why so serious?

While taking the Métro early Saturday morning, I overheard a conversation between an American student and a guy who had clearly spent most of the night partying.  He lived in Paris; the map in her hand and hesitant French indicated she did not.  He latched on to her and explained many things about France, as well as shared his opinions about the U.S.  One thing he went on an on about was how serious everyone is on the Métro.  "No one smiles." Then he turned to me.  "N'est-ce pas, mademoiselle ?" 

The next day, I shared subway space with an even more inebriated man who turned to me and asked, "Do you ever laugh?"  And then he proceeded to explain to everyone that they looked as if they were headed to the slaughterhouse.  Which is pretty true.  It's Paris Métro etiquette to stay quiet, read your book/magazine/play games on your cell phone/listen to your mp3 player, but by no means are you supposed to talk, especially to people you don't know. 

And by all means, be sure not to smile, because that is an invitation to have conversations much like the ones I witnessed.