Smile Clusters

13 responses to “Smile Clusters”

1. 

   msamaclean ©

   Dec 6, 2008 at 6:08 am

   ;-D)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

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2. 

   TomiTapio

   Dec 6, 2008 at 12:06 pm

   Hmm. Must be a big correlation with outgoingness and happiness. Some get their kicks from making new friends.

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3. 

   Jaako

   Dec 6, 2008 at 12:41 pm

   oh man. I love data!

   what a random and bizarre study.

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4. 

   theknitbitch

   Dec 6, 2008 at 12:56 pm

   that’s amazing, but also scary because the deeper consequence of this might be that generally emotions rub-off to ones social contacts (real and virtual) which might also be true of negativity. By which I mean that agressive and negative people will influence their social networks to be so as well. and that’s scary stuff..

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5. 

   nhr

   Dec 6, 2008 at 6:04 pm

   > Yellow nodes are smilers; blue are frowners, and green go both ways.

   I’m an equal opportunity networker, who maximizes linking opportunities in the social fabric by disregarding a node’s color/mood, coordinates or hop distance. My public histocompatibility complex is thus 🙁 😐 🙂

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6. 

   Gwênlyn

   Dec 6, 2008 at 6:19 pm

   I see nothing random nor bizarre in this study. It’s great. 🙂

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7. 

   restlessthought

   Dec 7, 2008 at 12:27 am

   "In this follow up, they parsed the photos of 1700 students on Facebook…"

   a huh …yeah. ….so, is a smile their definition of happiness?? if only it were that easy. the ideals of happiness or success are complex constructs, one’s presumptions immediately color interpretation of any data. i used to work in cognitive psych research… the principle investigator was renowned for his studies on love…. thing is, he complied all his data from cheap and easy subjects: undergraduate students…. as if the complexities of love: romantic, affection, family, compassion, etc. were somehow normalized to that age group…

   i think the 1700 students/ facebook data could be interpreted in any number of ways….

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8. 

   restlessthought

   Dec 7, 2008 at 12:29 am

   forgot to mention, steve… i do like your smiling icon

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9. 

   Eddi van W.

   Dec 7, 2008 at 2:16 am

   i´m smiling ;)))))))))))))))))))))

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10. 

    jurvetson

    Dec 7, 2008 at 5:24 am

    Um…ahem…. I am not seeing any smiles in the icons here…

    I think I will go stare at the wall…

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11. 

    !MimosaMicheMichelle!

    Dec 7, 2008 at 6:19 am

    My issue concerns the study of photos.

    As much as it makes sense that many happy people hang around with each other, I absolutely do not agree that photos of smiling people equal photos of happy people.

    I know a lot of people in Flickr and in real life who will smile for a photo, even use profusely a variety of sugar coated words and expressions such as Love, Sweetie, Hugs, Dear, etc, and are very friendly and affectionate, always smiling but in fact are terribly unhappy. The reasons may be serious outward situations such as illness of self or in the family, or financial problems or they may stem from lack of self-esteem. Still, these people can be of a type of personality that is perpetually cheery on the outside. They might be naturally optimistic or have been brought up to be positive. So they might naturally smile even if they are unhappy. In any case, a smile in a photo is just a smile for a photo. Conversely, a shy or reserved but very happy and content person might never smile in any photo.

    In my opinion, the Facebook study lacks understanding of basic human knowledge. One should consult a specialist (psychiatrist or psychologist) to verify what I say.

    By the way, a study of happiness using students is not realistic. Their life is just beginning and they are still outwardly happy. Although many students find dealing with life extremely difficult, most are not too troubled by adult realities. It is later in life, certainly after 30, that the real problems start to appear. Yet, after 40, life becomes easier to live despite increasing problems that come with more responsibilities. This is because that is when one starts to not take life too seriously after having experienced the same cycles of life. They think to themselves: "Oh, I’ve been through that already. It is not worth the trouble of worrying or dramatizing." They feel happier as they grow older. They might smile more. So a study of photos of more mature people, especially after 50 or so, might also show more smiling people due to an inner happiness.

    So remember that a smile in a photo, even in person, is often just a smile. It is sometimes part of the many ways people try to look like their life is doing well even if it is not.

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12. 

    j_silla

    Dec 7, 2008 at 2:12 pm

    heh, if you look at this video starting at 2/3 you see simular pattern, clusters of galacies, matter and dark mater, that deffinitely has something to do with the distribution of the smiles 🙂
    http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/george_smoot_on_the_design_of...
    and this is what I think of smiles, really, it is got to be a decision, decision to push away the negative energy by smiling at it –

    The Value of a Smile at Christmas by Dale Carnegie
    A smile costs nothing, but creates much. It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give. It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None are so rich they can get along without it, and none are so poor but are richer for its benefits. It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in a business, and is the countersign of friends. It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and Nature’s best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody till it is given away. And if in the last-minute rush of Christmas buying some of our salespeople should be too tired to give you a smile, may we ask you to leave one of yours? For nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give!

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13. 

    Light-n-Simple

    Dec 9, 2008 at 7:52 am

    Nice!…. was this analysis before or after the current economy crisis?? 🙂

    Reply