Smile, you're being analyzed.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-523-1491935-523,00.html

I thought this was a pretty nifty article. Ganked form Neil Gaiman's blog, because he normally posts interesting articles.

I'm pretty sure my smile varies between the open mouthed and crow-eyed sincerity of the "British smile" and the upper-teeth exposed only because I'm self-conscious of how I look while smiliing "American smile".

[AllyOops!]

<---- This is my "Having my picture taken and am so nervous about it because I'm super camera shy these days." smile.

I have a big ol' smile. My friends nicknamed & used to call me "Colgate", and my Brother (Smee? Remember him? :D ) used to tell me I smiled and looked just like a "Big Ol' F*cked up Kool-Aid pitcher". Thank you, Smee. :(

http://www.strangecult.com/pisser/koolaid/km_picture_new.jpg

This is me, Just imagine him all f*cked up if you will. What the hell does that even MEAN? It might be a 10 year old statement, but Smee is going to have to answer for it. I doubt he'll even remember it. But dammit, I DO. :p (although that comment always made me laugh super hard! :D Nobody laughs harder at her own expense then me!)

I get teased for my smile because it's just so toothy. All teeth. But I love to smile. Because if I'm smiling? It means I'm happy. And who doesn't love being happy? :)

Oh, and Eliza? You have a gorgeous smile. :)

[€uroMeinke]

Cool Article - I too have been thinking of my very American smile. I realize from photos I seldom show teeth, but when I do I look far more happier - so I've been conscious to smile more broadly for photographs these days. However when I do, I feel like maybe I'm just faking it a bit too much.

In my day to day life, I've been trying to smile a bit more, The interesting effect I've noticed while walking the halls of the mega-corporation I work for, is that I get a lot of smile backs - which is smile inducing in itself. I haven't tried analysing the smiles yet though - perhaps that next.

[Prudence]

Weird. I show a full swath of upper teeth when I smile, but when I'm genuinely happy I also do the slightly squinty eye crinkle.

[Matterhorn Fan]

I've always found the crow's feet squinty thing to be endearing.

Unfortunately, I seem to have a tendency to smirk in photos. It's very unattractive.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

I get teased for my smile because it's just so toothy. All teeth. But I love to smile. Because if I'm smiling? It means I'm happy. And who doesn't love being happy? :)



You look fantastic in that picture, and I love, love your toothy, happy, pretty grin. It's infectious. When I'm around you, I just want to smile more. Plus, you have one of the best laughs I've ever heard. Huzzah!

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Cool Article - I too have been thinking of my very American smile. I realize from photos I seldom show teeth, but when I do I look far more happier - so I've been conscious to smile more broadly for photographs these days. However when I do, I feel like maybe I'm just faking it a bit too much.

In my day to day life, I've been trying to smile a bit more, The interesting effect I've noticed while walking the halls of the mega-corporation I work for, is that I get a lot of smile backs - which is smile inducing in itself. I haven't tried analyzing the smiles yet though - perhaps that next.

It does seem like a very American thing to do, engaging people with a grin. I've certainly done so to make others and myself more comfortable in a situation. Smiles as comfort, not just smiles to show you're happy. And it's such a cultural thing, which is why I loved the article. Be interested to read more about cultures where the "smile" is seen as something aggressive.

Staring is also an interesting phenom. My understanding is that in some European countries staring is the norm. It's perfectly okay to stare and be stared at. Wanted, even. To show approval or acknowledgement. To be noticed and to notice in return. The French "flaneury", as an example. But it's considered almost hostile here. You're told not to stare at strangers on the subway, or you might engage the wrong type of person, or offend someone. I just find that so interesting. I stare at people ALL the time.

And when caught, a smile can sometimes be used to make the person comfortable. Sometimes not.

But if you keep on staring, you can often times make people very, very uncomfortable. A mini power struggle is in effect, and if you can make a person turn away, it's almost as if you have something over them. It's weird.

The nod is also an interesting diffuser. If you stare and stare and the person begins to give you a "WTF?" look, just nod towards them. As acknowledgement. They usually respond with a kind of, "Oh. Huh." Look.

Ah, human behavior. How I love thee and shake my head at thee and am dazzled and befuddled by thee.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

I've always found the crow's feet squinty thing to be endearing.

Unfortunately, I seem to have a tendency to smirk in photos. It's very unattractive.

Yes, I've done that too. The photo smirk. I look like a pissed off 50's housewife.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

I try to look confused in pictures.

Or am screaming, like that shot.

<---

[mousepod]

I just finished listening to an old BBC interview from the opening of EuroDisney. The Brit interviewer was trying to get the French head of casting (his name eludes me) to admit that Disney trains their cast members to smile in a specific way. The Disney guy politely responded that no, they didn't tell them how to smile, but that they were all encouraged to smile (that's the Disney Way). The interviewer wouldn't let it go, and asked the question a couple of times.

What is it with Brits and smiles? Maybe it's their infamous lack of attention to dental hygiene (dental insurance plans are still atypical over there).

[innerSpaceman]

Yep, there was a bit about this in Time a couple of weeks ago. Not comparing Brit and American smiles, but comparing fake and genuine smiles. Turns out it's all the eyes and not at all in the mouths.

[wendybeth]

People in Spokane are very smilie. It's unnerving to outsiders, but it's genuine. (Usually). Once a person gets acclimated, they realise this, but initially the typical transplant will be put off by it. I think we still think of ourselves as a small town, even though we are the second largest city in our state.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I have a rather lopsided smile. I used to dislike it due to my large top front teeth, which stick out just a bit. I like it now though - awkward years can make you self conscious about anything. Due to my overbite, my lower teeth are almost never in photos, unless I'm caught laughing, I guess.

At prom both my date and I ordered posed pics. So they took two. The photographer apparently chose odd moments to click the shutter button. In one of them my mouth was closed, nearly smiling. Not great. In the other, my lopsided smile was caught at an odd moment and I was snarling. One side was bared in what looked totally like a growl, it was crazy. My date had ended up with the closed mouth shots and did me a wonderful favor by trading with me. Even so, some of my friends demanded copies of the snarling pic instead. Another fantastic high school memory for me. :rolleyes:

It's hard not to provide only a Pan-Am smile when dealing with patrons and coworkers, but I think I do a good job of really smiling at people, at least when I'm not having a horrible day. I get some great reactions from people. The more glum they look, the more I smile at them.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Yep, there was a bit about this in Time a couple of weeks ago. Not comparing Brit and American smiles, but comparing fake and genuine smiles. Turns out it's all the eyes and not at all in the mouths.

That's not surprising. Crow's feet are a good indicator of people who have spent a lot of their days either happy or easily amused.

It's strange, but when I'm truly happy and either looking wide-eyed at something, or smiling/laughing, I almost have a happy, tingly sensation in my eyes. Like, my eyes are experiencing a feeling that's not unlike what my heart feels like when I feel a sudden rush of love.

Strange but true.