Heard it again today As I was walking to my car to go to lunch I passed one of the guys I work...

I got told first thing this morning that I looked like a terrifying teacher.

I hate when people tell you to smile - I used to get that all the time. I would rather walk around with a regular face than walk around like a mental. A stupid grinning mental.

bijouxbroussard · F

Nobody says it to men. Women are the only ones expected to look a certain way for “public consumption”, regardless of how they feel or what’s going on.
I, too, am affected by RBF, and occasionally when someone, especially a stranger, says something like, “Aww, it’s not that bad,” I reply, “How do you know ?” and keep going.

greenmountaingal · 70-79, F

I hate this kind of harassment. It's as if these arrogant men believe I have an automatic duty to please them.

workathome · 56-60, M

Guys like that are ass holes, it's there way of trying to flirt, but really have no clue...

Coppercoil · M

it's rude to say that to someone.. period.. male or female.

SW-User

That I recall, I’ve never said that to a stranger

Piper · 61-69, F

It has mostly been males who've commented on my smiling...or not, also. It is the "it ain't that bad" part of it, that has always bugged me the most.

I have often wanted to ask...say, how the hell they dared to presume to such a thing, when they couldn't possibly know.

FloorGenAdm · 51-55, M

Men will stop asking women to smile, when women stop asking men to open pickle jars and take out the garbage.

lovelywarpedlemon

I'd say "Give me something to smile about!" And mutter obscenities under my breath.

CereBellum

Try smiling before and during when you see him. What do you think he would say then?

Tinkles

Am I missing something? Why is that a guy/girl thing?