GUEST POST from Don: Facial Expressions

FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

OK, I’ll be straight up about AI.  I don’t like it.  It is not because it is new, improved, it is going to take over the world, or any such.  It is merely because I’ve lived long enough to experience multiple technology changes.  Business adopts every “improvement” as do the thieves.  Some consumers adopt them as well.  However, I have never seen a single benefit to consumers that is worth the increased price I pay for a 2×4 stud.  “You need my zip code because I’m buying a stud?”  “You want me to snap a pic of your code so I can be signed up for some tiny discount and I get to be on your permanent ‘texts daily’ list?”  “I can order it ahead of time with a phone app, and get the same warped board I could have gotten without using your app?”  I just want a straight 2×4.  Tech has not improved the product one tiny bit.  With all the added technology at its fingertips one local store never seems to have the item I need which their high-tech website says is “in stock.”  How is that an improvement over just going to look?  I can’t see how AI will make this any better, except now they can place 100% of the blame on the computer.  

This is something new … AI is teaching us about ourselves, it may seem.  In one small Danish study of fewer than 500 individuals (published in Scientific Reports) the AI was able to predict a person’s political bent with a 61% accuracy based solely upon two photographs of each person.  What was it looking for?  

The researchers keyed in several factors, but weighted facial expressions higher than the other factors.  It turns out that those who smiled were more likely to be conservative.  Those with neutral expressions tended to be liberal.  A greater percentage of those showing contempt were liberal.

I remember when Rush Limbaugh claimed basically the same thing a decade ago.  He was highly criticized for saying it.  He said liberals are unhappy and have no sense of humor.  Is it true?  I don’t know.

My own observation is that those who rise up AGAINST societal norms are rarely nice people and show it on their faces.

Working with the public for over 30 years I saw this play out many times.  I did not care whether a person was liberal or conservative.  I did not care whether or not a person was straight.  I could work with almost anyone.  However, those who made their positions known also often showed it on their faces.  For example, it is often mentioned by others how grumpy Christians appear.  Yet, in my public experiences that was almost never the case.  (Most were kind and thoughtful.)  If I can say it out loud, the people I had the biggest trouble with, at the time, were feminists (I learned many positive things from feminism and agree with a few points).  As soon as I figured out that they were feminists my sole intent was to say the least possible, do my job, and move on.  I quickly learned to not attempt friendly banter or chit chat because they could be totally unforgiving of anything THEY interpreted as being sexist (have you heard anything from feminists in the last 2 years?  Where have they gone?)  Gotta say their facial expressions could be scary when “on mission,” to say the least.

The smug, self-possessed were also low on the list of “favorite people.”  Their joy, when their faces showed any joy at all, came when they attempted to make someone else feel small.  I once handed an invoice to a business owner to sign.  He wouldn’t sign until I explained every part of the invoice to his satisfaction while I stood (he was seated).  If I had known he was going to waste 20 minutes of my time I would have charged more.  He assumed I was his servant because I was “working” for him.  I was not his servant but his “superior” because I could do something he could not do for himself and he was paying for his own ignorance.  Sometimes you just have to laugh.

Let me be clear.  My own face has shown a negative side before.  In fact, that is one reason I stopped commenting on social media (my wife had a hand in that decision).  I much prefer the sensible, reasoned, and measured approach to life.  In social media I found that one could NOT be honest, except in the most brutal manner.  One could not discuss an issue without crushing the souls of one’s opponents.  I finally decided I did not like WAR anymore.  My face looks better as a result and I enjoy life more.

So, what am I saying?  I am not saying A.I. is actually any good at determining human ideologies.  61% accuracy is NOT super impressive.  Additionally, I do not agree that facial expressions are the best way to KNOW what anyone believes.  That idea reminds me of the Bertillon system of the late 1800s which attempted to determine what a “criminal” looked like based on, for one category, the size of his ears.  Furthermore, if A.I. adopts a “smile bias” it could spell doom for all who smile.  They won’t be hired.  They may be fired.  They will not receive promotions.  All based on the shape of their lips.  That is a new type of “racism,” isn’t it?

We should review our expressions.  Are we even aware of what our faces show?  Are we aware of why we have those expressions?

Sometimes there are good reasons for our disgust, anxiety, or depression.  A bad marriage, a child who is misbehaving, a bad boss … these are understandable reasons.  Yet, should we really allow politics to have a role in our relationships?  Seems to me that could be like traveling down a petty road.

Instead, I think about the hard work of Mother Theresa for social justice, centering most of her work in Calcutta, India.  She worked WITH those who were poor and outcasts.  She promoted mercy around the world.  She battled against societal and political resistance to her cause.  Her face was kind.  She was loving.  

What do you wish to convey with your face?  How do you want others to respond?  I think the value of this topic is in decision-making.  With our expressions and ideologies we can either promote good or evil.  We should choose.

Copyright 2023 Donald Whelpley

[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms, as I do, and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere. ~ Sherry]

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