Indirect compliment

You look lovely today, by the way. - Danny Wallace
This line, from the prologue of the book, may be the first example of what I've called an 'indirect compliment', a compliment that is put down in writing, congratulating a person on their appearance, despite the fact the writer cannot see the reader. Or, as is usually the case, readers. It doesn't make sense, of course, but then most of the people who've Joined don't really need reason and logic to justify having fun and raising a smile.
This habit of cheerily praising everyone, as a casual aside to a group email or forum post, is now popular amongst Joinees. Love the commments or hate them, there's no avoiding them.
Nice shoes, by the way. Are they new?