Smile, it might never happen!

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Is it just me or do others get annoyed when people say this line to you? I mean, they don't know what is happening in your life. Is the appropriate answer 'it already has' or is it simply 'f@#k off!'

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 2 June 2003 11:49 (twenty-one years ago) link

Neither. I generally tend to find a well targeted headbutt does the trick...

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Monday, 2 June 2003 11:55 (twenty-one years ago) link

it makes my blood boil. I'm always tempted to make something up and ask them if they'd be smiling.

Actually, it made me laugh when I was going through a really rough time and I was mentally willing people to say this so I could completely let rip, but of course no-one did.

― Vicky (Vicky), Monday, 2 June 2003 11:56 (twenty-one years ago) link

I get asked this by old ladies at bus stops and on station platforms when I'm feeling quite cheery and upbeat and am assuming that my facial expression reflects this. Not only am I funny-looking, clearly I also look suicidal at all times.

― Alex in Rotherham (Alex in Doncaster), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:01 (twenty-one years ago) link

People always say this to me, I think I have a sad face or something, I want to tell them I am happy but then you start the "No I am" "but if you weren't" "I AM" "you dont sound happy" "I WAS FINE UNTIL" conversational loop.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:02 (twenty-one years ago) link

I swear, the next time someone says that to me I am going to rip out all their pubic hair. Asshats.

― Nicole (Nicole), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:04 (twenty-one years ago) link

possibly the most annoying phrase a human being can utter. Constitutes a punchable offence

― chris (chris), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:07 (twenty-one years ago) link

A couple of years ago I was ill. After several weeks of tests and stuff the doctor told me they'd narrowed the illness down. I was either seriously ill or terminally ill.

That afternoon I went into work because there was something which needed doing. On the way home I was absolutely exhausted and was struggling down the hill towards the bus.

Some grinning student idiot came right up to me and regaled me with a "Cheer up! it might never happen!" I resisted the urge to throttle her. I gave her a very dirty look and then hobbled off (I considered going back and letting rip Vicky style but I didn't really have the energy or inclination). It seemed a peculiarly cruel thing to say to me that day.

(Happily I was only seriously ill, and only temporarily so, thanks for asking.)

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:07 (twenty-one years ago) link

'penny for your thoughts' is worse, altho nobody has actually used that expression since 1976, apart from a few people in Eastenders

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:08 (twenty-one years ago) link

I am so glad it isn't just me. i have a natural ~~don't mess with me bitch~~ frown look about me so i get this alot. Even if I am sad, wtf has it got to do with you?!!!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:09 (twenty-one years ago) link

'Penny for your thoughts' is such a crap statement. Apart from being nosey, as if my thoughts are worth so little!! If someone i didn't like asked me this i think i'd have to say 'i was just thinking about giving my b/f a bj actually!!'

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:11 (twenty-one years ago) link

I thought this thread was going to be about Brian Wilson cancelling next year's concerts.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:13 (twenty-one years ago) link

again, headbutting or another form of extreme physical violence usually has the desired effect

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:14 (twenty-one years ago) link

btw i haven't had a fight since i was at school... not really advocating such behaviour

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:15 (twenty-one years ago) link

btw I don't mind people saying this to me - it shows they are noticing me, at least.

My grandfather offered me a penny for my thoughts in 1979, discrediting steve m's claims. I think that was the first time I had ever heard the expression. I told him I was thinking about whether or not to make a thing I'd seen on Blue Peter. I can't remember if he ever paid up. Maybe that was the first time I got to hear the word 'figurative', too. Cunts.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:17 (twenty-one years ago) link

penny 4 yr thoughts seems ok between intimates (it's just another way of saying "yr very quiet today")

― mark s (mark s), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:18 (twenty-one years ago) link

what context wz the word "figurative" used in, n.? (bcz i think it must have been wrong so maybe you can still claim...)

― mark s (mark s), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:20 (twenty-one years ago) link

in eastenders "penny 4 yr thoughts" = "i am paid more than you, loser!!"

― mark s (mark s), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:21 (twenty-one years ago) link

nearly as annoying was the other day when rushing for a train, I happened to be carrying a bunch of flowers. As I tried to get through the crowd on the concourse of Liverpool street this bloke stopped me and said something. Having my earphones on and being a polite sort I took them off and begged his pardon. "got any flowers mate" said the smug, grinning bast*rd.

"funny C*nt aren't you you tw@t" came my unimpressed response while rushing to get the train before it left.

Why are some people such tossers?

― chris (chris), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:25 (twenty-one years ago) link

what context wz the word "figurative" used in, n.? (bcz i think it must have been wrong so maybe you can still claim...)

We were at a lecture on Matisse.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 2 June 2003 12:25 (twenty-one years ago) link

and you were thinking about blue peter makes.

