The "Make A Smile" Challenge

Anthony W. · 08-26-11, 11:03 AM

Well, guys, I get out a lot. I see a lot of people just mindlessly going through the motions of their routine. I see a lot of scowls, frowns, and poker faces.

Well, lets change that up a bit.

For the past good while now, I've been going out of my way to make total strangers smile - to add a little something to their day. Just my little way of making the world a better, friendlier place to be - appealing to the general human sense of compassion and caring.

Last night I was thinking about how I just don't see many people approach total strangers like that.

So, I'm going to start a Facebook page called the "Make A Smile Challenge".

The goal is to, once a day, go out of your way to make a complete stranger smile.

So lets give this a try - can't do any harm, can it?

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ma...596140?sk=wall

08-26-11, 11:17 AM

Quote:

I've been going out of my way to make total strangers smile

Certainly worked here

Betonov · 08-26-11, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribesman

Certainly worked here

C'mon Triby-man, don't be such a sourpuss, smiiileeee

Platapus · 08-26-11, 12:21 PM

Keep smiling. It makes people wonder what you are up to.

Stealhead · 08-26-11, 03:03 PM

Depends on where you are from I think. In the South people tend to be much more friendly/courteous to people it is not uncommon to see someone wave at you when as you ride past each other along the road or for someone to say a general greeting to someone in public.In my experience in other parts of the country people are less likely to do such things.To me things like that do generally make people feel well.

The only other place where people seemed to be generally more friendly and to people in public was in Germany or at least the region I was in they where fairly friendly.

I never have understood why some people are so negative to someone smiling(unless there is some common knowledge reason in a situation why they should not be).Perhaps it is because some folks just have a generally negative attitude towards life.

I dont see why you have to go out of your way you can make someone smile or at least feel good and not really go out of your way.

What makes me question what a person is up to is when they look nervous or out of place that is the person to look out for not the smiling person.

Anthony W. · 08-26-11, 03:09 PM

~Stealhead yeah I've noticed that too

Here in the Midwest and North, it seems like life is some sort of - purgatory - for lack of better words. Or at least that's the attitude a lot of people take.

STEED · 08-26-11, 03:15 PM

Facebook

Jimbuna · 08-26-11, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEED

Facebook

Behave yersel

Betonov · 08-26-11, 03:27 PM

Jim, smile when you're hitting someone

STEED · 08-26-11, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Behave yersel

Facebook.

It has that effect on me.

Jimbuna · 08-26-11, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEED

Facebook.

It has that effect on me.

Me as well if I'm to be totally honest...but each to their own.

frau kaleun · 08-26-11, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betonov

Jim, smile when you're hitting someone

I usually hum the "Ode to Joy."

Seriously, though, while I'm all for random acts of kindness that actually amount to something and can brighten up someone's day, I draw the line at standing around berating complete strangers because the look on their faces isn't cheery enough to suit you. I've had this happen to me and it's infuriating. Some woman standing outside a grocery store I was going into starting babbling at me from 20 feet away while I was trying to get a cart about how I wasn't smiling and didn't I have something to smile about and why didn't I put a smile on my face, etc. I didn't even realize she was talking (more like: shouting) at me until I got closer. I had about a billion things on my mind at the time, not all of them pleasant, and the last thing I needed was some stranger hollering at me in a public place because I didn't look as happy as she thought I ought to. Clearly she was in a happy place, but I wasn't, and since it was none of her business IMO it would've been more polite if she'd kept her nose out of it.

Later on I realized that what I should've done was answer her continual "WHY AREN'T YOU SMILING?" crap with something like "Because I just found out that [insert horrible personal tragedy of your choice here]" just to teach her to mind her own business.

STEED · 08-26-11, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Me as well if I'm to be totally honest...but each to their own.

I forgot Twitter.

Jimbuna · 08-26-11, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEED

I forgot Twitter.

Oh it gets worse...if that were possible

FIREWALL · 08-26-11, 03:43 PM

Watch Out !!! They may mistake you for the Village Idiot !!!

08-26-11, 11:03 AM	#1
Anthony W. Grey Wolf Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 850 Downloads: 130 Uploads: 0	The "Make A Smile" Challenge Well, guys, I get out a lot. I see a lot of people just mindlessly going through the motions of their routine. I see a lot of scowls, frowns, and poker faces. Well, lets change that up a bit. For the past good while now, I've been going out of my way to make total strangers smile - to add a little something to their day. Just my little way of making the world a better, friendlier place to be - appealing to the general human sense of compassion and caring. Last night I was thinking about how I just don't see many people approach total strangers like that. So, I'm going to start a Facebook page called the "Make A Smile Challenge". The goal is to, once a day, go out of your way to make a complete stranger smile. So lets give this a try - can't do any harm, can it? http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ma...596140?sk=wall __________________ Sunken Mustangs Proud Ford Mustang owner "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" - Admiral David Farragut Run silent - run deep - keep the baffles clear - targets front and center. Private pilot and history buff Last edited by Anthony W.; 08-26-11 at 02:49 PM.

08-26-11, 12:21 PM	#4
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,373 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Keep smiling. It makes people wonder what you are up to. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

08-26-11, 03:09 PM	#6
Anthony W. Grey Wolf Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 850 Downloads: 130 Uploads: 0	~Stealhead yeah I've noticed that too Here in the Midwest and North, it seems like life is some sort of - purgatory - for lack of better words. Or at least that's the attitude a lot of people take. __________________ Sunken Mustangs Proud Ford Mustang owner "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" - Admiral David Farragut Run silent - run deep - keep the baffles clear - targets front and center. Private pilot and history buff

08-26-11, 03:15 PM	#7
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	Facebook __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!

08-26-11, 03:43 PM	#15
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	Watch Out !!! They may mistake you for the Village Idiot !!! __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

08-26-11, 03:03 PM	#5
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Depends on where you are from I think. In the South people tend to be much more friendly/courteous to people it is not uncommon to see someone wave at you when as you ride past each other along the road or for someone to say a general greeting to someone in public.In my experience in other parts of the country people are less likely to do such things.To me things like that do generally make people feel well. The only other place where people seemed to be generally more friendly and to people in public was in Germany or at least the region I was in they where fairly friendly. I never have understood why some people are so negative to someone smiling(unless there is some common knowledge reason in a situation why they should not be).Perhaps it is because some folks just have a generally negative attitude towards life. I dont see why you have to go out of your way you can make someone smile or at least feel good and not really go out of your way. What makes me question what a person is up to is when they look nervous or out of place that is the person to look out for not the smiling person.

08-26-11, 03:27 PM	#9
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	Jim, smile when you're hitting someone