Not for a bad reason...?

Question

What is the motive of this smile which the Afrikaners have when they meet someone in the passages or so? However, I saw an Indian girl putting this act too. When I was there, it was h**l irritating and looks deceisive. I saw this from Afrikaners and i am specifying so that people can understand what I mean - it is not racism. And Please do not post racial comments.

Answer 1

I think we've forever had that seed planted in us for ages. I now "the smile" you're referring to, but its not from the afrikaaner side. If anything Afrikaaners are a blunt and honest people and that you can appreciate about them. As for some white South Africans, yes they tend to have that smile they give to people not of their race, I'm not sure if its fear or rather some way of saying"look, I smiled so dont hurt me".... If you watched the movie "Crash" Sandra Bullock played a rather racist lady wo then changed her mind. But the moral within that story was that the ones we least expect to be can be racist (that includes blacks coz that PA lady was nasty)... so ja, the "smile" does exist, but what can one do about it?

I'm not sure many contributors will understand what you mean, but ja, I am aware of that, but to a degree it happens amongst everyone. Its a way of being nice at times especially if you dont know what to say. it happens even amongst black people of now. Unlike when we used to meet as strangers and embrk on an entire conversation... ahh, miss those days, they're so minimal no adays.

Answer 2

Deceisive? Oh! Do you mean deceitful? Well i don't know. I've never seen what you are talking about. But you just get happy people that will smile at you as if they know you. Sometimes i feel uncomfortable thinking that I've probably forgotten who they are.

Answer 3

If you didn't speak to them how do you know they were Afrikaaners? As the others have said we (also the English South Africans and I'm sure other South Africans as well) grew up being taught to be friendly and polite. I'm sorry if you and others view our smiles as deceitful because that is not it at all.

I think it might be a cultural thing though because it has gotten me into a bit of trouble here with men thinking that it is a sign of encouragement to chat me up. My friends here have told me that I need to stop being so friendly i.e. smiling and greeting people since I gained a stalker last year after I smiled at him.

Answer 4

They were most probably laughing at you, not smiling at you.

Did you have your munt of a boyfriend with you perhaps?

Answer 5

What smile Als? The smile I as an Afrikaans woman give to others? Well I have a beautiful smile that is for sure. Oh and yes, we Afrikaners do smile at others, we are all taught excellent manners by our mothers and one of them are to be friendly even to those we feel superior over.

Answer 6

I lived in a small town for more than half my life and I always greeted people of all races friendly and I also smiled. It would have been considered rude if you walked past someone without greeting or smiling.

When I moved to the city I tried greeting people and got the filthiest looks possible. Now I just smile, which also draws bad looks sometimes. Every now and then I'll greet someone, if I think they won't take it the wrong way. I was brought up that way and I don't mind if people smile at me. I think it shows good upbringing and character.

It's not an 'act'. I am a white, Afrikaans speaking woman and I have no ambitions of being an actress.