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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums'Bitchy resting face' is real (kind of). But there's hope
The concept of bitchy resting face may have started off as a joke, but ever since the fake PSA went live garnering more than 2 million hits on the comedy site Funny or Die and YouTube scores of women have come forward to own up to the disorder.
Actress Anna Paquin of True Blood bemoaned her BRF during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live last week, saying that despite being happy and satisfied with her life, her default face makes her look like she wants to kill people. Jezebels Kristine Gutierrez, on the other hand, celebrated her chronic bitch face, proclaiming its not my responsibility to be everyones sunshine.
I need to print this on business cards so I can hand it out to people who stop me and ask why Im unhappy or angry or tell me to smile on a daily basis, one commenter wrote in response to the video.
Written by journalist and comedian Taylor Orci, the short video was created as a parody of commercials for seemingly pseudo medical disorders. But does bitchy resting face and its male equivalent, a**hole resting face -- actually exist?
Absolutely, says Michigan-based plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Youn.
Bitchy resting face is a definite phenomenon that plastic surgeons like myself have described, just never with that term, he says. Basically many of us have features that we inherit and/or develop with age that can make us look unpleasant, grumpy, or even, yes, bitchy.
http://www.today.com/health/bitchy-resting-face-real-kind-theres-hope-6C10462819
Warpy
(111,305 posts)which is a real advantage to those of us with BRF who are also introverts. The few assholes who command us to smile are usually the type who think women should be smiling (meaning available) all the time, so I have no qualms about telling them to take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut.
The Straight Story
(48,121 posts)"take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut" - hope I get a bulls-eye
I tend to be a smiley kind of person. I'm sorry to inform you, but smiling most certainly DOES NOT mean available all the time. But thanks loads for the assumption.
There are a couple of those BRF in the neighborhood. I haven't had either scream any expletives at me, but rest assured I know a few myself.
enough
(13,261 posts)She said that the kind of men who approach you with some sort of line exhorting you to SMILE, (you'd be so beautiful with a nice smile on your face, what's your problem it can't be that bad, how 'bout a nice smile for me this morning honey, etc. etc. etc.) are the kind of men who think women should be perpetually available.
From my experience, I have to agree with Warpy about those men, and there are a lot of them.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)assumption to make about men too. But go on with your mind reading.
Nay
(12,051 posts)when I was young -- once I turned about 35, poof, all concerns about my 'welfare' and my 'sadness' simply ceased. I don't think I could be faulted for thinking that men were using those lines as come-ons to women they thought were sexually attractive.
distantearlywarning
(4,475 posts)I think your assessment of what is going on in this situation is spot on.
enough
(13,261 posts)Mind reading it does not take.
Ian David
(69,059 posts)Sorry, I was thinking of Orangutans.
a la izquierda
(11,795 posts)I always have people telling me to look happy.
I'm perfectly fucking happy. I just don't roll around with a shit-eating grin on my face.
BainsBane
(53,038 posts)Isn't it always men telling you to smile?
a la izquierda
(11,795 posts)Creeps me out.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)JI7
(89,259 posts)The Straight Story
(48,121 posts)pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)Sookie causes mixed emotions on this issue
The Straight Story
(48,121 posts)WCGreen
(45,558 posts)The Straight Story
(48,121 posts)Silent3
(15,247 posts)...and much of the reaction from so-called friends was bitching about my lack of a big smile! Pissed me off royally.
Quantess
(27,630 posts)so she is too young to have "bitchy resting face". Lindsay Lohan on the other hand is putting on wrinnkles at a lightning pace, and she does look kinda bitchy.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)She looks way older than her actual age.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)when I'm reading piano music, especially for the first time. I've actually seen it in a mirror and it's frightening.
The Straight Story
(48,121 posts)ms liberty
(8,590 posts)Well to be fair, it was also George Bush, right wing nut jobs, a recession, two wars, and living until I was in my twenties on the west coast of Florida...
winter is coming
(11,785 posts)sight-reading music and I'm always amused by the facial expressions that look nothing like people reading music. No intent concentration, no "what the fuck is that?" looks, no "goddammit, I'm totally lost!" looks, and no foot tapping. My experience as a singer has been that when the reading gets tough, the foot tapping gets loud.
Butterbean
(1,014 posts)WCGreen
(45,558 posts)means I am upset, It's just that I have suffered through out breaks of Stoner face, Dude face, Feminist and Proud Face, Finding a Bloody Horse Head in your Bed Face and Arched Eye Maud Face.
Sometimes people just had their faces freeze like that....
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)I do hate the exhortations from strangers to "Smile!" but it's fun to say "I AM SMILING."
pipi_k
(21,020 posts)Sufferer of the malady, BRF...even when I was way younger than now.
I can't even count the number of times people have told me to "smile!!!!"
Why the hell don't people mind their own damned business??? I don't run around telling people to smile. For all I know they could be sad because someone in their family just died or something. I don't know about anyone else, but I would feel like a total asshole for telling someone to smile and s/he says back to me, "My (family member) just died...hope you don't mind if I don't feel much like smiling!" I've always wanted to say that to someone, actually.
So. One of the few people I know who isn't afflicted by BRF is Mr Pipi's second wife, who is a nice person, but she always seems to have a slight smile on her face, and I think it's somewhat creepy.
PDJane
(10,103 posts)My usual answer to those people who tell me to smile is a raised eyebrow and stare.......works really well.