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Comment by softbuilder | Hacker News Reader

I worked with some Russians a few years ago. Great guys. One wasn't very well adapted to American culture. He came to my cube one day. He's like "Let's go get a smoke", but his face and tone was flat, so it came across as "You've pissed me off in some way and I'm probably going to kick your ass now". I demurred. A couple more offers over the next few days and I finally relented (I don't smoke, but went to hang out). Pretty soon he was smiling and cracking jokes. A few months later he asked me, "Why do Americans always have to act happy? It's so fake."

*edit: I a word

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>Why do Americans always have to act happy? It's so fake.

we'd like to believe it is fake. Otherwise what conclusion it would lead us to, incl. about ourselves? After more than decade here i started to come to that conclusion and sometimes i think i should have chosen the blue pill :)

> "Why do Americans always have to act happy? It's so fake."

I always tell my Russian colleagues that it's the natural outcome of not having a 3,000 year history of being pillaged by Cossacks and Mongols, and that they should try it some time.

I'm not Russian, but when somebody's smile is too artificial/fake - I call it American smile. I think it is quite a common term [in Europe] ;)

Nah it's not.. never heard of it =)

Hmm, I think you mixed it up a bit. "American smile" is just a smile done primarily with lip muscles that shows teeth prominently.

Actually, yes. There can be other types of fake smiles as well :)

Something that always shocked me in my travels to USA is how much people smile at you. The most weird thing is that it doesn't seem that fake, it seems complete strangers are just not afraid of you and happy to see you. Contrast it with Brazil, unlike USA people don't smile at you in the streets there, but if they know you they can't stop laughing. Brazilians parties are non-stop full-volume laughing. It's maddening!

It's not just the russians who would notice that. Americans are friendly and smiling, and that's great, but smiles are not always true, and a lot of it is culturally mandated. It's a great thing though , i 'd rather have a fake smile than frigid grumpiness.

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