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This 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 wo

This 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.

leguman_ac 9y ago
Smiling is fundamental. Fetuses have been observed smiling in the womb. In ethology, I think it's considered what's called a fixed action pattern, it is basically hard-wired in us. But of course, the environment and culture modifies this behavior and its meaning.
- watwut 9y ago
  Angry face is fundamental too, babies look angry too, but we don't expect anyone to looks constantly angry.
ganeshkrishnan 9y ago
>smiling a universal human thing that worked everywhere as a sign of friendliness Smiling is always a sign of friendliness. It's just that some places you cannot expect to smile at nothing and will end up looking silly. In those places even small talk is frowned upon unless you really want to be their friends. The author missed the most important part in this: In these countries you cannot be friendly and not be friends. In western countries it's polite to smile and be friendly to strangers but we do not expect them to become our friends >Many cultures nod their head for yes and shake for no. Some do the reverse. I am not sure if you are thinking of India and it's a general stereotype that Indians do it reverse but we nod for yes and shake for no like the rest of the world with two exceptions: It's rude to say no to seniors in most asian cultures so juniors always say yes AND we have a third head shake which means I agree/ You are correct/ I will do it/Subject to interpretation
- int_19h 9y ago
  He's probably thinking about Bulgaria, which is famous for this.
  - gerdesj 9y ago
    Yes I was - never been to India but I have been to Bulgaria.
- int_19h 9y ago
  > The author missed the most important part in this: In these countries you cannot be friendly and not be friends. In western countries it's polite to smile and be friendly to strangers but we do not expect them to become our friends This is exactly it. And it's much broader than smiling. You don't ask people "how are you?" as a greeting, for example, unless you actually care.

leguman_ac 9y ago

Smiling is fundamental. Fetuses have been observed smiling in the womb. In ethology, I think it's considered what's called a fixed action pattern, it is basically hard-wired in us. But of course, the environment and culture modifies this behavior and its meaning.

watwut 9y ago
Angry face is fundamental too, babies look angry too, but we don't expect anyone to looks constantly angry.

ganeshkrishnan 9y ago

>smiling a universal human thing that worked everywhere as a sign of friendliness Smiling is always a sign of friendliness. It's just that some places you cannot expect to smile at nothing and will end up looking silly. In those places even small talk is frowned upon unless you really want to be their friends. The author missed the most important part in this: In these countries you cannot be friendly and not be friends. In western countries it's polite to smile and be friendly to strangers but we do not expect them to become our friends >Many cultures nod their head for yes and shake for no. Some do the reverse. I am not sure if you are thinking of India and it's a general stereotype that Indians do it reverse but we nod for yes and shake for no like the rest of the world with two exceptions: It's rude to say no to seniors in most asian cultures so juniors always say yes AND we have a third head shake which means I agree/ You are correct/ I will do it/Subject to interpretation

int_19h 9y ago
He's probably thinking about Bulgaria, which is famous for this.
- gerdesj 9y ago
  Yes I was - never been to India but I have been to Bulgaria.
int_19h 9y ago
> The author missed the most important part in this: In these countries you cannot be friendly and not be friends. In western countries it's polite to smile and be friendly to strangers but we do not expect them to become our friends This is exactly it. And it's much broader than smiling. You don't ask people "how are you?" as a greeting, for example, unless you actually care.