Notes
This Is Me Not Smiling.
I hate it when people tell me to smile.
I was just walking back from lunch with Michelle, when a homeless guy said something like, “You’re pretty girls, why don’t you smile?”
Michelle and I agreed we get that kind of thing from men a lot.
I have heard variations on this theme of “smile so you’re more pleasant for me to look at” from people since childhood—from strangers on the street to family members to boys I’ve dated to men in bars. One time, I even remember the priest pausing at the end of the isle to tell me to smile.
I would be willing to bet that most men have never been told, “Why don’t you smile more, baby, you’ll look prettier.
The world can be a tough place for girls and women, and I understand that some choose to hand out easy smiles to please others.
I save it for when it’s real.
If it makes you feel any better, I’m a guy and about two weeks ago some homeless ladies on a park bench shouted at me, “Don’t you smile?” I just shook my head and kept walking. But it’s true, I should smile more often. If you’re so uptight that being told to smile makes you angry maybe you really do need to smile more.
Posted: 2008-05-14 17:28
