Smiling

[CaptainSalmon54 16]

I often go for hour-long walks and while I'm walking I always listen to my music. Obviously, I smile a lot while listening to my music regardless of the song being played. I smile at everyone I pass and will normally greet them. I thought that people would smile in return, however, most people decide to ignore me and continue to keep their grim expressions. This got me wondering, "Are people only miserable because they choose to be?" I'm not normally so happy, yet when I want to be, I can be exceptionally cheery. I pass/greet about 10-20 people everyday and only about 1-3 smile at me in return. I am starting to believe that people can switch freely between happiness and sadness. I know I can, but I don't know if this is universal or not. Some of the people I greet, usually the kids around my age, will actually insult me because of my smiling! I think that some people believe that they must be miserable as part of their daily routine.

 

Anyway, what are your views on smiling? Should we peacefully greet each other, or simply insult each other?

[Bow Heart 84]

I usually give a slight smile and nod of the head as a greeting to strangers or anyone I pass by. To be told you've been insulted for being polite is downright wrong.

[NavelColt 22,880]

I usually have a blank expression. My mind is whirlwind of emotions due to anxiety, but on the exterior, I'm not for expression emotions. I give short small smiles for the sake of being polite, but that's pretty much it. That doesn't mean I'm miserable or even in a bad mood though, it's just what it is. Don't get why people would get upset over someone else smiling. It's their own choice at least to an extent, to be in the mood they are, so there's no rational reason to feel jealous or feel other people shouldn't be smiling.

[Starshine 16,333]

We should try to smile and laugh as much as possible, because laughing and smiling gave us this slight 'drugged' effect, which is damn good

 

But try not to smile too much. People can be very judgmental about others' happiness

[KakeiTheWolf 652]

After reading the beginning of this thread, I have logically concluded that we have, indeed, recieved confirmation that Pinkie Pie entered our dimension.

[Starshine 16,333]

After reading the beginning of this thread, I have logically concluded that we have, indeed, recieved confirmation that Pinkie Pie entered our dimension.

 

We don't need any Element of Laughter, we got Rowan Atkinson

 

 

If you couldn't find that face funny, you're a demon

[DashPony 359]

I try to acknowledge others with at least a nod. If i'm in an exceptionally good mood (which has been rare lately), I will smile.

 

I wouldn't take it personally if someone doesn't smile back. Sometimes people just have bad days. I mean, sure, some of them could be frowning cause they are complete jerks, but i'm sure that isn't always the case. However, insulting you because you are happy? That's extremely rude, and it sounds like they could be jealous of your happiness.

[Motion Spark 7,807]

I love to smile, but I don't smile to strangers because #1 my nervousness won't let me do the first move and #2 people might get the wrong idea if I suddenly smile to them, however if they smile at me, you can be damn sure that I will smile back

[Aureity 3,055]

I usually don't smile at people because I'm so lazy that, I kid you not, my brain discourages my mouth from working the few facial muscles it would take to bring a smile into existence. And then when I realize "Hey, that other guy just smiled at me, maybe I should smile back instead of acting like a lazy stony-faced jerk", they've already walked by and I've lost the opportunity. :\

[Dusty Soul 2,611]

I smile alot at people walking by or at a football game. They usually give me a disgusted look. Yeah I dislike my town.

[tanoshii 131]

If I awkwardly make eye contact with someone when I'm walking (I usually look downward) I'll give a slight nod, but nothing more.

[CapnKrunk 307]

The reason why I dont like smiling is because my smiling is jacked up.So thats why I just make a small grin instead.

[SrFrog 927]

If I'm acknowledged, than I will acknowledge them even if it's with a simple nod. The thing about people nowadays is that they tend to pick a lot of their mannerisms from whoever the hell is popular at the time, so a lot is lost there.

[OptimisticNeighsayer 478]

It sounds like a false dichotomy to me if we have to choose between "peacefully greet or simply insult". I highly doubt most insults are intentional, and that greetings can only be peaceful when smiling.

 

The problem I have when people smile most of the time is that I often don't believe they actually are happy, it's just a social convention, and one that doesn't even make sense to me. In photographs people aren't necessarily happy if they smile, they think it just looks good and one is often expected to smile anyway. (I like older photographs because people didn't feel the need to smile [although hygiene was so bad back in the day you didn't want to show your teeth] and I feel there is something more honest about what they are actually feeling. I wonder if the social convention of smiling at people actually has more to do with improved teeth for what would have otherwise been a rare and truly special expression in the past.)

