Russian Smile

[slim 1,525]

See, we're not making this up!

http://www.today.com/sochi/why-dont-russians-smile-nastia-liukin-answers-our-burning-cultural-2D12124940

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

Yep, typically Russians don't smile unless they have a reason. Honestly I don't understand this smiling all the time tendency and some people in the US who don't know me well think I'm a grumpy person because I tend to keep neutral face expression unless there is something funny going around or unless I'm really happy to see this person.

- Victor from Russia

[AmyWrites 593]

I liked that about Russians. Felt that when the smiles did come, they were more sincere and from a place of more trust.

[Misha'sgirl 44]

Russian humor and American humor is vastly different. For example: my fiance understands and speaks English very well, but if we are watching an American comedy, and something is blatantly funny to me, often times he won't think it's funny, or not THAT funny. As far as smiling when simply feeling happy...yeah, I don't understand why some people are always or usually smiling. There can't possibly be THAT much to be happy about. Although, I will admit, after my fiance's interview and we knew he was getting his visa (no problem), I was smiling ear to ear and I just couldn't stop! :) :) But I will say, my fiance is one of the "happier" Russians I've met. hehe

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

Russian humor and American humor is vastly different. For example: my fiance understands and speaks English very well, but if we are watching an American comedy, and something is blatantly funny to me, often times he won't think it's funny, or not THAT funny.

Of course it's somewhat different, but I wouldn't tell vastly. Do you consider personal sense of humor difference? Not every Russian will find the same thing funny and not every American either. People in Russia typically like US comedies and most of the people actually find them funny. The biggest difference I see is that US humor is always extremely politcorrect. Russian humor is often sarcastic and not PC because most of the Russians do not care about political correctness. To make more specific example - I find George Carlin hilarious and I love many of his jokes but I've heard from many Americans that they think he is a very mean person. Many of the common Russian anecdotes I know would make average US born person to never speak to me again. Also I noticed that Americans do not like to laugh and joke about themselves (like a nation, country, I don't mean just individuals). Russians do not have problem with it - we easily make jokes about ourselves and put our country or nation in anecdotes making fun of it. We even have a serie of comedies "National aspects of..." where actors making a lot of fun about drinking and other stereotypical (and not necessary) aspects of Russian life. And believe me, people in Russia LOVE these comedies. But we really hate when people from OTHER countries/nations making fun of us as of nation/country.

If you want some REALLY vastly different humor from Russian - it's English/British humor. It's a very few comedies from there Russians might kinda like, but most of English anecdotes/jokes will make average Russian to raise eyebrows and ask: "After which word was I supposed to laugh and why?" because we simply don't understand it and don't find it funny, no matter how good we speak English.

- Victor from Russia

Edited February 22, 2014 by Amy_and_Victor

[Misha'sgirl 44]

Of course it's somewhat different, but I wouldn't tell vastly. Do you consider personal sense of humor difference? Not every Russian will find the same thing funny and not every American either. People in Russia typically like US comedies and most of the people actually find them funny. The biggest difference I see is that US humor is always extremely politcorrect. Russian humor is often sarcastic and not PC because most of the Russians do not care about political correctness. To make more specific example - I find George Carlin hilarious and I love many of his jokes but I've heard from many Americans that they think he is a very mean person. Many of the common Russian anecdotes I know would make average US born person to never speak to me again. Also I noticed that Americans do not like to laugh and joke about themselves (like a nation, country, I don't mean just individuals). Russians do not have problem with it - we easily make jokes about ourselves and put our country or nation in anecdotes making fun of it. We even have a serie of comedies "National aspects of..." where actors making a lot of fun about drinking and other stereotypical (and not necessary) aspects of Russian life. And believe me, people in Russia LOVE these comedies. But we really hate when people from OTHER countries/nations making fun of us as of nation/country.

If you want some REALLY vastly different humor from Russian - it's English/British humor. It's a very few comedies from there Russians might kinda like, but most of English anecdotes/jokes will make average Russian to raise eyebrows and ask: "After which word was I supposed to laugh and why?" because we simply don't understand it and don't find it funny, no matter how good we speak English.

- Victor from Russia

You find it one way, I find it another. No one is wrong and no opinion is more valid than the other. I based my opinion on experience: the experience of having a Russian husband, who also has Russian relatives whom I lived with for six months and got to know very well. A lot of "get-to-gethers" (big dinners and drinking), meant getting to know their friends as well. Thus, my comment about my husband being one of the happier Russian's I've met. I don't think I was making fun of Russia or Russian people. I guess you were just stating that "But we really hate when people from OTHER countries/nations making fun of us as of nation/country." as a fact... Honestly, I do have fun at my country sometimes...the president(s), our politics, the way our gov operates, the people (especially from specific regions)... I don't have a problem with it. As an American, I joke about this nation's flaws, etc. Jokes aren't supposed to be taken seriously, but I suppose some do take certain jokes too seriously because they are based around serious topics. Obesity in America is a problem and getting bigger and bigger everyday (no pun intended ...) But many Americans joke about it. I did notice however, that joking about "fat Americans" seems to be popular for Russian people. Some people might get offended but, I just don't. However, I think we could all learn to smile and laugh a little more. We're all gonna die one day. Why not make life RIGHT NOW more enjoyable while we can? Plus laughing uses a lot of muscles so it's kind of a work-out for us fatso Americans.

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

You find it one way, I find it another. No one is wrong and no opinion is more valid than the other.

I never tried to put down anybody's opinion in this topic or to tell that anybody is wrong. I only added my opinion about difference in Russian/American humor from point of view of Russian person (based on my experience), like you did the same from point of view of US person, that's it.

I don't think I was making fun of Russia or Russian people. I guess you were just stating that "But we really hate when people from OTHER countries/nations making fun of us as of nation/country." as a fact...

Yes, that statement wasn't related to anything you wrote, I just mentioned it to describe Russian sense of humor a little better.

[Misha'sgirl 44]

I never tried to put down anybody's opinion in this topic or to tell that anybody is wrong. I only added my opinion about difference in Russian/American humor from point of view of Russian person (based on my experience), like you did the same from point of view of US person, that's it.

Yes, that statement wasn't related to anything you wrote, I just mentioned it to describe Russian sense of humor a little better.

I didn't say you were putting down my opinion. I was just saying that as a fact.

Good, I'm glad we're on the same page.

[UK_Fan 192]

Smile hmmm.... In my family it's a complete opposite. Slim happened to notice it haha. I always smile - maybe too much. And my husband.... Well let's just say he'd fit in Russia well...