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I see the smile, in my personal slice of American culture, to be a sign that "I mean you no harm, I have positive intentions towards you", which is a valuable p
by phyller 8y ago
I see the smile, in my personal slice of American culture, to be a sign that "I mean you no harm, I have positive intentions towards you", which is a valuable piece of information, both to give and receive. And truthfully, someone who is not feeling well disposed towards me and intends to make my life more difficult rarely approaches with a smile. Perhaps in Russia people are not so open about their intentions to each other and these outward indicators have less value?
- bearburger 8y ago> I mean you no harm, I have positive intentions towards you But what is the point of smile as "intention indicator" if literally everyone around are smiling to each other? Do you want to say that in the US seller that trying to sell defective goods wouldn't smile?
- phyller 8y agoWell usually everyone around you means you no harm. The person who looks at you and doesn't smile is legitimately more likely to not care if you get hit by a bus or not, even if they have no ill intention towards you. The crazy guy whose alternate personality is telling him to stab you is definitely not smiling but staring at you and muttering to himself. Of course context matters. I don't trust a smile from a used car salesman. I trust a smile more from someone I am playing basketball with, or that I pass while hiking in the woods as they have no incentive to deceive me. And if I don't get a smile from someone I pass while hiking in the woods I would be more on my guard.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]