Aggressively telling women to smile...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG Nooooooooooow I get it.

You're all a bunch of bitter women who walk around with that mad face on. Ha! Nice to finally meet you! (not)

Are you also the kind that walks fast by stepping on others' toes to get out the metro fast? Are you the kind that speeds up when you see someone walking towards Barnes N Noble at the same time as you?

Ha! I knew I've seen you before!

No you don't get it. I'm not bitter, I just don't give a shit about anyone else's opinion about.... anything. Especially not the state of my facial expression. No I don't step on toes, and FYI, unless my kids are trying to bolt, I hold the door for others. Just because I'm frowning doesn't mean I'm automatically bitter, or grumpy. Maybe I was frowning because I'm having a bad day. Maybe I'm worried about something. Maybe I have a headache. Maybe I'm frowning because the person behind me showered in Angel and is funking up a 20' radius. Whatever the reason, MYOB.

And yet it is so important that we understand how little you care.

[Anonymous]

I HATE this. It is sexist and belittling. No one EVER tells a man to smile. But because we women are supposed to be decorative and pleasant to look at all the time, any moron feels free to tell women who are complete strangers to smile. Next time someone does this to me, I'm going to let them have it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I HATE this. It is sexist and belittling. No one EVER tells a man to smile. But because we women are supposed to be decorative and pleasant to look at all the time, any moron feels free to tell women who are complete strangers to smile. Next time someone does this to me, I'm going to let them have it.

That's not true. I am a man and I used to get it all the time. It was either that or "what's bothering you?" Then I stopped walking around with a frown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No you don't get it. I'm not bitter, I just don't give a shit about anyone else's opinion about.... anything. Especially not the state of my facial expression. No I don't step on toes, and FYI, unless my kids are trying to bolt, I hold the door for others. Just because I'm frowning doesn't mean I'm automatically bitter, or grumpy. Maybe I was frowning because I'm having a bad day. Maybe I'm worried about something. Maybe I have a headache. Maybe I'm frowning because the person behind me showered in Angel and is funking up a 20' radius. Whatever the reason, MYOB.

Clearly you do care a lot. If you really didn't care, it wouldn't bother you so much when someone says "Smile!".

And yet it is so important that we understand how little you care.

Again, you don't get it. I do not care about you or your opinion of my scowling visage. That doesn't mean I enjoy some asshole I've never met telling me what to do. Even when it's something as small as *smile!!!!!!!!!!!*. If I wanted to smile, I'd be doing it. The frown that you see indicates that I am in a Non Smiling Mood. If it's a pathetic attempt at conversation starting, considering the scowl on my face, I'm pretty sure I'm not interested in talking to you. The exception to that would be if you are selling Girl Scout Cookies or know where I can get some. Otherwise, go away.

[Anonymous]

Op you are great!

Hey btw, if you like girl scout cookies, try the slow churned Samoas ice cream by Edy's. Its seriously amazing. They have thin mint but the Samoas is all you need. Better than sex IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I HATE this. It is sexist and belittling. No one EVER tells a man to smile. But because we women are supposed to be decorative and pleasant to look at all the time, any moron feels free to tell women who are complete strangers to smile. Next time someone does this to me, I'm going to let them have it.

That's not true. I am a man and I used to get it all the time. It was either that or "what's bothering you?" Then I stopped walking around with a frown.

So, a lot of other men say this to you? Huh. Cause I can't imagine as a woman, seeing a frowning man on the street and saying anything to him. Women don't tend to confront frowning men they don't know. Seems kinda dangerous. Odd that so many women are doing this, odder still that a dude would it. Really I would imagine most men don't give a shit if you are frowning or not.

[Anonymous]

omg, you are all a bunch of crazies. i've had this said to me a million times and all i can think of is that it usually does make me smile because it means at least someone noticed me

i may be offended if a guy said to me, "hey, honey, why don't you smile and then go in the kitchen and make me a sandwich...then you can blow me." that would be offensive.

but hey smile? do you really think that stranger is putting that much thought into what he's saying to you? i seriously doubt in the two seconds that he may be passing you on the sidewalk that he's like wow let me tell this woman what to do with her face, or thinking that he's trying to stop women from contemplative thoughts so that the world looks prettier. he noticed another human frowning, that's it. you're all analyzing this WAAAAY out of proportion. god forbid another human being may attempt to say something to you that maybe isn't the most intelligent thing you've ever heard.

then people complain on other threads that they can't make friends with their neighbors. ha! if saying smile to someone can get them pissed at you then no wonder why no one is this city can make friends.

[Anonymous]

It is a matter of tone. It is a command to smile. It is quasi-hostile. I am not an ornament to express contentment to random strangers. Bugger off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I HATE this. It is sexist and belittling. No one EVER tells a man to smile. But because we women are supposed to be decorative and pleasant to look at all the time, any moron feels free to tell women who are complete strangers to smile. Next time someone does this to me, I'm going to let them have it.

That's not true. I am a man and I used to get it all the time. It was either that or "what's bothering you?" Then I stopped walking around with a frown.

So, a lot of other men say this to you? Huh. Cause I can't imagine as a woman, seeing a frowning man on the street and saying anything to him. Women don't tend to confront frowning men they don't know. Seems kinda dangerous. Odd that so many women are doing this, odder still that a dude would it. Really I would imagine most men don't give a shit if you are frowning or not.

That's because you have already decided that this is sexist thing, so it makes no sense to you. It isn't possible that you are wrong.

[Anonymous]

New poster. To 21:26, no, the stranger is not putting thought into the "Smile." He is just sexist and/or hostile to women and so this is part of his daily repertoire. He does this all. the. time.

It's rude and a "Hello" would be more effective or a head nod. There is absolutely no need to tell another person to smile. It is so rude and presumptuous and very disrespectful. No stranger should be commanding someone else to do anything.

Another person in agreement with you, OP!

[Anonymous]

Wow.. You all must live fairy-tale lives if this kind of complaint is worth six pages!!! That's crazy. Smile, or don't smile, and than just move on... honestly... It's really not that serious...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow.. You all must live fairy-tale lives if this kind of complaint is worth six pages!!! That's crazy. Smile, or don't smile, and than just move on... honestly... It's really not that serious...

Sweetheart, this is The Internet. EVERYTHING on here is Serious Business.

[Anonymous]

Actually, PP I was thinking the opposite. If someone becomes so hostile about someone they don't know (but still try to judge) telling them to not look so miserable (because they do) -well, the irony. That's all.

[Anonymous]

From now on, I'm saying "nice frown!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I HATE this. It is sexist and belittling. No one EVER tells a man to smile. But because we women are supposed to be decorative and pleasant to look at all the time, any moron feels free to tell women who are complete strangers to smile. Next time someone does this to me, I'm going to let them have it.

That's not true. I am a man and I used to get it all the time. It was either that or "what's bothering you?" Then I stopped walking around with a frown.

So, a lot of other men say this to you? Huh. Cause I can't imagine as a woman, seeing a frowning man on the street and saying anything to him. Women don't tend to confront frowning men they don't know. Seems kinda dangerous. Odd that so many women are doing this, odder still that a dude would it. Really I would imagine most men don't give a shit if you are frowning or not.

That's because you have already decided that this is sexist thing, so it makes no sense to you. It isn't possible that you are wrong.

I'm not wrong. There is no guy I know who would tell another guy he's never met, randomly on the street, to smile. That is just laughable.