Smile when you say that

[days_unfolding]

I've been eating breakfast out as a bribe or compensation for getting up earlier because of the construction work. (After the construction work is over, I need to go on a serious diet.) After breakfast, I was consuming my second course of caffeine and nicotine, when a guy stops his car and says, "Smile. It can't be that bad."

I said, "No, I'm just tired." And didn't smile.

He said "Huh?" I repeated myself several times, and he kept on saying huh. It's possible that he really didn't hear me (I have a soft voice), but I finally wound up shouting it at him. I was genuinely mad at him by that point. Smile?

He was off on his own trip, saying stuff under his breath that I'm probably glad that I couldn't hear, and I started to blatantly ignore him. Eventually he drove away.

Why do (some) guys play the smile game? Are there any guys who are willing to answer that? I know that not smiling probably makes me seem unapproachable, but how does forcing someone to smile make them more approachable? Pissing me off with this game makes me even more unapproachable yet.

Growing my hair out might have been a mistake because I suspect that it makes me look younger (than I am and than I previously looked) and softer.

Otherwise, it was a good day. I'm still feeling clear and as close to normal that I've felt for the better part of a year now. I finished the online help that I was scrambling to finish, and it's in the product driver. I'm exhausted and plan to get a decent night's sleep.

Comments

[zhaneel.livejournal.com]

I *hate* it when people tell me to smile. All through my education, and even through most of my jobs so far, people would constantly come up and tell me to smile. Usually that makes me deliberately ensure that I won't, just so they don't get the satisfaction (and it pisses me off). I smile more now, but I'm also happier and more content with my life, but if I'm concentrating I don't smile, which apparently causes the Smile game to appear.

In short, I have no clue why people do it, but I get just as pissed off.

[days-unfolding.livejournal.com]

It happens to me all the time too. (Or it used to. People seem to do it less as I get older.) I think that my "neutral" or "thinking" face looks grim to others.