# What makes you “fake smile”? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 22, 2023, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-fake-smile/983060 "2023-04-22T20:15:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-fake-smile/983060/1 "2023-04-22T20:15:22Z")
The radio this morning was talking about people meeting old acquaintances and engaging in “fake smiles”. I don’t think I do this very often myself (not smiling all that much to begin with despite being a happy person). But lots of people in service industries are probably required to, though they select for cheerful people. Is this something you often do? Under what circumstances? ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-fake-smile/983060/2 "2023-04-22T20:31:06Z")
I do it when someone nice is trying to be funny, but they fall flat. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-fake-smile/983060/3 "2023-04-22T20:37:57Z")
I remember fake smiling a lot when I had a pun-loving boss. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-fake-smile/983060/4 "2023-04-22T21:05:36Z")
Grandwrex bad jokes. 😬 ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-fake-smile/983060/5 "2023-04-22T21:09:01Z")
When I pass a speed trap while taking my foot off the gas I fake smile at the patrol car. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-fake-smile/983060/6 "2023-04-22T21:10:45Z")
I can always tell when someone’s fake smiling. So I figure they’ll be able to tell when I do. So, when faced with a bad pun/dad joke, I think "Hey, they just want a reaction, and they know it’s an old joke, so instead of smiling like a Stepford Salesman I’ll roll my eyes and groan. This seems to satisfy the joker who really just wants attention. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-fake-smile/983060/7 "2023-04-22T21:18:09Z")
I don’t fake smile. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-fake-smile/983060/8 "2023-04-22T21:33:26Z")
When I was in retail sales on commission. Pretty much part of the job. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-fake-smile/983060/9 "2023-04-22T21:43:03Z")
Two kinds of “fake smile” — the kind where you expect the recipient to get that it’s a fake smile (sarcastic) and the kind where you want them to think you mean it, but you don’t. I do the sarcastic version when someone says something and implies I’m supposed to be pleased, but they actually know they’re offering a fake accommodation or fake pleasantry and hoping I’m too dense to notice. I do the other kind sometimes when I think I’m in a shitty mood and it isn’t this person’s fault so I’m trying to disguise my current 'tude. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-fake-smile/983060/10 "2023-04-23T00:02:53Z")
Greeting a substantial percentage of my husband’s extended family members. We all fake smile at each other and kiss each other’s cheeks. It’s part of their culture. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-fake-smile/983060/11 "2023-04-23T00:12:22Z")
I polite smile when passing by someone in the hall or am trapped in an elevator with them. It’s a form of greeting. I don’t grin like an idiot to someone I loathe. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-fake-smile/983060/12 "2023-04-23T08:21:11Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Is this something you often do? Under what circumstances? Every day at work because my employer requires me to smile even at horrible people who come to our establishment to spend money and I need to keep receiving a paycheck. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-fake-smile/983060/13 "2023-04-24T04:45:34Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > I don’t fake smile. I don’t fake orgasms. Can’t help it, sorry. They just kinda com… Oh, nevermind! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-fake-smile/983060/14 "2023-04-24T04:49:39Z")
I know that’s hard for you… 🤭 ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-fake-smile/983060/15 "2023-04-26T13:37:48Z")
I was in sales here in Japan for many, many years so my fake smile in Japanese was much better. Then I moved to Taiwan and started teaching English and developed a trilingual fake smile.