It's nice to see people smile, unless the smile resembles the lovable Dr. Sheldon Cooper's forced, creepy grin. He means well, but it comes out wrong. Having a friend with a contagious smile can really brighten up your life.
Speaking of smiles, many states now won't allow you to smile for your driver's license photo. It used to be a joke that the pictures looked like mug shots (arrest pictures), but now they really do. The government doesn't want smiles because they foul up computer facial recognition programs that identify people by comparing and matching photos--like the ones in the driver's license database.
So if I were a smart criminal and didn't want facial recognition programs to identify me, I probably would walk around with a big grin on my face all the time.
Hmmm...(so THAT's why he smiles all the time). :P
PS - I joke, but it's not funny and it's nothing new (computer programs aside). Smiling faces...to trust them or not? All we can do is follow our instincts.
Here it is only prohibibited to smile on your passport fotos but for ID's and dirvers license I've never heard of it. I can't wait to change my ID card, since I hate the foto on my current one, lol.
ReplyDeleteI like to smile!! It makes you look more beautiful and also trains your face muscles, hahaha! I want to prevent having a mouth like this :( in a few years XDDD
The photos here have never been good, so not smiling doesn't make too much difference.
DeleteWe can't smile on BC driver's license pictures any more either. For an additional fee you can have a BC license "enhanced" so you can use it to cross the border to the US. I guess they need to be able to run it through the computer.
ReplyDeleteThey are also very picky about passport photos. If there is even a gleam in your eye the whole application form will be returned to you. I think they want everyone to look like a terrorist or thug so there doesn't appear to be any discrimination against the bad guys.
I wouldn't want to be a border guard--all those non-smiling pictures to check (and people trying to smuggle tomatoes). :P
DeleteThat's such a weird rule! I don't know if my country has the same law (but really nobody around here smiles anyway so I guess it was unnecessary).
ReplyDeleteSo no public smiling, just smiles when certain people walk into a room (in private)??? :)
Deleteteehee!
DeleteWell..The shopskeepers and cashiers smile but it's not a very usual occurrence! Everyone's like so grumpy. :( So if you ever visit my city, please know that we're not being rude, we just don't have friendly faces :P
To borrow a term from Victoria Beckham, I'd look like a miserable cow with those new rules. :\ I received my new license recently and they simple used my old photo. I am guessing this won't be happening the next time my renewal comes up.
ReplyDelete(Thank you for your support :)
Her sure, not you.
Deletei'm so not used to smiling when being taken a photo! hahaha. i love to smile :)
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't look like you without a smile.
DeleteI don't get the no-smile policy either. What upsets me more is that I've had the passport office rejecting my non-smiling photo and requesting retakes. Because you know, I wasn't not-not smiling enough.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you're one of those people who always looks as if she's about to smile, even though she hasn't actually started yet.
DeleteHahaha, Sheldon's forced smile is so scary and hilarious. I didn't know that about the not smiling driver's license. I guess in Texas they haven't instituted it yet because I smiled for my picture last year
ReplyDeleteHaha, thank goodness Sheldon never smiles at strangersm. They'd be so freaked out.
DeletePerhaps the smile was too contagious to say no to.
So that's why they take those pictures when you least expect it! I actually had a pretty nice lady take my pix at the DMV when I renewed my license, she actually counted to 3!
ReplyDeleteHaha, who knew there was a reason!!!
Deleteyeah here they won't let you smile either. because everyone looks friendly or something. i dunno. I also look like a crackwhore on my health card, maybe thats a good thing since i might get in further in line when i visit the hospital.
ReplyDeleteHard to imagine you looking that way, but I can see how such a misleading photo could come in handy. :)
Deletein my city, we haven't been allowed to smile for ID pictures for years. when we went to get kayla's first passport photos, we were strongly advised of the rules and to tell her (she wasn't even 2 yet) but it wasn't a problem because we found out that day that kayla will not smile for a stranger but will glare at them instead. i guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree LOL
ReplyDeleteHaha, my daughter was the same way. I was so proud of her. :)
DeleteI never knew that was the reason behind why they don't let you smile anymore! That's kinda lame, but understandable I guess. I tried to do the "smizeing" thing at my last passport photo, but I ended up looking a bit squinty instead - thanks Tyra.
ReplyDeleteWe have lots to (not) thank her for. :) I'm sure you looked cute.
DeleteSame here in the Philippines, you can't smile for your passport photos 'cause you need your "normal" face on to be recognized, etc. Sometimes the people taking the photos for other government issued IDs tell you not to smile, but I know a few people who are all smiles on their driver's licenses. Everyone expects these ID photos to look like mugshots. :P
ReplyDelete