OK ladies, this has been haunting me for years! Why do you scowl at a man in public after he smiles at you?

[Anonymous]

It seems like the more attractive you are the more likely you are to scowl in response to a smile. It makes me feel like I'm offending you. I stopped smiling at women in public so much because I hate getting dirty looks in response...My only guess is that you scowl when a guy smiles at you in public because you find it to be inappropriate.

[Lavendel]

I usually smile back, just to be polite.

But honestly? Random guys smiling at me kinda creep me out. You don't know what their agenda is.Though you can really tell by a guys eyes what they're up to. If it's a friendly "hello there!" or "wow, you're pretty!"-smile, I'll get flattered and smile back. If it's a "you're hot, I wanna have sex with you"-smile, I'll scowl or just look away.

In what setting are you smiling at them? Guys smiling at me any ordinary day in the street or wherever will lighten my day. Guys smiling at me at a club.. well, my reaction depends on the guy. Guys smiling at me while I'm walking home at night after a party will freak me out.

It's not inappropriate to smile at a girl in public. Just depends what your motives for the smile were.. Your eyes'll probably give you away.

[Asker]

it happened this morning...What I thinking was "wow, you're pretty". You know how it works...In public we have a split second to determine if we like the way someone looks. It was right as our eyes met. If I'm thinking "You're hot, I wanna have sex with you" I never smile because of just the reason you mentioned; my eyes will give me away and I'll come across as creepy. I guess what really is offensive, is it just seems unwarranted...Why don't women just ignore a smile that they don't like?

[Lavendel]

Really, it's just a reflex, both the return-smile and the scowl. At least for my part. I'm raised to be polite, so I usually always smile back, unless their dirty intentions are really obvious. Maybe the prettiest girls are just wired that way, to scowl at strangers.. I really don't know..

[gravygirl]

I know guys don't necessarily realize this, but random male attention is kind of threatening. Men are stronger than women. I'm pretty fit, but I might not be able to fight off a guy of even average strength if he decided to rape me. I don't mean that I'm totally helpless. I might be able to get away or hurt him or something, but having this kind of battle with a guy is absolutely something I want to live my whole life without experiencing. And when some random dude on the train or whatever suddenly smiles at me and seems to take interest all of this stuff runs through my head.

[Asker]

I totally realize what you're talking about. There are non threatening situations that women feel more comfortable sharing a smile with a stranger. I'm 6'5" so I have to bear in mind that I can come across as imposing.

[gravygirl]

A guy as big as you can be especially threatening. I know it's not your fault, but if you're a stranger I have no idea if attention from you is not a thing to fear.

[CAGirl88]

Yes I'm guilty of this. I really try to remind myself not do this and smile. I am shy so that might be a reason or I'm not to the guy. Also sometimes I just really can't believe that a certain guy would be interested in me so I scowl...idk its a stupid reaction and I really hate that I do this.

[Brando]

Next time a girl does this, smile bigger just to p*ss her off. If she wants to get mad because someone is giving her a non-verbal compliment, then she needs to get off her high horse and realize that the world isn't going to kiss her "pretty" ass all the time.

[hellononame]

great idea.

[Asker]

It happened to me this morning and I wanted to just go off on her right there at the airport and walk away! Why does it seem like some of the prettiest girls can't exchange a pleasant smile? It's like they look at a smile as just an overture of an advance and not an opportunity to share some positive energy. It's like "Hey! smiles are about more than just you getting hit on by would be suitors! Wake UP! :D)

[Brando]

Good thing you didn't, otherwise you would've wasted your time on someone pointless. Don't stress over people like this, their attitude towards life will either change or they will realize that people don't really like them. People that I went to high school with, I've seen more than a few change the way they act and really regret how they act before.

[gravygirl]

You know, I get what you guys are saying from your viewpoint, but I'm not sure you are seeing ours. If some random dude smiles at me, yeah that might be harmless, but it might also be like he wants to have me and isn't interested in taking no for an answer. It's scary.

[Applefan1]

There is no excuse for anyone to scowl at anyone in this situation. Oh I really love how people are trying to cover up scowling which is strait out being rude with lame excuses! End of story.

[Arwens-Fire]

Well, sometimes when women scowl,it's because they are having an awful day,nothings going right,they may look at you while they were scowling at some one or something else. OR, some women may use that response if they are not interested in you so you will definitely get the point from afar. It's the b***h defense or shield if you will. It sucks I know...:/ However,i think you should continue to smile at women because eventually you will come across those who smile back.:)

[Anonymous]

This happens to me sometimes, but that's because I'm unshaven and wearing my baseball cap with a swastika on it. Really now, I think women get offended because a lusty smile makes them feel like a prostitute or a whore. "You just want me for my body?" ... "Well, yeah. What's wrong with that?"

[Asker]

I guess there's all kinds of things we say with a smile. I know sometimes I give these smiles that feel like a pity smile or something...But yeah...if I seriously feel lust for a lady in public I keep from smiling at all because I know it will look creepy! Do you seriously where a cap with a swastika on it?

[Opinion Owner]

Only when I have to parade though a crowd of neo-nazis, just to blend in, else I'll get short for having brown eyes instead of blue.

[sourpatchchik2]

I used to do that all of the time when I was really shy...I guess I used it as a defense mechanism somehow. Now I'll smile back unless it's a guy a LOT older than me which is creepy in the first place, and deserves a scowl.

[Asker]

I definitely take age in to consideration.

[Anonymous]

i do that when the guy stares at me constantly. staring is flattering, but also really rude. if I'm drinking coffee and reading a book, I don't some stranger to keep looking at me. if you're going to smile at me, then come say hi

[Asker]

Yes, there's a fine line with starring. No guy wants to be the creepy guy that stares but sometimes that's what we feel is the best way to communicate interest. A dead stare can say a lot more than a smile could ever say. I can tell when a woman stares at me and she wants me. It feels like she's looking inside me.

[jennana]

Haha, I am guilty of this. In my case, if a man does this and I scowl back, it's to show I want to be left alone. And that's usually the case.

[Asker]

That's what I figured; so I guess just ignoring the smile seems like it would welcome an advance?

I would always prefer to be ignored rather than get a dirty look. I find the dirty look to be far more offensive. So, it's a matter of time and place?

[Anonymous]

She might not know him or may get uncomfortable sense she made eye contact with a stranger. If a make eye contact with a straner, I automatically look away because I don't want them to think I'm staring at them.

[Anonymous]

Given your age, they might assume you are either married or so skeezy that you can't get a woman. Either way, these women are letting you know that they are not interested.

[Anonymous]

it could be that your doing a creepy smile

or a full smile

try a small no teeth smile

if a girl doesn't smile back she's not worth your time