the Smile Project
@chocolateiscreams (138)
Philippines
June 26, 2008 10:16pm CST
one of our professors gave us this project. We have to smile to a total stranger in a public place. Then if we're lucky enough to have a conversation, we are to interview them and ask them about how they felt when a stranger smiled to them.
If a stranger would smile to you, how would you feel?
When I did this project, it was so embarrasing at first, but as I tried smiling, I noticed many of them smiled back. =)
4 responses
@didnotask4it (118)
• Philippines
27 Jun 08
Well at my age I'd be a bit careful with strangers smiling at me...maybe I'd be very conscious of how I look..(is my blouse open? am i wearing slippers that's not the right pair?) Also, I'd see if the eyes are also smiling...then I'd know it's a friendly and sincere smile, then I'd give my best smile too.
I reckon that project of yours earned a high grade, did it?
Good-luck!!
@chocolateiscreams (138)
• Philippines
28 Jun 08
...i only approached students in our school which are not yet familiar to me.. Sometimes, it is quite scary to smile at total strangers in a very public place, like a mall, or at the bus, you'd never know what kind of person they are by only how they look.
So, i guess i still played it safe, since after the smile, we have to (ambush?) interview the person, and ask about their reaction.
Most of them said, Surprised, but reflexively smiled back. It may mean they're friendly in nature. =)
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
27 Jun 08
I would smile back. If you don't get any smiles from strangers just go smile at a baby, they can't help but smile back. Its infectious.
@chocolateiscreams (138)
• Philippines
29 Jun 08
I love babies! They're so Cute! Smiles are a way of connecting ang communicating to other people for babies. Since they haven't develop their speech, they reach out through smiling.
@Twogen1987 (87)
• United States
27 Jun 08
I would love this. I like smiling, and i do it often. This project would be a neat experience. You would be surprised at the responses though. I would hope to make people that didnt usually smile, happy:). this would be fun. If someone smiled at me that I did not know, I would smile back for sure. :)
@thetruth4you (394)
• United States
27 Jun 08
I like strangers to smile at me. It has been brought to my attention many times that I am not a naturally smiley person and because of this I really make an effort to try and smile more. I have discovered the same thing you did that if you smile at a stranger first they usually will smile back and they also make eye contact with you. I have been to a few cities where people out in public refuse to make eye contact at all.
