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OddballBen
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09 Oct 2015, 2:53 am

Apparently my arsenal of pre-prepared facial expressions are "awkward" and "lopsided." I've tried practicing in front of a mirror, but it's really hard to move the parts of my face the right way. Has anyone else had this problem and what should I do?



Butterfly88
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09 Oct 2015, 7:00 am

My facial expressions often don't match how I'm feeling. I don't try to change it, I just accept it as is.



nick007
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09 Oct 2015, 2:17 pm

Butterfly88 wrote:
My facial expressions often don't match how I'm feeling. I don't try to change it, I just accept it as is.
Same here. People tend to think I'm mad or upset when I'm not.


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thatguywhowearseyeliner
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10 Oct 2015, 11:11 pm

totally. i mostly have an odd time with smile-based things so when somethings funny i do something with my face (not entirely sure what it is because ive never seen it) and put my head down. most of the day is an exercise in perfecting the ultimate neutral expression. either that or looking unenthused because that can help me avoid people


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LivingInParentheses
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13 Oct 2015, 8:50 am

When I was in first grade I was the only child without both parents at home (divorce was much less common back then, and my father had died a year or so before). I remembre the day that the assignment was to make a Father's day card. I didn't want anyone to see how upset it made me so I spent that time perfecting what I thought was a neutral face. I found out more than 30 years later that my "neutral face" which I so carefully wore all the time was actually "resting b!tch face".

People constantly respond to me either defensively, or by actually saying "alright, calm down!" when I'm doing nothing more than having a regular day/conversation/whatever.

It frustrates me to no end, but I can't fake a smile, it just looks like a weird grimace/scowl, and I can't smile without being surprised by something briefly that makes me happy. It's just not a facial movement that comes naturally to me no matter how many hours I spent in front of mirrors practicing as a teenager.

Now I just am how I am and don't worry about what other people think, because even at times when I've gone out of my way to try to "be normal", I've been read the wrong way. I look people in the eye and smile and suddenly I have creepy men following me around as if I am interested or something. Not worth it.


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underwater
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13 Oct 2015, 8:58 am

"Resting bitchface" is a bizarre idea. Seriously, it's an endtimes sign when a woman can't just look like she's thinking.

That said, I've been accused of being angry more times than I can count.

I practice facial expressions when I pass mirrors, to surprise myself, so to speak.

I can be extremely expressive though, so what I am trying to do bring a bit of the feeling from when I'm happy and relaxed to the times when I notice that I've been blank for a while.

It seems to have a lot to do with the muscles in the vicinity of the eyes.



LivingInParentheses
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13 Oct 2015, 9:05 am

I think that's pretty accurate (That it has a lot to do with muscles near the eyes) - now that I'm in my 40s I have those two vertical wrinkles between my eyes and above my nose that look like I'm scowling with my eyes all the time, but I can't help it, it's just wrinkles. But those wrinkles in combination with a slight frown (my neutral expression) appears scowly and moody I guess. Can't help it. Just is how it is. I'm sure not gonna paste a fake grin on my face as I am out and about though, I'd look flat-out insane walking around that way, with teeth all hanging out and lips pulled back and eyebrows arched extra high, LOL.


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BAP: 132 aloof, 121 rigid, 84 pragmatic // Cambridge Face Memory Test: 62% // AQ: 39