 

Of course, one can smile without showing their teeth, I personally am just bad at it. And my smiles with teeth are terrible too. So I do feel a little uneasy when a person smiles because I have difficulty making a good smile myself.

 

To go back to your concerns, I think that people tend to be more "private" nowadays, and if you try to be friendly with them they might wince a little. Might I also ask how you smile? That might have something to do with the reaction you get.

Edited July 29, 2012 by JustFairness

[CaptainSalmon54 16]

Might I also ask how you smile? That might have something to do with the reaction you get.

 

I keep my teeth hiddden and raise the corners of my mouth about a half of an inch upward. Regardless of how I smile, it seems that I get the same reaction. I know some people aren't exactly happy by nature, but people shouldn't try to ignore a smile and a greeting.

[Somebody 570]

I used to get anxiety over this exact same thing. I would be happy, think it was great, try to share it with random strangers and maybe even have them smile back to validate that my happiness was real--only to be sneered at. Eventually I just gave up trying to be accepted for it and took a Pinkie Pie approach: wear a goofy smile everywhere.

 

I just looked in the mirror today, and saw the greeting I've adopted: head raised in acknowledgement, eyes wide opened and goofy smile. I discovered that it was like something Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown / Pinkie Pie / some crazy dude would do:

 

 

No wonder the policeman I smiled at today gave me an odd look!

Edited July 29, 2012 by Questio

[zDashiez 496]

I'm usually too deep in thought, so i don't really notice people walking past me.

When i do acknowledge someone i just give a slight nod which gets a whole array of responses, some smile, a clap on the shoulder and some just push me or flip me the bird.

Some people are just rude while others are focused on others things or just don't notice.

[Titan Rising 2,156]

Yes I think people have full control over whether they want to be negative or positive. It's a lot easier to be negative though so that's what most people migrate too

 

Of course we shouldn't insult each other though... Whether or not we should necessarily do anything at all I couldn't say, but I think spreading cheer and smiling (even if the person you're smiling at doesn't smile back) helps people out a lot and helps create a world that's one... smile...better...at...a....time. Plus you can help contribute to brightening up people's day even if it's just by a minuscule amount and help inspire others to do the same.

[Rainbow- 33]

When I walk outside in public I usually smile either because I keep thinking of funny random things, or I see someone else smiling and I think it's funny, or I see someone doing something weird, or I am listening to good music. When other people who aren't smiling look at me, I look away smiling shifting my eyes giving a 'LOL yeah right' expression. The only times when I don't smile is when I am on the bus looking outside on a snowy and empty day... so much peace. Or when I take my own photograph... because i end up laughing at how serious I look, it's dumb xD.

 

So keep smiling, it'll make others smile too xD

[Driz 1,552]

If I ever saw a random person smiling at me, I'd certainly smile back.

 

I've always wanted to do this experience: go out in the streets greeting random people and see how they react.

 

I think some people would react negatively because they would just find it weird. "Who's that idiot smiling at me? I don't even know him." People tend to be grim due to the everyday routine, which gets frustrating some times. I can understand that.

 

Little they know that a smile, a laugh, a simple act of randomness could change everything.

[CaptainSalmon54 16]

Little they know that a smile, a laugh, a simple act of randomness could change everything.

 

I agree with you 100%. I'm normally quite angry/ miserable, but I find that something as simple as a smile can change everything.

[Musical-Mettaur 41]

In New York, you may find the rarity that someone actually thanks you for holding the door, and that's people who share the same building as you. In New York City, the Grand Apple, it's rare to find smiling. Usually people out of town or those payed to pretend they're happy about something, advertisements or car drivers instructed to be nice. Usually, grim indifference, and no way in hell is anyone smiling when it rains. Sure, it's rare and nice to get out of the heat like that, but then the sewers overflow and the smell is everywhere. I think there are alot more dead rats in the tunnels than I thought before..

[AngryGamer432 155]

I don't smile because I am almost never happy. I mean really what is there to make me happy? I get one thing and i want another thing and i am never happy

[One 498]

I don't really care if im smiling or not, and if someone who i didnt really know was smiling at me and said hi, the most I would do would be a slight effortless wave.

[CaptainSalmon54 16]

I don't smile because I am almost never happy. I mean really what is there to make me happy? I get one thing and i want another thing and i am never happy

 

That's exactly what I thought! Then I realised that being miserable achieves nothing. I have always been unhappy in life, as a conspiracy theorist, I know that society is dying slowly, but surely. To hide my true feelings, what ever they may be, I smile. I find that MLP and music are the only two things that really suppress my rage. In a nutshell, I smile to hide my inner-anger. I know what's like to be unhappy, so I try my best to make others smile.