Smile

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Have people finally stopped telling you to smile? When I was a kid I heard "smile" on a daily basis from people I didn't even know. If this were still happening I'd f'n lose it.

Last edited by Buc on 29 Dec 2017, 11:34 am, edited 1 time in total.

Oh, yes. At age two years, my birthday was arriving soon and that meant annual photographs day at a 1960s photography studio with lights and noisy machines, and flashing LIGHTS while the photographer used squeak toys and other noise-makers. Years later, when I asked my mother to help me find my photographs I was only slightly surprised that the stack of photographs, if placed in order and sequenced as if they were a "flip-book" of images ... I went from smiling to abject meltdown in about 10 seconds with each image showing more and more concern and fear. Other childhood photographs showed my expression as doubtful and sullen because I "knew" what was coming. Whether professional photographer or amateur family member, I knew the routine, "Smile! No, come on. SMILE!" Luckily, during my political decades, I taught myself to show a convincing smile, though I prefer a closed-mouth grin. If I am grinning, I mean it. If not, it is faked.

I don't get told to smile as much nowadays thankfully. I used to get it a lot in the past though. So annoying. Maybe I should have pointed to them and shouted "Blink!", "Wink!", "Stand on one leg!". Give them some orders on what they should do with their own faces and bodies. There are some instances where it is appropriate to smile (in certain jobs for example), but when I'm just going about my own business I don't see how it concerns other people.

No

I still get that and I can't stand it at all. I'm not the smiling type. I will only smile if I feel like it.

Hahahaha give me something to smile about.....that shuts people up.

I used to tell people to lose weight if they told me to smile.

Nice one, Historygal and Buc

If anyone tells me to smile then they can f*ck off, don't exactly have very much to smile about.

Yes. I watched Silent films (eg Clara bow) online to learn how to be more expressive in my face. I did this when my son was a baby and I spent hours feeding him or pumping or holding him.

Silent films really are a great tool to learn and understand expressions. Now ppl tell me I am over-expressive.

One woman told me I would makd a good silent movie actress because of how my face is so expressive!! I didn’t tell her how hard I worked at it!! !