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The Straight Story

(48,121 posts)
Thu Jun 27, 2013, 04:28 PM Jun 2013

'Bitchy resting face' is real (kind of). But there's hope

The concept of “bitchy resting face” may have started off as a joke, but ever since the fake PSA went live – garnering more than 2 million hits on the comedy site Funny or Die and YouTube – scores of women have come forward to own up to the “disorder.”

Actress Anna Paquin of True Blood bemoaned her “BRF” during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live last week, saying that despite being happy and satisfied with her life, her default face makes her look like she “wants to kill people.” Jezebel’s Kristine Gutierrez, on the other hand, celebrated her “chronic bitch face,” proclaiming “it’s not my responsibility to be everyone’s sunshine.”

“I need to print this on business cards so I can hand it out to people who stop me and ask why I’m unhappy or angry or tell me to smile on a daily basis,” one commenter wrote in response to the video.


Written by journalist and comedian Taylor Orci, the short video was created as a parody of commercials for seemingly pseudo medical disorders. But does bitchy resting face – and its male equivalent, “a**hole resting face” -- actually exist?

Absolutely, says Michigan-based plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Youn.

“Bitchy resting face is a definite phenomenon that plastic surgeons like myself have described, just never with that term,” he says. “Basically many of us have features that we inherit and/or develop with age that can make us look unpleasant, grumpy, or even, yes, bitchy.”

http://www.today.com/health/bitchy-resting-face-real-kind-theres-hope-6C10462819

33 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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'Bitchy resting face' is real (kind of). But there's hope (Original Post) The Straight Story Jun 2013 OP
Oh, please, it keeps them away, too Warpy Jun 2013 #1
I think I would like to try that someday The Straight Story Jun 2013 #3
Wow. HappyMe Jun 2013 #10
Warpy didn't say simley people are avaliable all the time. enough Jun 2013 #17
I happen to think it's a ridiculous HappyMe Jun 2013 #18
I'm not sure it's a ridiculous assumption; I noticed that my BRF got plenty of male comments Nay Jun 2013 #22
Yep, same here. distantearlywarning Jun 2013 #28
Oh man, I guess you've nver seen it then, or been the object of it. enough Jun 2013 #23
We only expect you to be available when you're in estrus. Ian David Jun 2013 #27
You too? a la izquierda Jun 2013 #31
It happens to all women BainsBane Jun 2013 #32
Now that I think about it, yeah. a la izquierda Jun 2013 #33
this thread needs pictures Liberal_in_LA Jun 2013 #2
queen elizabeth JI7 Jun 2013 #4
You sound like this guy: The Straight Story Jun 2013 #5
Really? pinboy3niner Jun 2013 #6
lol Liberal_in_LA Jun 2013 #16
Anna Paquin LittleBlue Jun 2013 #8
This one is a happy resting face The Straight Story Jun 2013 #12
I see getting to look at a live nude woman face... WCGreen Jun 2013 #20
The movie actually looks pretty good: The Straight Story Jun 2013 #21
I posted pictures of myself on Facebook to show some pretty dramatic weight loss... Silent3 Jun 2013 #7
Anna Paquin is too young to have acquired wrinkles Quantess Jun 2013 #9
I agree. HappyMe Jun 2013 #15
I get the WORST pissed-off look on my face Le Taz Hot Jun 2013 #11
That's how I look when I am reading DU The Straight Story Jun 2013 #13
And DU is why I have bitchy resting face... ms liberty Jun 2013 #29
LOL. From time to time, I'll see a movie or TV show where people are supposedly winter is coming Jun 2013 #25
I have bitchy resting face, usually when I'm reading. n/t Butterbean Jun 2013 #14
And just cause I am old and gray doesn't mean that walking on my grass face WCGreen Jun 2013 #19
I have bitchy resting face, and it's awesome. Brickbat Jun 2013 #24
Another pipi_k Jun 2013 #26
It is creepy!! PDJane Jun 2013 #30

Warpy

(111,298 posts)
1. Oh, please, it keeps them away, too
Thu Jun 27, 2013, 04:41 PM
Jun 2013

which is a real advantage to those of us with BRF who are also introverts. The few assholes who command us to smile are usually the type who think women should be smiling (meaning available) all the time, so I have no qualms about telling them to take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut.

The Straight Story

(48,121 posts)
3. I think I would like to try that someday
Thu Jun 27, 2013, 04:43 PM
Jun 2013

"take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut" - hope I get a bulls-eye

HappyMe

(20,277 posts)
10. Wow.
Thu Jun 27, 2013, 04:52 PM
Jun 2013

I tend to be a smiley kind of person. I'm sorry to inform you, but smiling most certainly DOES NOT mean available all the time. But thanks loads for the assumption.

