Just one of those silly little incidents of daily life but its really got me thinking about how I deal with people and the impression I make on others.

Mrs Ketch and I were just in the town for a chinese (one of those very cheap take away places where you can also 'eat in'). After we'd eaten we went over the road cos I needed to use the ATM.

Standing at the machine this very drunk short guy comes up to us and says "Ah noo ya, ye teh beek yin , whoo nay'er smiles".

For those here who don't speak Sozzled Celtic that translates as "Well hailed my good man, I have made your acquaintance before and know you are the large man who never smiles."

I'm always on edge when using an ATM anyway and if I didn't know from painful experience (I lived there for a while) that small scotch blokes tend to be as hard as nails ...

And anyway I doubt Mrs Ketch's rather fragile hold on sanity at the moment would take watching me knife someone again.

So I engaged in conversation and it turned out all he wanted was someone to roll him a ciggy, which I was happy to do.

But on the way home it really started to bug me, you know? DoI really never smile when I'm out?

Am I really such a miserable git?

*worried*

I wouldn't know if you smile or not..... due to the fact I live half the world away..... but either way, judging by your attitude on Totse, you seem to be a good guy with a level head. Not a miserable git.

Jack, stop reassessing who you ARE! You are a grizzled old vet in this thing called life, and that is nothing to be ashamed of. You sound very much like me when out in public......hyper-vigilant. So what if you aren't smiling when first encountering someone. I'm certain after 5 minutes of chit-chat, they'll realize what you are all about. And THEN your smile will come out.....once the trust develops. Think of it this way....IF that bloke was a crook ready to put a shiv in your back and take your cash, what is the likelihood of that happening on your watch? Maybe 50% of the populace wouldn't even realize the threat until he was around the block with your wallet. Perhaps 25% wouldn't have the abilities to defend themselves in that scenario. But you on the other hand are that small percentile.......waiting/expecting/preparing for that worst case scenario. Yeah, sure on one hand you may push away a few folks making an idiotic judgement based on a 3 second observation. But who gives a fuck about some bloke walking by you and what he thinks of you? My bet is your friends, family and children like the "security" you provide....and the fact you'll never be taken by surprise by such incidents.

Just remember, very often "ignorance is bliss". And folks that are walking around CONSTANTLY with a smile for the world are usually quite blissful. Would you rather change places with them?

^ That.

Miserable? Who knows, are you miserable? Why don't you have any emotion in your face when you are in public? Shut off? Maybe you don't want people trying to confront you or take advantage?

These are questions only really you can answer.

You're taking criticism from a hobo :D?

Come on man, I know you have more confidence than that :).

Everyone always tells me I never smile, but it's almost sad how much I really do. I will burst out laughing alone in my room when I think about something funny that happened years ago.

Maybe he was just saying that in hopes of starting a conversation.

I've only ever heard Americans call it an "Atm".

Maybe you should just smile more if it bothers you that much.

i never really used to smile that much, it just wasn't a comfortable relaxed face of mine?
damn, those uni students collecting for charity in town would tell me to smile and high five them :/
i got quite known at school as never being happy, funny really, by year eleven i was always quite happy/smiley but the stigma never shook.

now i kind of do a funny pouty mini smile? hum, sounds stupid, it's just as comfortable as dropping my face and makes me look nicer and happier. and thus farr, everyone at college realises i am a very happy giggly person :) if ohhh sooo sliiiiiightly erratic and eclectic in every possible way, inc mood of coursé (:

I just have to second this post.

Bark less. Wag more.

Clearly he had mistaken you for someone else.

Your gonna listen to some drunken bloke, first off about 98 percent of people i happen to see in the street don't constanly smile unless they're having fun or are mentally ill, why put on a bravado for the world?, no ones gonna give you a medal for best smile on the way to work, and second of all, don't put emphasis on what other people say, it just digresses you from your goals and makes you feel like your not good enough as you truly are.

*is still waiting for comment about hiding his brown teeth* (http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b116/horta/?action=view&current=7525564-S.jpg)

Your teeth seem quite brown, even for a Brit.

Young Padawan, It takes many years and a constant diet of coffee, fags and whiskey..

I seen a picture of you when you were a young buck. Very handsome dog then.

Now you remind me of the archetypical rude mechanical straight out of Glazzie.

And your teeth are more English than mine. =( Mine are still yellow. *inhales*

1. Scotty bai was shitfaced, which while not suprising given his heritage-gives his comments a little less creedence as honest appraisal.

2. If you was grinning at me while wandering about Soho...I'd probably cross the street.

sometimes people say "I know you, you're that crazy guy who fell down an elevator shaft and used to always chill with _____" and then I just go "BOOO!!!!" and they scatter. Not really, I usually say somethin like "well if you believe everythin you hear you're as dumb as you look" or something to that effect.

Is this relevant?

Young Padawan, It takes many years and a constant diet of coffee, fags and whiskey..

Hmmm, well maybe one of those fags happens to be a Dentist?

Hi there jackkoff. From my experience you really never smiles. Well you certainly didnt when you banned me all those times. And you also certainly didnt when i trolled your bad german. You seem to have a sad life to me and should listen to the scotch bloke.

Well ok your german isnt bad but i still trolled it and you still got upset instead of admitting defeat now didnt you.

You're the kid that pretended to be and speak German because he had no sense of identity and was completely fake and pathetic?

You're still butthurt?

Is this relevant?

Nope.

Well, the pictures I've seen of you, you don't smile...Makes you look like a mean fucker mate!

Don't worry about it too much sunshine. It's your thing.

Now if only I could stop myself smiling, I swear would look like mini-Ketch! :p

You need some weed my friend, then everything will seem funny.

That, or who gives a shit. Do you still show love, compassion, and humor around your family? If yes, fuck everything else.

Weed/hash just makes me psychotic and as paranoid as fuck.

eh smiling isn't everything I rarely smile in public its no biggie not something worth beating yourself up over

Nope.

So along with me you noticed the attention whoring?

Weed/hash just makes me psychotic and as paranoid as fuck.

Yeah, I am finding out that more and more people seem to get really paranoid on weed.

Weed/hash just makes me psychotic and as paranoid as fuck.

This is getting weird mate...I'm the same way.

Are you sure you ain't my brother or something?!?!?! :p

I dont smile much when in public either, and I usaully walk hunched over with my hands inside my leather jacket, even after being told by several female friends and one girlfriend that its not an attractive stance. Its just the way I am, paranoid as fuck.

I read this three-quarters way through, and had absolutely no idea what the fuck I was reading, or why it is in this forum.

Some people smile on the outside, some on the inside.

It's not strange.

However, I understand what you're saying. It's one thing not to smile, but quite another to be known for not smiling.

I'm known for the opposite. I'm the guy that's always smiling; it can be confounding for some people.