> In some cultures (Asian I think, anyone have a reference? ) laughter and smiling can be a sign of fear. I remember Australians were outraged when one of the

> In some cultures (Asian I think, anyone have a reference? ) laughter and smiling can be a sign of fear. I remember Australians were outraged when one of the Bali bombers was shown in court laughing and smiling as the charges were read out. Later, various commentators said that, for Javanese, smiling in public didn't necessarily mean someone was happy or joyous, but was nervous or stressed. I don't know how widespread that is in the rest of Asia, though.