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 2 June 2003 14:50 (twenty-one years ago) link

is this a UK thing? I've never heard it and only have a guess as to what it might mean. (basically, don't worry about that which may or may not happen?)

― teeny (teeny), Monday, 2 June 2003 14:52 (twenty-one years ago) link

exactly, usually said to someone that the idiot saying it deems to be miserable or unhappy.

― chris (chris), Monday, 2 June 2003 14:56 (twenty-one years ago) link

Yeah, I also have never heard this phrase and would probably just stare in puzzlement at anyone who said it.

― That Girl (thatgirl), Monday, 2 June 2003 14:59 (twenty-one years ago) link

it totally annoys me, because beneath my glum exterior I'm quite happy and affable.

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 2 June 2003 15:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

" what's wrong"
"nothing"
"takes more energy to frown that it does to smile !"
" yeah well it takes more energy for you to point
that out than it does to leave me alone..."

bill hicks

an old one but a belter.

― piscesboy, Monday, 2 June 2003 15:04 (twenty-one years ago) link

I've never heard it and only have a guess as to what it might mean.

That's odd, I have heard this one a few times. I don't know, maybe it depends on what part of the country you are in.

― Nicole (Nicole), Monday, 2 June 2003 15:06 (twenty-one years ago) link

also I don't get out much.

― teeny (teeny), Monday, 2 June 2003 15:12 (twenty-one years ago) link

Man, that seems like a depressing thing to say to someone. If I needed cheering up, someone saying "Smile, it *might* happen!" would be far better (if my punching the inquirer in the stomach wasn't a viable option). Both versions are just nauseatingly presumptuous though.

― Poppy (poppy), Monday, 2 June 2003 15:26 (twenty-one years ago) link

because if I were actually thinking about something that may or may not happen instead of making lists or trying to remember lyrics, then I would likely be fantasising about something pleasant, and the grumpy facial expression would be down to the likelihood of it not happening. Hey, when did this phrase start appearing? Is it something to do with nuclear war? cause if someone was depressed just thinking about plain old death, then saying it "might never happen" is silly.

― Poppy (poppy), Monday, 2 June 2003 15:33 (twenty-one years ago) link

cause if someone was depressed just thinking about plain old death, then saying it "might never happen" is silly.

Sometimes I get depressed just thinking about plain old death because, dammit I wanted the big death with the sparkly things on it, and I know I pointed it out to my folks in the catalog at least 20 times before xmas.

― martin m. (mushrush), Monday, 2 June 2003 15:37 (twenty-one years ago) link

the correct answer to "smile it might never happen" is...

"it just did"

― gareth (gareth), Monday, 2 June 2003 15:37 (twenty-one years ago) link

1. "Happy New Year, mate. I can tell from your face you didn't have a very good time last year". - Heard in Notingham during immediate post-midnight New Year celebrations, complete with vigorous handshake, sadly not adressed to myself, but to my miserable mate.

2. I wish Chris had twatted that bloke with his flowers. That would have been really good, that would.

3. "Penny for them?" is worse than, "Penny for your thoughts?" I always associate it with "to spend a penny".

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Monday, 2 June 2003 15:44 (twenty-one years ago) link

So you piss on them?

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 2 June 2003 16:42 (twenty-one years ago) link

It takes all of my energy to not punch people who spout shit like this.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 2 June 2003 16:43 (twenty-one years ago) link

There's so much anger here! Use other bugbears please.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 2 June 2003 16:53 (twenty-one years ago) link

Yeah, you're all a bunch of misery guts. I'm off to watch 'The Good Life'.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Monday, 2 June 2003 17:28 (twenty-one years ago) link

pah, Felicity 'treacle' Kendal

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 2 June 2003 17:42 (twenty-one years ago) link

"'penny for your thoughts' is worse"

Much, *much* prefer that though, to the alternative: 'what are you thinking?', which is only ever said by creepy blokes trying to pick me up, and girlfriends who I'm about to split up with.

― Lord Byron Lived Here, Monday, 2 June 2003 23:07 (twenty-one years ago) link

Anyone telling me to smile annoys the shit out of me. You have no idea what's going on in my head, motherfucker. Or in my life.

If someone tells me to smile, I'm much more inclined to want to kick their ass than to smile.

(not that I'm in a pissed-off mood right now or anything)

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Monday, 2 June 2003 23:54 (twenty-one years ago) link

what might never happen?

― amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 3 June 2003 00:25 (twenty-one years ago) link

the apocalypse

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 3 June 2003 00:47 (twenty-one years ago) link

Travel scrabble, anyone?

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 3 June 2003 02:09 (twenty-one years ago) link

Can I at LEAST get a sandwich?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 3 June 2003 04:11 (twenty-one years ago) link

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