...When All is Said and Dunn

When dealing with just about anyone, you can tell volumes just by looking at the expression on their face. The look they respond with can tell you if what you are trying to convey was received or if it was lost in the transmission. The look can tell you if it was a positive or negative reception, or if you need to send it again.

Nowadays it seems in vogue for some people to respond with nothing more than a look. When the look is not a clear one, it puts us all in the position of being psychic. Given the current evolution of the human mind, it’s not a great way to communicate. But there they are, giving you a look that they feel you should understand without any verbalization to accompany it.

The “vehicle” look, you know, when you’re in your vehicle, is the only exception as to when you can use a look and not be expected to verbalize afterwards. These looks are usually so strong or overplayed, words really are not needed. It’s the one moment when we all become actors, or at the very least Marcel Marceau. The look is always over-exaggerated and many times has an explanation point put on it with the use of arms, fingers, or tongues. These messages are usually pretty clear.

It’s the little ones that make me go crazy. You ask a simple question that needs nothing more than a simple answer and then you stand there waiting for some sort of response that never comes. You scan their face for some indication that they understood what you just said, but nothing. Just a blank stare that registers a big zero on the response scale. Most kids master this look at a very young age, unfortunately some of them don’t grow out of it as adults.

It’s the same look you get when you have two kids in the same room and a broken vase. You ask very directly to both of them “Who did this?” Then comes the wait, two little statues stand before you with emotionless faces, their big eyes stare back at you in silence-- hoping that if no expressions cross their faces, that just maybe the vase will magically fix itself and the situation will just go away.

While this picture may be cute when on the faces of children, it’s not so cute when it’s on the face of a 50 year old woman working at a department store. By not answering, in hopes that you will just go away, is absolutely maddening. Answer, damn it, you’re not a child and I am not a psychic; so open up your mouth and let me know the answer. I am not going to send you to your room or ground you; you’re a big girl now. I might be tempted to give you a spanking, but I think you might enjoy it too much.

Then there are those people who during your explanation or answer have this look on their face like they just stepped in something the dog left behind. When talking to one of these people I have to catch myself from looking back at them with my brow furrowed and my eyes squinted. As soon as I feel myself doing it, I have to try and shake it off before I become a mirror image of them. Then as soon as I finish what I am saying, it’s as though their medication kicks in. The expression goes from I smell something bad to “Huh?” Like I was speaking in a foreign language. Maybe they had gas and couldn’t concentrate on what I was saying.

While the above looks are irritating, the look I’ve been seeing a lot of lately, is the constant scowl or mean look. I don’t understand why it has become the look of so many, both young and old, but it has. Maybe they are attempting to mimic the anger, real or mock, which is exhibited by so many of the professional athletes and professional rappers.

I see more people walking around with either a look that sends out the vibe “I’m pissed off” or “Look at me too long and I’m going to kick your ass” and it’s sad. I almost get the impression that these individuals are out to intimidate everyone. What they are doing, whether they know it or not, is making everyone they come in contact with adopt the same look and making them feel uneasy in the process. I guess they are unaware of the fact that it takes more facial muscles to frown than it does to smile. A smile also makes the people you come in contact with feel better.

So take care. The look you make is equal to the look you get.