MetaChat - From the Politicians' Handbook, Tip # 312:

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11 March 2008

From the Politicians' Handbook, Tip # 312: When you get caught doing something bad, do this thing with your lips.

post by: mudpuppie at: 14:12 | 25 comments

It's an expression that's equal parts contrition and "Oh damn, I can't believe I got caught."

posted by mudpuppie 11 March | 14:13

I guess it's better than doing this thing with your lips.

posted by iconomy 11 March | 14:24

Weird that they almost all do that with their lips. That's got to have an interesting evolutionary biological story behind it...

And Mrs. Spitzer looks like she's just decided to go ahead and die inside. So sad.

posted by Specklet 11 March | 14:25

I see it more as remorse + mouth formation after saying/thinking "It's true. Yup."

posted by Hellbient 11 March | 14:27

≡ Click to see image ≡
Separated at Birth

posted by danf 11 March | 14:29

Is there a name for that expression? It's really ugly.

posted by iconomy 11 March | 14:33

Gawd, he's an ugly fuck!

posted by pieisexactlythree 11 March | 15:28

I just wonder if the political wife handbook actually says they should wear powder blue when accompanying their husband to a press conference where he details how he betrayed her and crushed their marriage to the world.

posted by kellydamnit 11 March | 15:30

I just tried to do that thing with my lips, because I couldn't figure out why on earth someone would make that face, and it very definitely made me feel like I was about to admit that I did something bad.

It also kind of made me feel like I was about to lie about it, though.

posted by occhiblu 11 March | 15:42

It's really a guy thing, now that I think about it. Very rarely do you see a woman mug a face like that, or maybe that's just my experience?

posted by iconomy 11 March | 15:45

Yeah, ico, it definitely made me feel like I was imitating a man. Maybe that's why I got the "lying" vibe from it?

posted by occhiblu 11 March | 15:51

≡ Click to see image ≡
You are going to sit right there until you finish those sprouts. I mean it, Mister.

posted by Hellbient 11 March | 15:52

I believe that would be the "so much for being president someday" face.

posted by kellydamnit 11 March | 15:53

I think it's also supposed to give the impression that you're really thinking about what you've done, and that you're taking it seriously.
Also, "keep your mouth shut, in a rut" comes to mind.

posted by Hellbient 11 March | 15:57

Yeah, that feels weird/unnatural to me too. Good take, occhiblu, for trying the face and deciding what it feels like!

posted by rainbaby 11 March | 16:20

Good take, occhiblu, for trying the face and deciding what it feels like!

Also fun? Imitating people's walks and trying to determine how the new walk influences your mood, reactions, and outlook on life.

posted by occhiblu 11 March | 17:00

It looks a bit like the face Gary Coleman used to make on Different Strokes when he was trying to keep from laughing at a punchline he'd just delivered. Only not cute.

posted by Atom Eyes 11 March | 17:46

Yeah, ico, it definitely made me feel like I was imitating a man. Maybe that's why I got the "lying" vibe from it?

Not fair.

posted by danostuporstar 11 March | 18:13

Also fun? Imitating people's walks and trying to determine how the new walk influences your mood, reactions, and outlook on life.

Well, yeah, fun - it's what I do sometimes for a little bit of money.

But I didn't think of trying the face on in this case, so good on you.

posted by rainbaby 11 March | 18:13

dano, I think she got the lying vibe on account of not being a man, not that men are liars. ??? Don't want to speak for someone else though. It did feel weird (false) for me to even make the face.

posted by rainbaby 11 March | 18:16

Makes him look like Beaker.

posted by jonmc 11 March | 18:17

Ah, thanks, rainbaby. I did try to parse it another way, but failed to come up with anything. FWIW, that face doesn't feel particularly natural to me either.

posted by danostuporstar 11 March | 19:04

Ahh, the face you make after you get caught making the "O" face.

heh, Office Space.

posted by eekacat 11 March | 20:37

What rainbaby said.

Also, making the face reminded me of the face that Kirsten Dunst makes in Bring It On when she is imitating her boyfriend lying to her. So it reminded me of a woman pretending to be a lying man.

Too many levels, I say.

posted by occhiblu 11 March | 21:57

≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by Claudia_SF 12 March | 10:21

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