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What is up with strangers telling people to smile?

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S

Skiesofwonder

Walruses, camels, bears, rabbits, tigers and badgers.
I've had this happen to me a few times now. I'm just going about my business, not in a bad mood once so ever, and I'll walk by someone I've never met before in my life and they tell me to "smile". Usually I chuckle and walk away, but then I start to think about it and become uncomfortable. I mean seriously, what an awkward-ass thing to say to someone you don't know. But usually l don't get too worked up about it until my girlfriend told me today that it happens all the time to her. She said early this week that she was in the gym, and when walking to the water fountain some guy told her to "smile". Who the hell smiles at the gym, really?

It really makes me sick now that I think about it. That person has no clue who you are or why you aren't smiling at that current moment. Maybe a family member recently passed away? Maybe you've had a bad day? Maybe you just don't smile around the clock 24/7. And do they expect that them telling someone to smile is going to make that person happy? Does that make a lick of sense? Such a comment is one hundred percent made for some stupid ass self-fulfillment at the benefit of another person's feelings. Fuck that.
 
G

George Oscar Bluth II

Banned
Only time I ever had something like this happen to me was when I was looking a little grumpy or something while I was eight. Elderly man asked me "Not going to school like that, are you?", and I smiled. I imagine being told to smile often would be quite irritating.
 
A

Agnostic

but believes in Chael
"My dog just died" is my automatic response to these people.


I had someone do this to me the day after my best friend died and revealing this information made him feel like shit.

edit: now I feel like shit thinking about my friend. Fuck.
 
yongeandcollege

yongeandcollege

Member
Skiesofwonder said:
I've had this happen to me a few times now. I'm just going about my business, not in a bad mood once so ever, and I'll walk by someone I've never met before in my life and they tell me to "smile". Usually I chuckle and walk away, but then I start to think about it and become uncomfortable. I mean seriously, what an awkward-ass thing to say to someone you don't know. But usually l don't get too worked up about it until my girlfriend told me today that it happens all the time to her. She said early this week that she was in the gym, and when walking to the water fountain some guy told her to "smile". Who the hell smiles at the gym, really?

It really makes me sick now that I think about it. That person has no clue who you are or why you aren't smiling at that current moment. Maybe a family member recently passed away? Maybe you've had a bad day? Maybe you just don't smile around the clock 24/7. And do they expect that them telling someone to smile is going to make that person happy? Does that make a lick of sense? Such a comment is one hundred percent made for some stupid ass self-fulfillment at the benefit of another person's feelings. Fuck that.
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I think you mean "whatsoever"

I can see how that could bother someone but two things come to mind. The person encouraging you to smile is either (i) trying to be nice and make you feel happy or (ii) trying to pick you up. Either way, nothing to get annoyed about in my opinion.
 
N

NervousXtian

Thought Emoji Movie was good. Take that as you will.
I think the OP needs to smile more.. because this is an awfully superficial thing to get that worked up about.
 
A

Acorn

Member
Annoys me no end. I'm just sitting minding my business thinking about whatever and somebody thinks I'm "sad" or "angry".

Bugger off, I smile all the time but not when I'm thinking about whatever. It's so patronising.
 
G

GrooveCommand

Member
I always feel like i have a bad case of bitchy resting face. Whenever I think about my face I realize I'm making weird faces. Never been told to smile though but that's rude, what if you're having a bad day?
 
R

Red Blaster

Member
nZmCqhV.jpg
 
T

Tcab96

Member
A stranger hasn't told me this, but I wouldn't be surprised if one did, considering I hardly smile. My mother and grandmother are the primary people who tell me to smile because they think I have a great one.

Some people will instead ask me why I'm angry when in actuality I'm neither angry nor particularly happy, just "meh." Must be my face, unfortunately. And even when I am happy or in a good mood, I don't smile at everyone or everywhere I go.
 
W

weemadarthur

Member
Agree with OP. Although it has rarely been said to me, personally, it has felt like a bizarre and creepy command on those occasions.
 
G

gutter_trash

Banned
honesty is the best policy, if you are grumpy then make a grumpy face, if you are sad then make a sad face, if you are annoyed then make an annoyed face.

fuck fake smiles. I only appreciate real smiles
 
I

ito007

Member
I work at an amusement park and was a bit distracted while moving the ice in the pop trough. So it kind of looked like I was looking real intently into the ice. All of a sudden I hear "hey cheer up, you work at a happy place!" by some random guy, but he said it in a really serious tone.

