How To Interpret The Hundred Thai Smiles?

[alohatiger]

I've just realized what some smiles mean! There's a whole undercurrent of emotions going on behind peoples' smiles!

Some are I-am-nervous around foreigner smiles .. Performance-anxiety smiles ..

Others are I-am-going-ream-you smiles at the bargaining table ..

The smile is a DEVASTATING weapon. Very clever to integrate a smile into your culture.

It physiologically can bring down one's guard and SURPRISE people. Wow!

It blunts the surliest temper. It soothes even in this tropical heat.

Some are sorry-can't-help-you smiles.

Others are discreetly-revealing-disagreement/disapproval-politely smiles.

Another is the sweetest I-won't-lift-a-finger-for-you-Cheap-Charlie smile ..

Some don't realize what goes on beneathe the surface ..

Really diffused the situation (VERY IMPORTANT in the heat-soaked tropics!) and allows one to say things one normally coudn't.

Very very clever .. One more reason why Thais just dominate the region ..

Would be nice to know how to interpret their intentions from their smile ..

[SeanMoran]

Trust in the smiles you got yesterday, if they're still smiling today.

[Birdman]

People in Thailand also eat with spoons and forks, sometimes with the small spoons and chopsticks.

[F1fanatic]

A smile means nothing and is certainly not to be trusted in financial matters!

Otherwise, who cares? Its far nicer to be greeted with a smile (even if false) than a scowl. It spreads happiness rather than irritation.

Smiling is so much the norm here that I really notice when I'm not greeted with a smile. It happens rarely, and makes it v obvious that the person is not happy with their job.

Funnily enough I come across it most often during the day in bars/restaurants when only farang couples are there. During the evening the staff are far more smiley.

[BigWheelMan]

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[Naam]

"Very very clever .. One more reason why Thais just dominate the region .. "

an intelligent, valid and interesting observation! as intelligent and valid as the question "why don't Mongolians or Indios from Brazil dominate the region?"