Perhaps, although I'm more inclined to think that both of the attitudes I describe are based on the girl being human. Trying to work out her motivation certainly is, but even if I'd just taken the smile for what it is the point would not primarily have been that she was very pretty (although that helped); the major source of pleasure would have been knowing that a random passer-by wanted to brighten my day.

(Or have I missed the point of your comment?)

Hmm, possibly, possibly not. It's the use of 'gift' that I instinctively went "ick" at, but thinking about it, well come on self, this is Simon, it's not like he's the editor of "Women Are Objects Weekly", is it?

Yay for pretty people smiling, anyway.

I intended to refer to the smile as a gift, since it was given freely with no thought of reward. I don't think that involves me having had to think the woman was an object, or a gift (or even a horse!), but if there's some terribly subtle implication of that kind then I didn't intend it and I apologise.

The "gift horse" metaphor is a bloody silly one anyway, come to think of it. It's amazing it's managed to survive in the same world as the Iliad, since the recipients of at least one extremely famous gift horse certainly should have looked it in the mouth!

It's ok, I'm just being slightly more insane than usual today because I spent two hours being thrown across the floor yesterday, which was unwise in the first place. I know you're not a horrible chauvinist :)