There are a couple of those BRF in the neighborhood. I haven't had either scream any expletives at me, but rest assured I know a few myself.

enough

(13,259 posts)
17. Warpy didn't say simley people are avaliable all the time.
Thu Jun 27, 2013, 05:29 PM
Jun 2013

She said that the kind of men who approach you with some sort of line exhorting you to SMILE, (you'd be so beautiful with a nice smile on your face, what's your problem it can't be that bad, how 'bout a nice smile for me this morning honey, etc. etc. etc.) are the kind of men who think women should be perpetually available.

From my experience, I have to agree with Warpy about those men, and there are a lot of them.

HappyMe

(20,277 posts)
18. I happen to think it's a ridiculous
Thu Jun 27, 2013, 05:32 PM
Jun 2013

assumption to make about men too. But go on with your mind reading.

Nay

(12,051 posts)
22. I'm not sure it's a ridiculous assumption; I noticed that my BRF got plenty of male comments
Thu Jun 27, 2013, 06:13 PM
Jun 2013

when I was young -- once I turned about 35, poof, all concerns about my 'welfare' and my 'sadness' simply ceased. I don't think I could be faulted for thinking that men were using those lines as come-ons to women they thought were sexually attractive.

enough

(13,259 posts)
23. Oh man, I guess you've nver seen it then, or been the object of it.
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 08:33 PM
Jun 2013

Mind reading it does not take.

a la izquierda

(11,795 posts)
31. You too?
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 11:09 PM
Jun 2013

I always have people telling me to look happy.
I'm perfectly fucking happy. I just don't roll around with a shit-eating grin on my face.

Silent3

(15,242 posts)
7. I posted pictures of myself on Facebook to show some pretty dramatic weight loss...
Thu Jun 27, 2013, 04:48 PM
Jun 2013

...and much of the reaction from so-called friends was bitching about my lack of a big smile! Pissed me off royally.

Quantess

(27,630 posts)
9. Anna Paquin is too young to have acquired wrinkles
Thu Jun 27, 2013, 04:51 PM
Jun 2013

so she is too young to have "bitchy resting face". Lindsay Lohan on the other hand is putting on wrinnkles at a lightning pace, and she does look kinda bitchy.

Le Taz Hot

(22,271 posts)
11. I get the WORST pissed-off look on my face
Thu Jun 27, 2013, 04:53 PM
Jun 2013

when I'm reading piano music, especially for the first time. I've actually seen it in a mirror and it's frightening.

ms liberty

(8,587 posts)
29. And DU is why I have bitchy resting face...
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 10:27 PM
Jun 2013

Well to be fair, it was also George Bush, right wing nut jobs, a recession, two wars, and living until I was in my twenties on the west coast of Florida...

winter is coming

(11,785 posts)
25. LOL. From time to time, I'll see a movie or TV show where people are supposedly
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 08:57 PM
Jun 2013

sight-reading music and I'm always amused by the facial expressions that look nothing like people reading music. No intent concentration, no "what the fuck is that?" looks, no "goddammit, I'm totally lost!" looks, and no foot tapping. My experience as a singer has been that when the reading gets tough, the foot tapping gets loud.

WCGreen

(45,558 posts)
19. And just cause I am old and gray doesn't mean that walking on my grass face
Thu Jun 27, 2013, 05:39 PM
Jun 2013

means I am upset, It's just that I have suffered through out breaks of Stoner face, Dude face, Feminist and Proud Face, Finding a Bloody Horse Head in your Bed Face and Arched Eye Maud Face.

Sometimes people just had their faces freeze like that....

Brickbat

(19,339 posts)
24. I have bitchy resting face, and it's awesome.
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 08:43 PM
Jun 2013

I do hate the exhortations from strangers to "Smile!" but it's fun to say "I AM SMILING."

pipi_k

(21,020 posts)
26. Another
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 09:00 PM
Jun 2013

Sufferer of the malady, BRF...even when I was way younger than now.

I can't even count the number of times people have told me to "smile!!!!"

Why the hell don't people mind their own damned business??? I don't run around telling people to smile. For all I know they could be sad because someone in their family just died or something. I don't know about anyone else, but I would feel like a total asshole for telling someone to smile and s/he says back to me, "My (family member) just died...hope you don't mind if I don't feel much like smiling!" I've always wanted to say that to someone, actually.

So. One of the few people I know who isn't afflicted by BRF is Mr Pipi's second wife, who is a nice person, but she always seems to have a slight smile on her face, and I think it's somewhat creepy.

PDJane

(10,103 posts)
30. It is creepy!!
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 10:32 PM
Jun 2013

My usual answer to those people who tell me to smile is a raised eyebrow and stare.......works really well.

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