I just sort of smiled back and nodded. I agree, it feels really weird. I mean, on one hand, he is completely right in that I'm not doing my job by not constantly smiling, so I should be appreciative of that gesture. On the other hand, from my perspective, I've been standing in the same spot for literally hours straight just being there and he had no idea just how long the day had been, and that we get distracted every now and then. Like I said though, good on him to set me back on line even if I was only distracted for a second.

Still... Can't help but feel slightly offended by it.
 
D

daffy

Banned
What sucks is when you DO smile and then the barista at Starbucks says "girl it's too early for you to be showing all them teeth with your smiley ass"

Dammed if you do dammed if you don't imo.
 
S

Skiesofwonder

Walruses, camels, bears, rabbits, tigers and badgers.
DECK'ARD said:
Cheer up OP!
Click to expand...

That's the problem, I like to think that I'm generally a happy person. I use to be really shy so I got it all the time then, I guess I just didn't smile much in public.

yongeandcollege said:
I think you mean "whatsoever"

I can see how that could bother someone but two things come to mind. The person encouraging you to smile is either (i) trying to be nice and make you feel happy or (ii) trying to pick you up. Either way, nothing to get annoyed about in my opinion.
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Oops, I did indeed mean whatsoever.

I don't see how it could be considered trying to be nice though. Trying to be nice to someone else usually involves doing something that benefits the other person. Asking someone to smile does nothing pleasant for the person you are asking to smile.
 
A

Andiie

Unconfirmed Member
I've never had this happen to me but i can only imagine how annoying it would be. I just can't wrap my head around why people think it's any of their business whether you're smiling or not.
 
W

Wazzy

Banned
ito007 said:
I work at an amusement park and was a bit distracted while moving the ice in the pop trough. So it kind of looked like I was looking real intently into the ice. All of a sudden I hear "hey cheer up, you work at a happy place!" by some random guy, but he said it in a really serious tone.

I just sort of smiled back and nodded. I agree, it feels really weird. I mean, on one hand, he is completely right in that I'm not doing my job by not constantly smiling, so I should be appreciative of that gesture. On the other hand, from my perspective, I've been standing in the same spot for literally hours straight just being there and he had no idea just how long the day had been, and that we get distracted every now and then. Like I said though, good on him to set me back on line even if I was only distracted for a second.

Still... Can't help but feel slightly offended by it.
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..but you have a right to be offended. You don't have to stand there all day with the same expression, that's ridiculous and the guy was rude for saying what he did.

Now, if you were helping him and being grumpy that's different but in no way does that mean they should be telling you to smile. It's super condescending.
 
V

Ventara

Member
I don't do it, but it has happened to me, and I don't find it weird or creepy at all. It's not an order or a demand, they just want to cheer you up a bit. Smiling shows a positive appearance, which is more likely to get a positive response around you, thus giving you a better day.

Seriously, you guys are thinking about this too much. If you don't want to smile, then fine, don't.
 
Y

YesNOnoNOYes

Member
If you are smiling on the outside it means you are also smiling on the inside! Just with a gesture you can solve all of your depression / sadness / negative thoughts issues!

It's simple, everyone, just SMILE!

The most important thing is that you reassure others that there is no issues!

Smile, everyone! Smile, smile!





/s

No wonder Joker is an apt character, tbh.
 
W

Wazzy

Banned
Ventara said:
I don't do it, but it has happened to me, and I don't find it weird or creepy at all. It's not an order or a demand, they just want to cheer you up a bit. Smiling shows a positive appearance, which is more likely to get a positive response around you, thus giving you a better day.

Seriously, you guys are thinking about this too much. If you don't want to smile, then fine, don't.
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No. It's rude and annoying.

Nobody smiles all the time so telling someone to smile is obnoxious.
 
A

Acorn

Member
Ventara said:
I don't do it, but it has happened to me, and I don't find it weird or creepy at all. It's not an order or a demand, they just want to cheer you up a bit. Smiling shows a positive appearance, which is more likely to get a positive response around you, thus giving you a better day.

Seriously, you guys are thinking about this too much. If you don't want to smile, then fine, don't.
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The issue is we don't need to cheer up.

Not smiling does not equal sad. Don't patronise me with some pseudo therapy shite.(not you the smile demanding guys)
 
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