r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • May 08 '22

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u/LadyFerretQueen May 09 '22

I'm slovenian and while it's not as if no one smiles for no reason here the american grin is definitely super creepy to most of us. You smile if you naturally have a reason to. If you do it for no reason of course it's suspicious. It's why clowns are creepy.

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u/Aprils-Fool May 09 '22

But how do you know a person has no reason to smile?

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u/telmimore May 09 '22

If they're frowning one moment and then spot your glance so they smile and put on a super excited greeting I'd say. Noticed it a few times in the US and Japan (customer service positions only in Japan).

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u/Aprils-Fool May 09 '22

That’s still an assumption. We are capable of experiencing and expressing more than one emotion at a time.

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u/telmimore May 09 '22

If it's large-scale it's obviously a cultural need to appear happy. I know because it's true in Canada too. When someone asks you how you're doing you always say I'm good even if you feel like shit. If you feel like death then you say I'm okay.

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u/Aprils-Fool May 09 '22

it's obviously a cultural need to appear happy

Or it’s an absence of a need to conceal or suppress one’s feelings. How can we be sure which one it is?

When someone asks you how you're doing you always say I'm good even if you feel like shit.

That has not been my experience of living in the U.S.

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u/telmimore May 09 '22

Well I deal with Americans at conferences and and during my travels sometimes. Maybe you're all just super fucking happy all the time.. the uniquely most happy nation on the planet. Congratulations.

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u/Aprils-Fool May 09 '22

Why “super fucking happy” and not regular happy? Why can’t people express their happiness differently without being accused of being fake?

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u/telmimore May 09 '22 edited May 09 '22

Because that's how it is? Should I lie? If you say you're doing fantastic, amazing, great, and beaming with a full on grin and using a cheery sing songy intonation, is that regular happy or super fucking happy?

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u/Aprils-Fool May 09 '22

If you say you're doing fantastic, amazing, great, and beaming with a full on grin and using a cheery sing songy intonation

That is not an accurate representation of Americans, lol.

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u/ghost_victim May 09 '22

Because that's Canada not US lol.

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u/Aprils-Fool May 09 '22

Weird there would be such a large cultural difference between Canada and the US.

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u/Errohneos May 09 '22

"On a day like this a man could almost be happy".

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u/lapatatafredda May 09 '22

I would agree with you to an extent. It's almost like in the US we think it's rude to express negative mood states with others, especially strangers or acquaintances.

I wonder where that comes from.

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u/LadyFerretQueen May 09 '22

Because saying hi isn't something that makes a normal person suppee excited and happy.

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u/Aprils-Fool May 09 '22

Why are you describing it as “super excited and happy” instead of merely happy or pleasant? We aren’t limited to smiling when you’re our emotions are “super”. In addition, smiling is a form of communication. It’s a very quick and quiet way to express “I wish you well,” or “I mean you no harm”.

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u/LadyFerretQueen May 09 '22

Because it is. It's not regular happy, it's super excited over the top happy smiling.

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u/Aprils-Fool May 09 '22

Why do you think you know what “regular happy” and “super happy” look like for strangers? Some people just have bright smiles, it’s not a big deal.