Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with charming

Already Seen Pollyanna

Fairchild — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:38:34 -0800

What novels or movies have a vivacious, charming person drop in and change everybody's perspective or shake the place up?

Ideas for optimizing my time at social events I have to attend?

Borborygmus — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 17:24:40 -0800

I'm at business school, and we have regular social functions, mainly happy hours, promoted by the school with the aim of expanding our networks. It's not like I'm bad at them. I'm actually pretty sociable. But I'm there for a reason, and I wouldn't be there if I had a choice. Can anyone suggest ways to optimize this socialization time, for example, exercises I might practice at these events to be more witty, funny or charming? Thanks! I don't really drink, I don't like shouting in a bar, and I like to go to sleep early. The happy hours really aren't my thing, but I feel some personal and professional responsibility to attend. I'd rather be out riding my bike.

I can be somewhat charming, mainly because I have a decent sense of empathy. I know when to listen and when to tell a good story. But I'd like to get more out of these happy hours. I was wondering if there's anything I could do with these happy hours in order to refine my wit, to be more funny or more charming.

Please, no criticism of my philosophy. "Just be yourself" doesn't cut it. Work will place me in similar situations in the future. Just how-tos on how to optimize my time if you can. Thanks!

More funny, charming, intelligent things to watch?

kristi — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:47:04 -0800

Please recommend funny, charming, gentle movies and TV shows. As a follow-up to the question I asked a couple of years ago about smart Britcoms, I'm looking for more intelligent and funny TV and movies to watch.

In that thread, two people recommended stuff by Alan Plater, which I have now seen and thoroughly enjoyed. As I mentioned there, I also like Tom Stoppard and things like As Time Goes By.

So, slightly different preferences this time around:

* looking for charming and gentle - avoiding excessive snark or cringy humor, as well as gory murder mysteries
* looking for really high quality - great writing, great acting, great directing
* all countries welcome - US, UK, Canada, Australia; foreign language stuff is okay too
* doesn't HAVE to be funny but definitely prefer at least some comedy in my dramedy
* looking for both movies and TV, not just TV
* strong preference for stuff that's available in the US on DVD, although if you know of something amazing that's not available, I'd still love to hear about it for my "maybe someday" list

I have seen all of Northern Exposure, Slings and Arrows, the Beiderbecke Chronicles (and Oliver's Travels), As Time Goes By, Good Neighbors, and the West Wing (which I utterly loved, but is slightly more serious than I'm looking for here).

Also, I've just seen the pilot episode of Community and i really enjoyed that.

Thanks!

The Elements of Charm

Astro Zombie — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:47:09 -0800

How to be charming. What would you say are the elements of personal charm? What resources would you recommend for someone seeking to be charming?