Don't smile: you're NOT on candid camera !!
It’s true, dear English-speaking Reader: it has been a long time since I have last posted in your language.
This time I would like to tell you how Portuguese people are strange in expressing and interpreting feelings of joy and unhappiness.
Everyone knows that the more you go south, more happiness you’ll find, even if south countries are usually poor…
Also, everyone knows that Portugal is amongst other things [happily!!] the country of Fado music. That strange music with such strong voices breaking silences where [traditionally] pain seems to be the word.
Today, as in the Middle Ages or as under the dictatorship of 1926-1974,we are afraid to express joy without fearing to be seen as lacking intelligence or seriousness.
Lawyers and doctors are conspicuously behind their specs and dark suits: having a traditional and technical profession implies the sense of respect, and respect is everything but laugh or happiness.
This is the most stupid thing ever. But its true and it happens everyday in my home country.
It should be obvious that image is not everything and that results are essential.
I do not care if my investment manager or my lawyers use jeans and high heels.
I do not use them, I do not appreciate such garments, but that is simply irrelevant to the purpose of me contracting them, especially if I do not meet them so often.
The purpose of such relationships is reducing legal risk and improving my financial condition. If they can do that, I will be happy. Irrespective from the fact they use jeans and high heels, are gay, left-wing, right-wing, or anything else. I just do not care, provided that such features do not influence my purpose.
The same happens with laugh and being happy.
If I greet people with sheer happiness and joy, they will think I am goofy.
If I greet people seriously they will think I am formal and conservative.
In the first case they will not trust me.
In the second case they will.
They will trust a guy which hides its feelings.
Now tell me, isn’t that sensible?
drawing:
by Sir Nathaniel DANCE-HOLLAND [1735-1811]
from Album of Drawings by Nathaniel Dance-Holland and George Dance
Tate Collections
This time I would like to tell you how Portuguese people are strange in expressing and interpreting feelings of joy and unhappiness.
Everyone knows that the more you go south, more happiness you’ll find, even if south countries are usually poor…
Also, everyone knows that Portugal is amongst other things [happily!!] the country of Fado music. That strange music with such strong voices breaking silences where [traditionally] pain seems to be the word.
Today, as in the Middle Ages or as under the dictatorship of 1926-1974,we are afraid to express joy without fearing to be seen as lacking intelligence or seriousness.
Lawyers and doctors are conspicuously behind their specs and dark suits: having a traditional and technical profession implies the sense of respect, and respect is everything but laugh or happiness.
This is the most stupid thing ever. But its true and it happens everyday in my home country.
It should be obvious that image is not everything and that results are essential.
I do not care if my investment manager or my lawyers use jeans and high heels.
I do not use them, I do not appreciate such garments, but that is simply irrelevant to the purpose of me contracting them, especially if I do not meet them so often.
The purpose of such relationships is reducing legal risk and improving my financial condition. If they can do that, I will be happy. Irrespective from the fact they use jeans and high heels, are gay, left-wing, right-wing, or anything else. I just do not care, provided that such features do not influence my purpose.
The same happens with laugh and being happy.
If I greet people with sheer happiness and joy, they will think I am goofy.
If I greet people seriously they will think I am formal and conservative.
In the first case they will not trust me.
In the second case they will.
They will trust a guy which hides its feelings.
Now tell me, isn’t that sensible?
drawing:
by Sir Nathaniel DANCE-HOLLAND [1735-1811]
from Album of Drawings by Nathaniel Dance-Holland and George Dance
Tate Collections
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