as,
'Hey, I like your jumper'
'Thank you! I like yours, too'
Add a 'too' if it is about the same concept, item, inversed onto their person
Or,
'I like that little flop in your hair'
'Thank you. like how you styled yours. The curls are pretty'
Or,
'Hey, I love your artstyle'
Here, we come to a conundrum, as, unless we are in an art class, we may not know (or visibly see, often important) their art, so this is what we say
'Thank you-,'
And then, something about it to clarify, often WHY they might like certain thing
Say,
'I've been working on it. Glad you like it'
Or,
'I've been practicing colour matching'
Or,
'Interesting that you like (*this style here*). It's one that really fascinates me'
Guaranteed to help smooth conversations, improve your image in other people's perspective, and potentially, gain freinds
From years of research
Bonus tip:
If you want to make eye contact and you are struggling, look into the corner of one of their eyes, or pick an eyebrow to look at. Mimics eye contact very well without actually making it. Do not forget to look away briefly, to say, a cheek or the tip of their ear, on average, every thirty seconds, for a duration of less than half a second, before looking back, if you really want to sell it
Signed, a friendly autistic
