OK - Seriously what's with the smiley hate?

[DrummerDeanna]

Ok - I'm seriously asking this because I don't get it.

Nancy said something to the effect of they're used to mask genuine feelings or something? I would go back and actually quote you Nancy - but I'm already typing this.

Now - I don't know about anyone else - but I find the smilies to be fun and I have never knowingly used one to mask any real feelings - or hide some felt aggravation that I was really afraid to let out....

So - what's the beef with the smilies? I like them - again, I think they're fun and I always thought they were a nice little addition to my posts....

So tell me - I want to hear from all sides on this - what are your problems/or non-problems with the smilies??

[LiquidBlue5000]

i use them everyday and in almost every post.. i have no problem with them whatsoever

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by LiquidBlue5000

i use them everyday and in almost every post.. i have no problem with them whatsoever

Yea!! And I have to admit, I love the blobs

[GardenStateGirlie]

Using too many in a single post is not only obnoxious but seizure-inducing, IMO. There are only so many bright colors I can handle at once. Some people are down with smilie overload (and for the record, I hate and ).

I understand completely what Nancy is saying -- some people use them in a sarcastic way, others use them in a joking manner, some actually use them to further drive the point of their post home. Fact of the matter remains, very few of us know each other off of this board (especially the new kids who may not totally know our posting style and the way we write) so If I say something and then post , I may be totally joking but maybe you've taken it literally. I can see where it can cause problems if the wrong type of person stumbled upon the post. JMO, of course. As far as masking, I certainly have never had an issue with throwing my two cents in

[macfanken]

For the longest time they annoyed the hell out of me. I'm not sure why. Lately though, I've kind of given in to their hypnotic power, I think I'm turning into a smilie whore.

[amber]

Originally Posted by macfanken

For the longest time they annoyed the hell out of me. I'm not sure why. Lately though, I've kind of given in to their hypnotic power, I think I'm turning into a smilie whore.

No one likes a whore who doesn't smile. Oh, and your waving Golden Gate Bridge avatar is freaking me out.

[HomerMcvie]

The other day, I called Johnny Stew a bitch. Now, Brian knows I like him, and putting a little after the bitch just makes SURE that he knows it's all in fun.
I've been using the blobs more lately, too. I felt they were being neglected, and started feeling kinda sorry for them.

[AliceLover]

I love the smilies I use them to express my emotion. I think its better then saying "LOL" or "HAHA" or saying "SHOCKED" or "WOO HOO".

Its a much easier option especially when they are staring you right in the face next to the post box.

[sodascouts]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Ok - I'm seriously asking this because I don't get it.

Nancy said something to the effect of they're used to mask genuine feelings or something? I would go back and actually quote you Nancy - but I'm already typing this.

Now - I don't know about anyone else - but I find the smilies to be fun and I have never knowingly used one to mask any real feelings - or hide some felt aggravation that I was really afraid to let out....

So - what's the beef with the smilies? I like them - again, I think they're fun and I always thought they were a nice little addition to my posts....

So tell me - I want to hear from all sides on this - what are your problems/or non-problems with the smilies??

Actually you're quoting David but I do agree with him. Sometimes someone will write a particularly mean-spirited post and put a little winkie in order to head your reaction off at the pass. "Why are you mad? Didn't you see my little winkie?"

However, I do not condemn the use of smilies. I use them myself quite often - a happy face here, a winkie there, an occasional sad or angry face. I actually think that when used genuinely, they're fine. Well, maybe not jumpy blob - he annoys me a great deal. I do enjoy using jumpy blob ironically or sarcastically, though.

Of course over-use of smileys will always be annoying. Rule of thumb: More than two smileys is usually excessive, unless you're using several for emphasis.

But hey, this is a message board, do whatever the heck you want. Love the smilies? Use them. There are worse things, and I doubt anyone will lose sleep over annoying me. Passive agressive smileys, on the other hand, are just plain disingenuous to the point of being cowardly. JMHO.

[DrummerDeanna]

Ah - ok - sorry Nancy - I'd thought you'd said that....anyway - as you're one of the few Ledgies I've met in person - and I found you quite nice - I don't like the idea of constantly annoying you...that said, I also love smilies

And I gues usually I just live in my happy little happy land - because up until recently (when things started exploding outwardly) I actually had very little idea that people were hostile - there were tension etc....anyway - smilies have been getting some attention lately and I was wondering if there were people who actually and genuinely hated the smilies.

[LiquidBlue5000]

Originally Posted by ReFleetwoodMac

The most shameful smilie of them all is the laughing smilie. There are actually several. The "lol"s got pretty out of hand very fast when it was first so brilliantly invented, and now people are just lying about their reaction by using visual aids. Most often, the visual aids are accompanied by the relatively useless, but apparently necessary "lol". If you are actually laughing out loud, it's ok, but who among us only writes "lol" or uses a laughie smilie when we are laughing from our gut?

[amber]

Originally Posted by ReFleetwoodMac

The most shameful smilie of them all is the laughing smilie. There are actually several. The "lol"s got pretty out of hand very fast when it was first so brilliantly invented, and now people are just lying about their reaction by using visual aids. Most often, the visual aids are accompanied by the relatively useless, but apparently necessary "lol". If you are actually laughing out loud, it's ok, but who among us only writes "lol" or uses a laughie smilie when we are laughing from our gut?

me. I'm constantly laughing from my gut, and after I am done, I respond and use the purple laughie. When I giggle, which I do often as well, that gets the yellow laughie. when i snicker a bit, I write *snicker*. I think it's incredibly rude not to show someone who has just gone out of their way to say something funny, for my pleasure, how I looked when I was laughing at what they said. Simply the height of gauche.

[irishgrl]

I use them more than I used to...but I dont depend upon them to convey any meaning, I do that just fine with words...however, I too have found myself falling under their insidious spell note the glassy eyes, the stupified expression....priceless! sometimes they are the cherry on the top of a particularly delish post

btw: I think it bears noting that I have the planet's best smilies in my sig:

[amber]

Originally Posted by amber

me. I'm constantly laughing from my gut, and after I am done, I respond and use the purple laughie. When I giggle, which I do often as well, that gets the yellow laughie. when i snicker a bit, I write *snicker*. I think it's incredibly rude not to show someone who has just gone out of their way to say something funny, for my pleasure, how I looked when I was laughing at what they said. Simply the height of gauche.

Admittedly, I could snap a webcam shot of myself every time I laugh, then post it, but that seems not only excessive, but time consuming. And, the sponteneity of the laughter really doesn't lend itself to that type of thing.

[macfanken]

Originally Posted by amber

No one likes a whore who doesn't smile. Oh, and your waving Golden Gate Bridge avatar is freaking me out.

Actually, it's the Tacoma Narrows Bridge... just before it collapsed in the 1940s. I thought it look cool, I'll probably bring the jumping critters back after a while.