Comments on: Smile! (It’s Mandatory)

By: astrodex

astrodex — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:29:03 +0000

I’m experiencing some serious “culture gap” here.

By: james b

james b — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:16:25 +0000

I’m smiling just thinking about this.

By: vonskippy

vonskippy — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:59:27 +0000

@RussellW

Yes, assuming you have a brain the size of a guppy, I’m sure that self delusional exercise will work.

By: caveman

caveman — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:13:34 +0000

And do they check out their brains too at the beginning of the day?

By: Russell W

Russell W — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:25:16 +0000

There is an interesting benefit to this for all you gloomy 1984ers. Psychology research has shown two things. One is that you can influence your own mood through utilizing your motor cortex. You can try it now. Smile! Hold for a minute. At first it will feel fake, but after a short time, you will find yourself smiling for real. Furthermore, research has also shown that training your brain to identify and pay attention to smiling people more will also boost your mood over time.

By: in_nah

in_nah — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:37:45 +0000

i just got my VA driver’s license, and i will not not join those in complaining about not being able to smile. The black and white pictures with no smile are actually more flattering. My friend looks like Sade on a cd cover.

By: villalba

villalba — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:36:35 +0000

This story reminds me of this Copper strip: http://www.boltcity.com/copper/copper_021_happy.htm

By: Kalel

Kalel — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:31:09 +0000

Puttng the grin into ‘chagrin’.

By: Skipweasel

Skipweasel — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:15:34 +0000

UK passports (and probaly all other EU states’ too, since they’re a common model) won’t accept photos with smiles.
Full rules here…

http://www.ips.gov.uk/cps/files/ips/live/assets/documents/photos.pdf

By: Gauldar

Gauldar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:20:31 +0000

In further news, the suicide rate has increased for Japan Express Railway workers for some unknown reason. Investigations will continue.

By: BikerRay

BikerRay — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:59:58 +0000

It’s doubleplusgood.

By: Sue Dunham

Sue Dunham — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:26:41 +0000

“Be happy in your work!”

By: VonSkippy

VonSkippy — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:08:44 +0000

Nothing like a big fat fake smile forced on by management to make the day start out in the crapper.

By: Woogie

Woogie — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 04:06:10 +0000

We’re not allowed to smile here in Alberta on our driving license pictures.

I deliberately looked as dour as possible in mine. Sadly I look like a concussed drunk and will until the year 2015.

By: fun games for kids

fun games for kids — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:31:36 +0000

Talk about good customer service! Still I think there’s more to service than just having a great smile. Sometimes it just shows through, whether the smile is genuine or not.

By: Johnny Cat

Johnny Cat — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:58:34 +0000

The Virginia DMV story is scarier. But only by a slightly different Orwellian margin.