Aggressively telling women to smile...

[Anonymous]

What is with some people (strangers)in this area who walk by you on the street and if you are lost in thought and not giving eye contact, will almost accost you and say "smile!" in a half joking half threatening manner? WTF?! It feels vaguely sexist--as if women should walk around dreamily smiling at them...

[Anonymous]

hmm this has never happened to me. weird!

[Anonymous]

Me either.

I don't think anyone wants you doing "dreamily". They don't want your scowl to scare the children.

[Anonymous]

Has happened to me all my life here. I hate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Me either.

I don't think anyone wants you doing "dreamily". They don't want your scowl to scare the children.

I don't think that's it. It's almost always men who are alone who say this to me. Some will whisper it in a sleazy "sexy" whisper. "Smile baby". I am a tall somewhat serious looking scandinavian. I have discussed this with a friend who is asian. She said it hapepns from older women relatives. "why you no smile, they say.

[Anonymous]

You know what? FUCK THEM. I 'll smile if I want to.

[Anonymous]

I HATE this.

[Anonymous]

I get it too. Always from older men loitering. Just say "good morning" if you want to talk to me, ok?

[Anonymous]

I get this on an almost daily basis. I HATE IT. My conclusion is that it's a form of hitting-on women and of light flirtation. I can't imagine it's particularly effective, because most women find it manipulative, intrusive, and infuriating. For those who don't know what OP is talking about, the script is usually like:

[You, walking along, thinking about your grocery list, or getting on the elevator]
TOTAL STRANGER: Smile baby, it's not so bad!
YOU: Oh, was I frowning/Huh?/Oh, okay
TS: Have a great day!
YOU: [mentally: Go fuck yourself]

[Anonymous]

Have had it happen too. The nerve!

[Anonymous]

And what's up with "Have a nice day!" ??? Don't tell me what to do! And quit prying into my business. I hate those rude people.

Another one is "Thanks for coming!" from store employees. Don't thank me; just provide me a service. And why do they always say it in that gaspy, moaning way? Really irritating.

And don't get me started on "Good morning!". I just about want to strangle those little urchins when they come pounding down the steps each day. They're just trying to manipulate me into cooking breakfast. Jerks.

[Anonymous]

I also have gotten this my whole life, and it's effing irritating. I happen to find walking a good time to think, whether it's about work, my to-do list, problems I'm having and trying to solve, relationships or just life in general, so while I'm not scowling I usually have a pensive look. So what? How does this affect other people? I have to smile all the time to not offend? What if I'm actually having a rough time and things really are that bad? Why is it someone else's place to assume that things really aren't that bad and I should smile?

[Anonymous]

Same here, gotten this my whole life. Mostly from men. Most times it happened in DC when I was walking to work. Who the hell would be smiling like a weirdo on their way to work in the am? Well not me!

[Anonymous]

I hate this too, and I'm a person who smiles A LOT. It's always when I'm thinking seriously about something like others have said and I just have a pensive look. I don't mind people greeting me in other ways at all. I guess I just don't like people assuming that I'm other than happy, just because I don't keep a smile on my face every second. It starts to hurt your face if you smile all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And what's up with "Have a nice day!" ??? Don't tell me what to do! And quit prying into my business. I hate those rude people.

Another one is "Thanks for coming!" from store employees. Don't thank me; just provide me a service. And why do they always say it in that gaspy, moaning way? Really irritating.

And don't get me started on "Good morning!". I just about want to strangle those little urchins when they come pounding down the steps each day. They're just trying to manipulate me into cooking breakfast. Jerks.

Sorry but I had to add "Excuse You" and this is not when I have done anything wrong. Like opening a door and letting someone through....why is it "excuse you" they should say "excuse me" when they pass by. That is SO ANNOYING!