Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

slfnflctd t1_j2x8k9i wrote

It's very unusual for me to find something truly hilarious, and when it does happen it tends to be when it's just me & a friend or my SO.

Most of the time when I'm laughing it's to keep the energy up & positive, as well as to acknowledge & show appreciation for whoever said what I'm reacting to. Especially with kids or younger adults.

652

MermaidHissyFit t1_j2yzlk2 wrote

I laugh and smile a ton in casual conversation. I'm genuinely not being fake, I'm just a smiling giggle-at-everything typa person. Like my brain is constantly looking for any excuse for me to laugh. I do it alone also, just not as frequently.

175

[deleted] OP t1_j321414 wrote

Same! Sometimes I can appreciate this quality. I’ll just be sitting there, think of something funny, and start laughing. I’m never bored. Other times I hate myself for it because I think people would take me more seriously if I didn’t smile and laugh as much. I’m intelligent enough that people theoretically should listen to me but no one wants to listen to the person who doesn’t perceive everything as serious.

10

THELINKINBIO t1_j323ao6 wrote

As someone who can be quite serious i think the grass may just be greener here. Life is short. Joy is the greatest gift. Anyone of worth will see your worth. Keep laughing!

11

[deleted] OP t1_j3243tp wrote

Oh man, that made me cry. I just lost my dad this week so am a little emotional. You’re right, thank you. There’s room for all of us, we can balance each other out.

10

EvaUnit_03 t1_j2x932p wrote

And thats why we do the fake smiles and laughs. Its a social stigma so they like us and see us as relatable. If we don't come off as likeable and relatable nobody will talk to us or be friendly towards us and we'll be left alone in these forced scenarios we have to deal with daily, repeatedly.

51

slfnflctd t1_j2xbf98 wrote

I think it can also be to avoid the negative situation where someone feels left out or unlikeable. Or in the case of children, to let them know you're having fun like they are. A split second of recognition (or the lack of it) can make a big difference in someone's mood.

I grew up around a lot of stone-faced adults, and was always wondering if I made them mad or said/did something stupid. I don't want to make others feel that way.

40

MittenstheGlove t1_j33kk8h wrote

This is me. I’ve been doing it since I was 12 and experience a sort of level of nervousness. It helps alleviate it.

3

not_cinderella t1_j2xanxl wrote

>If we don't come off as likeable and relatable nobody will talk to us or be friendly towards us and we'll be left alone in these forced scenarios we have to deal with daily, repeatedly.

This is a bad thing?

10

EvaUnit_03 t1_j2xfsae wrote

Well... as a species we used to kill people who weren't assimilated into our societies on the regular. We still do it today but prisons exist so instead of inhumanely killing them, we just lock them up and tell them to convert or stay there until eventual death.

3

sovietta t1_j2yqohu wrote

Humans are an inherently social species, you realize that don't you?

9

EvaUnit_03 t1_j2zllc5 wrote

which is exactly what the article portraits, a part of our social species that is actually inherently different to our prime ape counterparts.

3

not_cinderella t1_j2xgigt wrote

Not laughing isn’t a crime though?

2

houseman1131 t1_j2xukhb wrote

No but like if your boss makes a joke about buttons or something you better chuckle.

13

EvaUnit_03 t1_j2xgpwj wrote

depends on who you're talking to. i could see not laughing in north korea or russia right now over a clearly obvious but not funny joke told by putin or kim being taken as a pretty illegal crime. Xi has been falling in line with that too and im sure trump would also agree.

0

Kurotan t1_j2x8zih wrote

I don't laugh much outside of like TV, but if I do it's probably fake laughing. But apparently according to the article I should fake laugh more?

3

MittenstheGlove t1_j33jpia wrote

It’s sort of a nervous response for me. I’ve been doing it since I was like 12.

3

saiyaniam t1_j2xsf0p wrote

I know now why you laugh, but it is something I could never do.

1