Comments on: What a Smile Can Hide

By: Becky

Becky — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:10:18 +0000

It’s kind of a catch-22, I think in some ways. I’ve tended to be a little too honest with my emotions or sometimes even remarks, so I had to counter balance that by censoring myself and I sometimes find the smile to be the best way to disguise it. I can usually tell when someone else is faking it, but I think most people are oblivious to it (both when I do it and others) because they just don’t care. Okay, my pessimistic side is coming out:)

By: Melinda

Melinda — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:18:01 +0000

Why is it that I never get to be the first to comment? Dang it! In this new job, I am taught to be somewhat detached from all that I do, see, experience: if a kid tries to get the best of me, and I let him, he’s won, and that reinforces his behavior. However, if I put on the poker face, I still remain in control of myself and likely the situation. In my old job, I smiled the Mary Sunshine smile because I realized people didn’t really care how I was when they asked. Keep your personal life personal, and your professional life professional. It’s a little difficult, but it’s a rather good defense mechanism.

By: May

May — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:15:45 +0000

Good post. Smiles are weird… lots of times I smile I people and it means “I have nothing to say to you and that’s sad.”

By: Wookieluv

Wookieluv — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:24:00 +0000

Fake Laugh > Fake Orgasm

By: logtar

logtar — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:01:17 +0000

As annoying as Janis’ laughter is I would take that to a fake smile from a friend any day!

I actually think that Janis makes Friends more relevant as a show because we all know people like that in our lives.

Now, exploring the whole fake laugh a little more, it is a lot different to do it because you want to diffuse a tense situation than having it as a personality trait that always hides your emotions or true intentions.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:45:02 +0000

Would you rather someone have a genuine, truly obnoxious laugh that makes you want to stab your eardrums with a steak knife (like Janis from “Friends”), or someone who gives you a fake laugh?

By: Nuke

Nuke — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:03:52 +0000

A laugh or a smile to somebody who just got to you (physically or mentally) puts them off guard, which if you are a revenge type is the best time.

On the other hand I use the smile, or at least the goofy grin, in my work all the time. It sets the customer at ease, makes them feel less foolish about their problems if we can sit and joke about it while I fix them up.

In my personal life I like to make people laugh, or at least smile. But I never trust anybody %100 if I catch them faking it. OK well there is the big, over-the-top, fake laugh my friends and I do to each other but htat is it’s own type of joke.

By: Wookieluv

Wookieluv — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:36:37 +0000

The smile is like any other communication tool, like the eyes and basic body posture. I prefer, depending on the social situation, that they DO laugh at my jokes if they don’t get them. It’s a dance of emotions when your meeting new people and it’s best to “grin and bear it”..then move on. I strongly believe in the ‘mafia’ mantra of never let them see that they got the best of you, but for me it’s hard to do since at heart I’m a reactionary person and guarded. The above is different depending on who your audience is, if they are life long friends then MOST rules do not apply as we have a bond that only explicit “DUH” rules would be broke to cause ill will. *see sleeping with my wife, killing my poodle, deleting my WoW account*. Once you become my FRIEND FRIEND then you pretty much have Carte Blanché on what we say and do to each other (no homo). I think smiling is an excellent way to diffuse uncomfortable situations and one of the few ways to SHOW (without talking) whomever that things are OK.
Sincerely,
Guy Smiley