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In some societies people are expected to smile often if not all the time. I never encountered such expectation in central and eastern Europe.

maxxxxx 9y ago
In Russia you have to look angrily at strangers :-). A while ago I read a story how the first MacDonald in Moscow taught their people to smile like americans do and how disturbing this was to the Russians first.
- itronitron 9y ago
  >> In Russia you have to look angrily at strangers :-). Only if you want them to think that you're normal :}
- kolpa 9y ago
  In Russia you are expected to look respectfully at strangers, and not make goofy clown faces at them.
  - musage 9y ago
    A bland expression isn't respectful, it's bland. Apart from the really fake stuff, which I agree is goofy and just as much an expression of weakness, I also think to some a smile is "goofy" because they can't possibly imagine having good reason to smile even as an intelligent, responsible person. That might make sense in Russia, for gangsta rap, African child soldiers, and so on -- in scenarios where the average person doesn't have the resources and the firm grounding to be open towards the unknown and the stranger, where kindness can only be some kind of plea for mercy or patronizing, instead of the simple friendliness of someone at peace with themselves and their surroundings. Maybe I'll stop smiling briefly when I pass by someone who will just misunderstand it; but when I'm with myself and the world, or with people or animals who are content, I smile a lot. Why not? Not doing so would be the mental equivalent of not just smoking, but lighting cigarettes with hundred dollar bills.
auganov 9y ago
I think it's a little less true each year. Poland used to have the no-smiling reputation just like Russia. Perhaps it still does. Yet if you go to Russia the difference is absolutely undeniable. Stereotypes often outlive the actual behavior.

maxxxxx 9y ago

In Russia you have to look angrily at strangers :-). A while ago I read a story how the first MacDonald in Moscow taught their people to smile like americans do and how disturbing this was to the Russians first.

itronitron 9y ago
>> In Russia you have to look angrily at strangers :-). Only if you want them to think that you're normal :}
kolpa 9y ago
In Russia you are expected to look respectfully at strangers, and not make goofy clown faces at them.
- musage 9y ago
  A bland expression isn't respectful, it's bland. Apart from the really fake stuff, which I agree is goofy and just as much an expression of weakness, I also think to some a smile is "goofy" because they can't possibly imagine having good reason to smile even as an intelligent, responsible person. That might make sense in Russia, for gangsta rap, African child soldiers, and so on -- in scenarios where the average person doesn't have the resources and the firm grounding to be open towards the unknown and the stranger, where kindness can only be some kind of plea for mercy or patronizing, instead of the simple friendliness of someone at peace with themselves and their surroundings. Maybe I'll stop smiling briefly when I pass by someone who will just misunderstand it; but when I'm with myself and the world, or with people or animals who are content, I smile a lot. Why not? Not doing so would be the mental equivalent of not just smoking, but lighting cigarettes with hundred dollar bills.

auganov 9y ago

I think it's a little less true each year. Poland used to have the no-smiling reputation just like Russia. Perhaps it still does. Yet if you go to Russia the difference is absolutely undeniable. Stereotypes often outlive the actual behavior.