#526 – Flip
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 12:00 am by Chris
Chapter: Comic
“Something got you feeling down? Just turn that frown upside down!” Is this misconception starting to change yet? Most of my life there has been a general reinforcement of the notion that depression is a choice. “Just snap out of it!” It’s unfortunate to know that there are many people that need help but do not seek it out because they are taught to be ashamed of how they feel. “Don’t worry, be happy!”
Tags: emotions, face, smile
No that aggravating attitude is still out there because not enough people who say it get punched in the face. It’s gone too far, only face-violence can solve this.
On the other hand, there seems to be a fair amount of evidence that the physical act of smiling can make you happier, so the advice to smile (even if couched in the repellent “turn it upside down” terms) probably has some validity.
It’s slow, but it’s getting there. Mental health wasn’t even remotely a thing a decade ago. Now there’s notable organizations and public service announcements and stuff.
I like how the upside down frown looks like angry eyebrows (well, eyebrow). I too get mad when people tell me to cheer up, or touch my head.
I always argued with my mother a great deal about this one. She’d say “no matter what you feel, smile!”
And I’d respond, “Are you suggesting I go around the rest of my life living a lie?”
Obviously growing up I’ve had to outwardly modify that thought if I wanna keep my job where I have to smile, though.
I hate the ideals of the “Stepford Smiler”. If you don’t know what that is, go to tvtropes.com and look it up.
But…I also hold true the other thing….smiling at someone else will make them feel better, and their return smile might not be fake.
And by the way…you could continue this strip into tomorrow by this guy doodling on the chin of his pal’s upside-down face, drawing eyeballs and a nose from that side. XD
But, if you go around smiling for no reason, people think you might be up to something Evil….
which can be fun, and help mitigate the depression.
My “favorite” one is “Fake it til you make it!”
Nice to know so many people think the smae way I do. You should have to smile when you don’t want to, BUT if you can force yourself to do it, it might make someone else feel better and rub off on you too. It’s the forcing myself part that I have to work up to.
“…You should have to smile when you don’t want to…”
You mean ‘shouldn’t’, right?
I’m with Kingklash on this one. Smile anyway, some will be taken in by it, some will realize it’s forced, and some will just wonder what you’re up to…
Once, at a birthday dinner party, i sat next to some girl i didn’t know. She was very sad. The birthday girl was just jolly happy, because she had a new guy, and she kept telling the sad girl “ah, don’t be sad”, “he didn’t deserve you”, “you’ll be alright”, “in the future, you’ll see being sad was a waste of time”, bla bla bla.
I approached the sad girl and said “be sad. be sad all you want. it’s your right. you are hurt, you are disappointed, and you have all the right to be sad. in the future you’ll be alright, yes, but now you can be sad all you like. And your friends MUST understand that, and be there for you, until you don’t let go of that sadness”.
She thanked me for understanding, cried while hugging me, and then gave me the most sincere smile ever…
And i didn’t even know her.
People have the right to be sad.
oh, and it’s “until you let go of that sadness” or “while you don’t let go of that sadness”.
is it me, or should there be a “squeak” somewhere in there?
And he’s dead.