SMILE!!!

[Rapscallion]

People in Europe and Asia think we are crazy for insisting that people smile all the time,

That as well, yes...



Rapscallion

[Carsomyr]

Just because my face isn't glowing like I've swallowed a bucket of Jack o' Lantern mushrooms, doesn't mean I'm unhappy. Trust me, you'll know if I'm feeling particularly miserable or angry.

Luckily, I haven't had this since I've started working in customer service. When I was a young teenager, though, I got it a lot. When I was 13-14 in particular my Girls' Brigade captain (you know, that place you go to where you get all kinds of emotional support? oh wait...) loved to try to bully me into smiling. I wished then I could smile hard enough to stab her with the corners of my lips.

Since then I've learned that if I just sort of raise my eyebrows nobody complains. Heck, I could have a massive frown on my face, scrunch up my nose and I'm pretty sure that it would still work.

[katie kaboom]

I have this problem too, and it is one of the things that pisses me off most about working retail. I don't have a naturally happy facial expression either. I smile when I have a reason to. Period. End of discussion. And if i'm not smiling I can guarantee you someone telling me to smile will be sadly dissapointed because then I just end up looking even more pissed off than I did to begin with.

And you really can't win with people. Whenever I'm at work and I am smiling I get some obnoxious fucktard in my face asking me why i'm smiling.

[Athaelia]

I was working at "America's Drive In" as a carhop when my friend was murdered. The day after receiving the news, I had to go in to work..I was getting through my shift okay, and hanging in there. I was doing my job well and even welcomed the distraction of work to escape the misery for awhile. Though I wasn't cheery, I was pleasant and got my shit done.

Right before I clocked out, Bitch Manager called me to her desk. Apparently, a customer called and complained ...not about her food or the service...but her carhop didn't smile

Bitch Manager automatically assumed it was me and proceeded to attempt to give me a lecture, about how she hasn't seen me smile all day, etc.

Now, I'm usually outspoken and stand up for myself pretty well, but I guess my emotions about my dead friend got the best of me. I was completely silent. That's when my Cool Coworker stepped in: "You wouldn't be smiling either if your friend was murdered yesterday, would you? Now, I served that c*nt of a customer and no, I didn't fucking smile! So, unless you want to be working alone this afternoon, I suggest you apologize to Kelli. NOW!"

I got a half-hearted apology from Bitch Manager and proceeded to stop showing up the next week, as did Cool Coworker, totally fucking over Bitch Manager's shifts by leaving her totally understaffed.

[Crime Scene Scarf]

Urgh, I hate this!

My natural expression looks angry. It's because I squinted so much before I got my glasses, I have deep lines that make it look like I'm scowling. When I concentrate, it looks even worse. My boss seems to think I should be grinning like a maniac at all times while working, and some customers are just weird.

I work at a store selling women's underwear. I don't appreciate greasy, skeezy men leaning on my cashdesk and saying, "smile!" while I handle the leopard print thongs they're buying for their significant other.

Bonus points to those who wink. Bonus bonus points to those who then point out my co-worker, who has a naturally happy expression, and saying I should look more like her.

[Buglady]

EDIT: This is awesome. I bookmarked because of it's awesomeness.

I love you. And the blogger. This is getting sent to everyone I know...

(I particularly liked the bit about having a migraine and trying not to vomit or pass out before getting home, only to have someone say "smile!!". I've had that happen, more than once, and I really wished I could puke on the guy's shoes. Looking straight at them did alarm them into shutting up; my pupils actually go different sizes during a migraine. Probably means I'll die, but oh well.)

[RecoveringKinkoid]

It means that they are assholes and evidently want you to know this fact.

[Mytical]

Hmm makes me wonder what it means when people tell me to smile then.

[Food Lady]

Yes, it is utterly awesome, and so true!

It hits the nail on the head. For YEARS I have been wondering why the "smile!!" thing bothers me soooo much. I have said to people that it's a form of dominance because I'm female and I ONLY EVER have gotten it from men. I have said this and people--women--have disagreed with me. Now I see I was right. There's no reason why a stranger, esp. some man I don't know, gets to tell me how to feel.

[downforit2008]

A lot of times for me, it isn't even the customers. It's some stupid associate or supervisor, which while passing me, looks over and says, "You should SMILE! Today is a beautiful day!"

I glare at them in reply and usually say nothing. Why? Because usually, it's 7:30 in the morning and I had been tossing and turning half the night with little sleep, so I'm barely awake as a result. Not to mention that my hours were getting cut at the time and I barely have enough money to have lunch for a couple of days, so i'm constantly worried about how to get by. Or a family problem has me stressed out and I'm still reminded by some employee to SMILE.

I want to say, "Mind your own damn business!" Hell, I still might one of these days.

[bunnyboy]

Now THAT is awesome. I like you already ^_^ Kinda reminds me of when a very perceptive friend in my old RPG group would say to me "Tone it down a bit, dude. You're scaring the Normals"

And considering the fact that I must wear glasses, and I have what are known as "hipster frames." The smirk is the go to, unless you piss me off, the horrifying rictus with eyes that seem to say, I know the local roads well enough to never go on the freeway, and the exact places to hide a body.

[EricKei]

Another thumbs up for the awesomeness of the article. Tho, for the record, I have seen people of both genders request, nay, DEMAND smiles out of both genders, and it's a very asshole thing to do no matter what. I'm not sure if it's worse or better if the employer makes you do this.

And yes I've had managers tell me to never, no matter how much they want it, actually smile at the customer BECAUSE those are literally that only two I can fake.

Now THAT is awesome. I like you already ^_^ Kinda reminds me of when a very perceptive friend in my old RPG group would say to me "Tone it down a bit, dude. You're scaring the Normals"

[XCashier]

EDIT: This is awesome. I bookmarked because of it's awesomeness.

Yes, it is utterly awesome, and so true!

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Oh, don't even get me started. I evidently look severe enough I rarely get this, but when I do, I narrow my eyes, turn up the Clint Eastwood, and hiss "I am smiling."

and that's if I'm feeling charitable.

If I'm not, it sort of goes downhill from there.

Oh, yeah, asshole. I'm definitely here to please you, right?

GAAAAAA. Don't EVEN get me started.

EDIT: This is awesome. I bookmarked because of it's awesomeness.

[Buglady]

I actually find it a tad degrading when employees are forced to smile. It tends to be the people who make minimum wage, who are younger, and especially who are women who are told to smile.

THIS. Especially the bit about women being told to smile more often; we are verbally scolded by total strangers for not showing the desired happy, non-threatening expressions. Pardon me for not buying into the fantasy; I'm a grown adult and I have bad days from time to time. I'm not here to decorate the place, and I have no problem telling someone exactly why I don't feel much like smiling at the moment... including "I'm surrounded by chauvinistic douchewaffles, and I find that depressing."