Why Russians do not smile (2002) • Hacker News Board

Re: Why Russians do not smile (2002)

#131

Post by rconti » Fri, May 28, 2021, 10:37 PM UTC

firebaze wrote: post #74

zeroc8 wrote: post #60

Austrian here, we are somewhat in between Russians and Americans, when it comes to smiling. But what I can tell you is that life is just so much better when people smile at you, even if it might not be a hundred percent genuine. My comparison stems from having worked with both Russians and Americans. Being around grumpy Russians all day long makes live really miserable.

I can't second this. Everytime I'm in the US I'm scared of all the friendly, smiling people, asking "How are you?" in such a friendly tone, it's delightful. Of course it's faked, anyone knows, and dare if you'd reply with "not good, my aunt just died". Awkward situation ensues, everybody tries to get out of the situation ("and what would you like to have for breakfast tomorrow?"). Now replay the same situation in ano…

It's not fake to smile at someone you do not know and ask how they are. It's merely a greeting.

All cultures have context clues. Your surgeon might have just met you, but be legitimately concerned about your condition. Your best friend might be interested in your emotional state. The stranger on the street might merely be "polite", or hoping/wishing you are having a good day, but neither wanting to hear a full dissertation on your emotional state, nor a recitation of your medical history that a doctor might find relevant.

Re: Why Russians do not smile (2002)

#132

Post by mgerullis » Fri, May 28, 2021, 10:42 PM UTC

It’s funny, I never noticed this. I grew up in Germany and had lived in the US for a year a while back. A few years after I met an American friend here who had been on a euro trip. She went to Prague (not exactly Russia, but culturally close enough I guess) and she said something like: "why are all people there so damn depressed?" I myself had great times in that same city, I never got that feeling. But I realized that there is a big cultural difference. I told her: "That’s how they are. They are still happy and loving people, they just show it differently".

I would never perceive them as being depressed. Interesting how your surrounding culture can change your perception of things.

Re: Why Russians do not smile (2002)

#133

Post by nogridbag » Fri, May 28, 2021, 10:45 PM UTC

I've seen this topic a few times. As an American, the only time I've had a jarring experience with fake smiles is when I visited the Japan section of Disney's Epcot. It was a really bizarre experience watching the cashiers be overly cheerful. I've never been to Japan so I don't know if it's normal behavior or more of a performance for tourists.

Re: Why Russians do not smile (2002)

#134

Post by thaumasiotes » Fri, May 28, 2021, 10:50 PM UTC

yborg wrote: post #112

rjsw wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Teeth in skeletons from the Middle Ages seem fine. It is later ones, after bringing sugar back from the Americas, that have lots of cavities and missing teeth.

Getting kind of off-topic here, but my recollection is that teeth in the pre-industrial age were often destroyed over time by grit from flour milling that would wear down teeth.

There was a Han Dynasty (200 BC - 200 AD) ritual involving feeding mush to 70-year-olds. (Why mush? Because at that age you've probably lost your teeth.)

However, I have the impression that this is basically as true today as it was then.

Re: Why Russians do not smile (2002)

#135

Post by alisonkisk » Fri, May 28, 2021, 11:01 PM UTC

a9h74j wrote: post #69

rjsw wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Teeth in skeletons from the Middle Ages seem fine. It is later ones, after bringing sugar back from the Americas, that have lots of cavities and missing teeth.

Check out the thesis of the recent bestseller Breath by James Nestor. Native American and other traditional cultures put serious emphasis on nose breathing, strictly avoiding mouth breathing. Apparently, consistent nose-breathing can affect nasal and upper-palate development, favoring a spacious mouth and straighter teeth. It can also help avoid dry mouth at night, apparently favoring resistance to dental caries. The…

That seems natural and obvious?

But unless you have a secret mucus prevention technique, you'll mouth breathe.

Re: Why Russians do not smile (2002)

#136

Post by bitcurious » Fri, May 28, 2021, 11:02 PM UTC

I’ve noticed in Ukraine this “no smiling” thing is going away. Young people smile almost like Americans.

Re: Why Russians do not smile (2002)

#137

Post by w0de0 » Fri, May 28, 2021, 11:05 PM UTC

nogridbag wrote: post #133

I've seen this topic a few times. As an American, the only time I've had a jarring experience with fake smiles is when I visited the Japan section of Disney's Epcot. It was a really bizarre experience watching the cashiers be overly cheerful. I've never been to Japan so I don't know if it's normal behavior or more of a performance for tourists.

I think the operating culture in that experience is less Japanese and more Disney-American.

Re: Why Russians do not smile (2002)

#138

Post by wahern » Fri, May 28, 2021, 11:06 PM UTC

inanutshellus wrote: post #37

thatfrenchguy wrote: post #12

But really, why do Americans smile?

One of the other commenters said: [snip]The English used to feel pretty uncomfortable about yanks grinning away at everything[/snip] That surprised me, since our cultural norms largely stemmed from there. So what would account for the difference? It must've come about after we split as a country. I wonder if it's our Declaration of Independence including "the pursuit of Happiness". See: We hold these truths to be sel…

There's a paper floating around somewhere that finds a positive correlation between polite smiling and diversity. It posits that it's a way to help establish trust in societies where you're constantly interacting w/ people from groups outside your personal sphere. Indeed, I suspect Americans probably smile even more when abroad precisely because they're interacting w/ social strangers.

Re: Why Russians do not smile (2002)

#139

Post by rsj_hn » Fri, May 28, 2021, 11:11 PM UTC

einpoklum wrote: post #122

> Very often Western people criticize Russians for being too gloomy and unfriendly because we never smile WTF? I'm very often around Russian and other Slav people and many of them smile plenty. > In Western culture, and especially in the United States, the smile is an indication of well-being ... In Russian culture the smile is identified with laughter. Russians do not smile unless something funny happens and provide…

> WTF? I'm very often around Russian and other Slav people and many of them smile plenty.

Yes, but this is about smiling at strangers. Random people on the street, or in the subway. What to many slavs is a type of stupid grin is to many Americans a sign of "being nice". We are not talking about actually smiling, say when you feel genuine warmth towards a friend.

Re: Why Russians do not smile (2002)

#140

Post by stordoff » Fri, May 28, 2021, 11:11 PM UTC

abruzzi wrote: post #97

I'm an American, but I don't smile by showing my teeth, though I will sometimes do a closed lip smile. For me I don't think it is cultural, but rather that smiling always feels to me like baring my teeth, i.e. aggressive and threatening. I don't honestly know why I feel that way, I don't have any history or experiences that would seem to cause that, but it just feels wrong to do. I've always wondered if there are oth…

Not American (British), and it's never felt aggressive/threatening, but smiling in a way that shows my teeth has always felt exceptionally forced. It doesn't stand out as strange when other people do it, but it just doesn't feel like a natural reaction for me.