<p>I used to be known for being the nicest person anywhere - everyone at school knew that I was exceptionally nice. I was even voted as "nicest forumer" on a forum when I was 13. Back then, being nice was actually easy and people almost always appreciated it.</p>
<p>But now, it's just harder to be nice. Nowadays, if you tell someone "good job", it sort of assumes that they're weak and that they want praise. Not only that, but they don't always appreciate praise. If you tell a professor (or adult) "good job", it just sounds downright awkward. Why? For some reason it just doesn't acknowledge the discrepancy in power between the two. If you say it when you're 12, it could be cute. But when you're older, it's different. Most professors (and many adults) don't even need praise. They already get so much of it. </p>
<p>Plus, it's "creepy" if you say such things and if you barely even know the person. </p>
<p>Not only that, but being excessively nice also makes you seem weak and clingy. Or it might also make you seem like you're trying to get something out of someone - like a sycophant or a flatterer. Although if you're generally nice to everyone it might be different. Unfortunately, not everyone notices this in the context of a large university environment.</p>