# Thought I recognized that facial expression **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 18, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082 "2012-10-18T00:18:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BlueOhio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@BlueOhio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueOhio)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/21 "2012-10-18T11:15:49Z")
I’m an Obama voter, but threads like this are why people make ‘messiah’ jokes. ---
**Author:** ![slumtrimpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@slumtrimpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slumtrimpet)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/22 "2012-10-18T11:48:10Z")
> [@BlueOhio](#): > > I’m an Obama voter, but threads like this are why people make ‘messiah’ jokes. You mean like “he’s not the messiah, he’s a very naught boy”? ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/23 "2012-10-18T13:11:08Z")
With complex facial expressions like this one, it is interesting to do the Half Face Test. It goes[like this](http://www.rightreading.com/leftface-rightface/leftface-rightface1.htm). Cover each half of the face and determine the expression on the other half. If the two halves differ, they each say something about parts of the emotion felt. But the human brain wired as it is, usually lets the left facial half dominate. (That is left half, for me, when I look at you). ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/24 "2012-10-18T13:54:24Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Romney would have burst into flames if it were not for the protective counter-stare by his [son](http://imgur.com/a/odbCj). Okay, that scares me just a little bit. He is sitting there in his magic underwear just projecting pure evil. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/25 "2012-10-18T14:08:10Z")
Don’t know if it’s the same boy or not, but [Tagg Romney wanted to take a swing at Obama.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/17/tagg-romney-obama_n_1976186.html) Seriously, what is wrong with Republicans? Can’t they give their kids normal names? Track and Trig Palin? Taggart Romney? ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/26 "2012-10-18T14:16:54Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > What you need is an anger translator. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qv7k2\_lc0M](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qv7k2_lc0M) I’m so glad someone posted this. I’ve loved this for a long, long time. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/27 "2012-10-18T14:20:43Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > He ain’t goin’ nowhere. He’s with us for the duration, maybe as Clinton’s Co-President of the World. Don’t you mean: “He ain’t goin’ nowhere. He’s with us for the duration, maybe as **the Clintons’** Co-President of the World.” ? ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/28 "2012-10-18T14:58:11Z")
Huh? The face from the debate looks like controlled anger and irritation. The face during the Bin Laden assassination looks like worried anticipation or extreme concentration. I don’t notice a similarity. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/29 "2012-10-18T15:01:39Z")
This is [my favorite photo of Mitt](http://www.politicalruminations.com/images/1CAND-SURR/scary-romney_debate_angry.jpg) from this week’s debate. It says so much. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/30 "2012-10-18T15:02:53Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > What you need is an anger translator. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qv7k2\_lc0M](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qv7k2_lc0M) OMG, that’s the first time I’ve seen that. Brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/31 "2012-10-18T15:06:47Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > This is [my favorite photo of Mitt](http://www.politicalruminations.com/images/1CAND-SURR/scary-romney_debate_angry.jpg) from this week’s debate. It says so much. I like to call that photo – “Damn, IBS is a gurgling again.” ETA: Mitt has a real future in ED commercials. He just has the face to be the spokes person for limp things. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/32 "2012-10-18T15:17:55Z")
> [@Enkel](#): > > I like to call that photo – “Damn, IBS is a gurgling again.” > > ETA: Mitt has a real future in ED commercials. He just has the face to be the spokes person for limp things. I think it’s no accident that Romney and [Enzyte Bob](http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=821&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=aMCbwKq6IzV7jM:&imgrefurl=http://pressgazettechannelsurfing.blogspot.com/2008/11/five-commercials-that-really-bug-me.html&docid=5OJWiFs4gm5qPM&imgurl=http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/ic/blogs/channelsurfing/uploaded_images/bob-737807.jpg&w=480&h=475&ei=VB2AUPTKHMWbyAGt-4HICg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=339&vpy=174&dur=15&hovh=223&hovw=226&tx=84&ty=249&sig=100782823509803718044&page=1&tbnh=145&tbnw=147&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:130) have never been seen together. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/33 "2012-10-18T16:00:32Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I actually don’t think those three facial expressions from the debate look anything like the other one. I agree. There is a lot of worry/anxiety in the one from the Bin Laden raid that isn’t there in the debate expressions. The debate expressions just like annoyance coupled with the strain of debating with a bald-faced liar without using the phrase “pants on fire.” ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/34 "2012-10-18T16:02:57Z")
I think [this is closer](http://i.imgur.com/6YHsK.jpg?1) to Obama’s angry face. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/35 "2012-10-18T16:15:54Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Huh? The face from the debate looks like controlled anger and irritation. The face during the Bin Laden assassination looks like worried anticipation or extreme concentration. I don’t notice a similarity. That’s what I thought, too. But both are different from Obama’s usual easy going smile. > [@garygnu](#): > > I think [this is closer](http://i.imgur.com/6YHsK.jpg?1) to Obama’s angry face. Ooh yes, that is anger with an and posture meant to intimidate. THAT is the face you never want to see if you worked for the US and Obama thought you screwed it up. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/36 "2012-10-18T16:32:38Z")
> [@Girl\_Next\_Door](#): > > OMG, that’s the first time I’ve seen that. Brilliant. [You might enjoy this photo Obama signed for Keegan.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m53rtiC8uC1qz8x31o1_1280.jpg) If you can’t read it (it’s small), it reads: “To Keegan - I need a Luther… but only in a second term! - BO” ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/37 "2012-10-18T16:34:10Z")
Yeah, I’m not seeing the similarities between the photos. The one in the Situation Room has a lowered brow, slightly squinched eyes, and a serious expression on his mouth. I say that’s concentration. The side by side of Obama and Romney has the head tilted to the side, a slight upturn on one side of his mouth, a little more creasing on the forehead. That isn’t quite anger, that says to me annoyance or a lack of patience. The closer-up one has his head tilted slightly forward, eyebrows perhaps raised barely perceptibly (though the camera angle may contribute to that), mouth raised in one corner. Does doesn’t seem angry to me, but it is slightly aggressive, as though he’s readying his next response where he’s ready to push back. The last photo, with the lips slightly more pursed, head tilted a little more to the side, and still leaning forward a bit, and the eyes a little more wide open… that seems to me to be more angry than the other photos, but it is also anger being constrained. IANA trained facial expressions expert or psychologist. That’s just what I think. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/38 "2012-10-18T16:42:47Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Don’t know if it’s the same boy or not, but [Tagg Romney wanted to take a swing at Obama.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/17/tagg-romney-obama_n_1976186.html) “Please proceed, Tagg.” ---
**Author:** ![Ruby\_Slippers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/94ad74/32.png) [@Ruby\_Slippers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby_Slippers)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/39 "2012-10-18T16:50:14Z")
I think that’s his Jedi expression. And I found a good Obi Wan Kenobi quote to go with it: “You want to go home and rethink your life.” ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082/40 "2012-10-18T17:39:51Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > [You might enjoy this photo Obama signed for Keegan.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m53rtiC8uC1qz8x31o1_1280.jpg) > > If you can’t read it (it’s small), it reads: “To Keegan - I need a Luther… but only in a second term! - BO” Now that’s a find! Awesome. “Please proceed.” Man, that’s like Buddhist Monk/Jedi confidence right there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-i-recognized-that-facial-expression/638082.md?page=3)