When ‘Smile, It Might Never Happen’ Goes Horribly Wrong

We’ve all had those days when our faces wear our hearts, and the last thing we need is unsolicited advice. Meet our heroine, a petite firecracker, who found herself in such a situation. She had just lost her brother in a traumatic incident, and was riding the bus, lost in her grief, when a stranger decided to offer some ‘friendly’ advice. Little did he know, he was about to step on a landmine.

A Grieving Sister’s Tale

An Unwanted Suggestion

The Firecracker Strikes Back

Unsolicited Advice, Round Two

The Final Blow

The Aftermath

The Resentment Grows

The Unasked Question

The Friend’s Verdict ‍♀️

The Final Question ‍♀️

When ‘Cheer Up’ Isn’t the Solution

In the midst of her grief, our petite firecracker found herself the target of unsolicited advice from a stranger on a bus. His ‘cheer up’ and ‘smile’ comments were met with a harsh reality check that left him speechless. Was she right to snap back, or should she have simply smiled and played along? Let’s delve into the internet’s verdict on this emotionally charged encounter.

NTA. Men who think it’s okay to tell women to smile need to shut the f**k up.

NTA: The ‘smile’ guy was an a-hole, your friend rocks

NTA. Tired of being told to smile? Join the club.

NTA. Instructing someone to smile is creepy and controlling

NTA. Men who tell strangers to smile are clueless and condescending

Intrusive guy interrupts and expects her to be more decorative

Friend and stranger both crossed boundaries, NTA

Empowering women to make their own choices about their bodies.

NTA- Don’t let strangers police your emotions, it’s their problem

Empowering response to inappropriate comment about smiling

NTA, strangers should mind their business.

NTA: Stranger’s attempt to cheer up backfires. Empathy matters.

Gender bias in telling people to smile. Lesson learned.

NTA: Don’t assume, just let people be.

Grieving and tired of being told to smile? NTA

NTA, stop telling women to smile. It’s sexist and weird

Telling someone to smile more is impolite. NTA!

Don’t tell people to smile. Respect personal boundaries. NTA

NTA: Slapping down jerks might teach them a lesson

NTA. Don’t owe anyone a smile. His comment is unnecessary

Stranger’s unwarranted advice on body expression sparks justified outrage.

NTA. Standing up against societal expectations and advocating for oneself.

Standing up against harassment: NTA for shutting down the a**hole

Annoying men and a**hole friends – NTA for not playing along

Mr. Smile gets a taste of his own medicine!

NTA, you handled it well. Good for you for standing up!

Women shouldn’t have to fake happiness for anyone.

No reason for him to tap you on shoulder and demand smile

“NTA, Mind your own business! “

NTA: Unsolicited comments don’t warrant guaranteed kindness.

Engaging response to a comment supporting the OP’s reaction.

Women deal with unwanted behavior, NTA for snapping back

NTA. Don’t let anyone dictate your smile. You’re not the Joker

Don’t tell someone to smile! NTA, you owe them nothing.

No a-hole here, just a justified response

NTA. Men need to stop policing women’s emotions and boundaries.

Heartfelt condolences, not the a**hole in this situation

Savage comeback to insensitive comment after brother’s death

NTA. Empathy is key, you never know what someone’s going through.

Smiling should be genuine, not forced. Build genuine connections

NTA for not smiling on the bus, criticism perpetuates rape culture

Women face assumptions about their emotions, men don’t.

NTA. Shutting down mansplaining and empowering women.

Gender doesn’t matter, but the ‘smile’ comment does. NTA

What does ‘lairy’ mean?

NTA. Standing up against sexism and disrespect.

Not the a**hole, but what went horribly wrong?

“NTA. You don’t exist for the pleasure of strangers. “

Friend crossed boundaries, insisted on smiling, and defended his actions.

NTA. Shutting down misogyny with a powerful funeral anecdote.

NTA, lesson learned: don’t tell strangers to smile!

NTA stands up against men who criticize her appearance and behavior.

NTA for calling out sexism and standing up for yourself!

Unwanted interaction: NTA shuts down overfriendly stranger

Invasive assholes learn the hard way