Why Some Cultures Frown on Smiling (2016)
theatlantic.com
Why Some Cultures Frown on Smiling (2016)
1–10 of 62 posts
Re: Why Some Cultures Frown on Smiling (2016)
#2Grim.
Re: Why Some Cultures Frown on Smiling (2016)
#3I actually thought the smiling people in the images seemed less intelligent and less honest than the neutral looking people.
Re: Why Some Cultures Frown on Smiling (2016)
#4I actually thought the smiling people in the images seemed less intelligent and less honest than the neutral looking people.
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Re: Why Some Cultures Frown on Smiling (2016)
#5Knew this would be about Russia.
I've often heard it said that the Slavic soul is one of constant malaise. Who knows if it's true, but living up in an inhospitable climate and 1000 years of war and strife can certainly shape a culture.
My Ukrainian family also never smiles, even at the happiest of times it was barely more than a smirk, and laughter was never really a thing. No smiles in photos, ever. Yet all were stoic and content, probably happier than most.
Re: Why Some Cultures Frown on Smiling (2016)
#6This is fascinating stuff. Ta to whomever put it here for broadening my horizons a bit.
I've been aware that my general cultural norms are not transferable worldwide but I'd always considered smiling a universal human thing that worked everywhere as a sign of friendliness.
Many cultures nod their head for yes and shake for no. Some do the reverse. This I get (eventually) but smiling - really? Well, yes ... why not?
I think that there is a more fundamental thing to smiling/frowning/scowling as opposed to nodding and shaking the head as expressions.
It's complicated.
Re: Why Some Cultures Frown on Smiling (2016)
#7> It’s evidence that you’re a fool—a tricky fool.
I'd say it's not as much a sign of trickery, as a sign of inner confidence, or to put it better, inner freedom. That's already standing out in 1984-like society, or society described in "Collective responsibility"[1][2]. And standing out there could bears risks. So no smiling can be perceived as an implicit defensive expression.
Re: Why Some Cultures Frown on Smiling (2016)
#8Same question in a mirror: why some cultures promote phoniness and avoid true feelings?
Actually I wonder why some cultures are prone to inflicting genocide.
Re: Why Some Cultures Frown on Smiling (2016)
#9The article reconciles with my experience of some older Indian relatives who considered smiling to the point of revealing your teeth showing yourself to be moronic. Even some phrases like ‘he/she has got their teeth out’. Of course there were exceptions for a particularly funny social joke but yeah in general standing around smiling comes across as daft to them.
Re: Why Some Cultures Frown on Smiling (2016)
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