Why are people afraid to smile in public?

I just don't understand it. I lived in a commune for a year and a half, and when I smiled at someone there, weather or not I knew them, they would almost always smile back. Now I'm back in "the mainstream," and when I smile at someone, they always look offended or scared or some shit like that. Is our culture so drenched with fear that we can't trust our neighbors enough to return a smile to them?

I'm sorry, maybe I'm making too big of a deal of this. I just think it's symptomatic of a much larger problem. Why is our culture so alienating and drenched with fear that people are afraid to smile at each other? I don't understand it...

 

i hear ya. alot of the time, when i smile at someone...they frown back at me. wtf? oh well.

 

Everytime I smile at random people they smile back.

 

Because you have a very warm, sincere, and engaging smile, and If you smiled at me I’d smile back – I wouldn’t be able to help myself.


H

 

Well I just smiled at you.

 

I smile at people when I'm in a good mood.

 

I stab every mother fucker who smiles at me.

FEAR ME!!!!

 

every single time? really? where do you live?

 

I lol in public.

 

hahaha I would smile at you. And then smack you for even thinking about stabbing me.

 

I now know how I will committ suicide should I ever feel the need.

 

Yes every time. I live in Georgia.

 

yeah, it's true. i've been there. people are LOTS friendlier there than they are in the northwest. way more polite too.

 

Do it again. I likes it rough.

 

back at you



H

 

I agree people don't smile enough...I am always smiling when I am outside.....unless I am jamming out to a song or I am tired.

 

i agree more people should smile and say hello, but if i do it first, they almost always do it back.

 

i rarely smile in public just like i rarely smile in private. i just don't feel the urge most of the time... still, if i smile at someone, they seem to smile back at least 70% of the time, just like i'll probably smile back if some jerk smiles at me even though i'm in a bad mood

 

i smile at the old ladies walking in my neighborhood...but thats to hopefully get in on some of the money they are stashing for when they die

 

You need to throw a little romance their way. Tell 'em they look beautiful. Then squuese their tits.

Works every time.