Why don’t European women (especially French?) smile for photos?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how it’s ok to generalize about Americans, but not anyone else on this thread.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how it’s ok to generalize about Americans, but not anyone else on this thread.

+1

Ok, not all Americans smile like this, however it would be difficult to find many nonAmericans sporting this Cheshire cat grin. I am an American and my family has been here since the 1600s, and I’ve noticed that it’s a trend that began in the ‘80s here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how it’s ok to generalize about Americans, but not anyone else on this thread.

+1

Ok, not all Americans smile like this, however it would be difficult to find many nonAmericans sporting this Cheshire cat grin. I am an American and my family has been here since the 1600s, and I’ve noticed that it’s a trend that began in the ‘80s here.

I think there's a lot of pressure in the US to smile! I'm not a very smiley person, and all throughout childhood and young adulthood was exhorted to "say cheese" in photos. I've finally gotten good at putting on my fake smile, but it wouldn't be my first preference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it seen as adolescent to them or something? They always have flat faces, like a too cool for school sort of look.

I’m not French but I rarely smile for photos as it shows more lines on my face. I’m mid 50s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how it’s ok to generalize about Americans, but not anyone else on this thread.

+1

Ok, not all Americans smile like this, however it would be difficult to find many nonAmericans sporting this Cheshire cat grin. I am an American and my family has been here since the 1600s, and I’ve noticed that it’s a trend that began in the ‘80s here.

Agree it's a relatively recent thing. Nobody has a big smile in my dad's yearbook, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You smile with your eyes, my grandmother used to say.

Your grandmother is Tyra Banks? SMIZE!

[Anonymous]

So, I lived in Europe for many years, in several countries. In my experience, eastern europeans are far far less likely to smile in photos and feel that it is corny. There are basically entire countries filled with family pictures of everyone constantly looking like a relative just died. Germany to some extent is similar - they do not like to put on a grin in their photo unless something overwhelmingly joyous is happening at the moment.

[Anonymous]

I am Eastern European and I smile when I have a reason to smile. I don't just grin all the time like an idiot. I lived in the south when I first came to the US and I can't tell you how many times men told me "smile honey." I guess they find it offensive if I am not smiling when I encounter them. I would reply, "I'll smile when I have something to smile about." and give them my best go F yourself look.

[Anonymous]

It’s because Americans are so pumped up on Starbucks, adderall and multiple antidepressants/antianxiety meds. And also a result of paying dentists and orthodontists the cost of a home downpayment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Eastern European and I smile when I have a reason to smile. I don't just grin all the time like an idiot. I lived in the south when I first came to the US and I can't tell you how many times men told me "smile honey." I guess they find it offensive if I am not smiling when I encounter them. I would reply, "I'll smile when I have something to smile about." and give them my best go F yourself look.

^^^^^^^^lol I was the post right before this lady. Did she confirm what I said or what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how it’s ok to generalize about Americans, but not anyone else on this thread.

That is bcs Americans like to be the world police. Ruling by force, bombing countries, invading countries, and they(you) still believe you are doing it for the good of others! Peacekeeping, you call it. German's called it cleaning the world from trash that is the cause of all of the ills in the world. Is there a difference? Not to me.
You did not find many people fond of Germans for decades after WWII. Americans are now the Germans of the world. Congrats. There is a reason people around the world hate you, you are just too ignorant to understand it.
The same way you hate Russia, not just Putin, but Russia. Think about that.

Wow, you’ve made a whole crapload of assumptions about me. But that’s your jam, right? Generalizing about entire countries, making assumptions about people you don’t know. I literally told you NOTHING about me and you just went on a crazed rant.

Bla, bla, bla. I made assumptions about why the many in the world are prone to be unkind to Americans and why many in the world hold stereotypes about Americans. Because, in their eyes, mine too, your government is opressiong other countries and being an invader and rules with violence. I am not wrong about that either. I made not a single assumption about you. But, hey thanks for proving that you lack reading comprehension.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, I lived in Europe for many years, in several countries. In my experience, eastern europeans are far far less likely to smile in photos and feel that it is corny. There are basically entire countries filled with family pictures of everyone constantly looking like a relative just died. Germany to some extent is similar - they do not like to put on a grin in their photo unless something overwhelmingly joyous is happening at the moment.

Again. There is a different definition of a smile, clearly in the U.S. parts of the U.S. and in Europe and different parts of Europe. And even within one country, you have older people. My dad did not smile for photos for a long time. That was how you took photos. We also smile, what is a smile here, might look idiotic there. Imagine you grinning like a wolf about to chomp down a sheep, and all the rest in the photo having small grins?
Looking like a relative just died? See, the thing is, no they do not look like that. The pretty, insane culture in the U.S. is the cause that many people thing their lives are wrong unless they are laughing hysterically every minute of their lives.
1920 family portrait:
[img]
1950
[/img]http://c8.alamy.com/comp/CTG255/1940s-1950s-family-of-four-portrait-sitting-in-living-room-chair-looking-CTG255.jpg
2000
[img]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how it’s ok to generalize about Americans, but not anyone else on this thread.

+1

Except you do. This thread is exactly that. Your generalizing about all of Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is very simple. Huge, open mouth simles with all the teeth showing are vulgar.
Everyone knows this. Well, apartently not in the U.S.

What is so vlugar with all the teeth showing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I lived in Europe for many years, in several countries. In my experience, eastern europeans are far far less likely to smile in photos and feel that it is corny. There are basically entire countries filled with family pictures of everyone constantly looking like a relative just died. Germany to some extent is similar - they do not like to put on a grin in their photo unless something overwhelmingly joyous is happening at the moment.

Again. There is a different definition of a smile, clearly in the U.S. parts of the U.S. and in Europe and different parts of Europe. And even within one country, you have older people. My dad did not smile for photos for a long time. That was how you took photos. We also smile, what is a smile here, might look idiotic there. Imagine you grinning like a wolf about to chomp down a sheep, and all the rest in the photo having small grins?
Looking like a relative just died? See, the thing is, no they do not look like that. The pretty, insane culture in the U.S. is the cause that many people thing their lives are wrong unless they are laughing hysterically every minute of their lives.
1920 family portrait:
[img]
1950
[/img]http://c8.alamy.com/comp/CTG255/1940s-1950s-family-of-four-portrait-sitting-in-living-room-chair-looking-CTG255.jpg
2000
[img]

Defensive much? The lady in that photo doesn't look like a relative just died, you're right. She looks like she's about to kill a relative! lmao