OK - Seriously what's with the smiley hate?

[David]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

I concur. I think that people who hate smilies are generally angry people who hate most things. JMO

C.P. Snow was both right & wrong: There are two cultures, but one culture is the Pro-Smilie & the other is the Anti-Smilie.

[David]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

I was just trying to get why some people dislike smilies so -as I've no problem with them and have always thought them a cute and fun addition to the board.

It all comes down to whimsy, Deanna. Some people love whimsical things & unicorns & magic faerie boots. Others really can't stand that stuff, & transfer their hatred of such paraphernalia (which they consider juvenile at best & retarded at worst) to the people who spread it around.

But it's important not to prematurely judge people based solely on whether they love unicorns & smilies or not. In other words, the Smilie Whimsy group shouldn't consider the Anti-Smilie Anti-Whimsy group mean & heartless & frustrated; & the Anti-Smilie Anti-Whimsy group shouldn't consider the Smilie Whimsy group taffy-headed fluffies.

I myself prefer sea horses to unicorns. I LOVE sea horses, in fact. Is any animal in any phylum more noble, more regal?

[amber]

Originally Posted by ReFleetwoodMac

Overdoing it on the smilies does make the person seem a tad less intelligent (no offense to all smilie lovers) just because it's like a tell that shows the world they aren't as good at writing. Not that all smilie users are dumb and all non-smilie users are genious, but if a random person were to come across a sentence full of bouncing, freaky heads, they might not take the person quite as seriously. Of course, most people around here take people way too seriously when they don't use smilies.

But they probably only seem less intelligent to people who don't use smilies. For me, I'm waaaay smart ( ) but I never have expressed myself in writing, my whole life, it's just not something I do, except for writing funny notes, and analytical papers for Englishy type classes. (which I am good at, suprisingly). I've always expressed myself other ways, especially physical ways - sports, acting, singing, TALKING. And when I talk, I tend to be expressive, so the emoticons are a natural extension of that. So, since writing has never been a primary way for me to express myself, but talking has, and we're all "talking" here, it's just natural that I express myself in a more "conversational" manner, using the emoticons. Oh, and blahblahblahblah. It's nice when people are writers, and naturally express themselves better that way, but I'm more of an "emoter" so...

[amber]

Originally Posted by David

It all comes down to whimsy, Deanna. Some people love whimsical things & unicorns & magic faerie boots. Others really can't stand that stuff, & transfer their hatred of such paraphernalia (which they consider juvenile at best & retarded at worst) to the people who spread it around.

But it's important not to prematurely judge people based solely on whether they love unicorns & smilies or not. In other words, the Smilie Whimsy group shouldn't consider the Anti-Smilie Anti-Whimsy group mean & heartless & frustrated; & the Anti-Smilie Anti-Whimsy group shouldn't consider the Smilie Whimsy group taffy-headed fluffies.

I myself prefer sea horses to unicorns. I LOVE sea horses, in fact. Is any animal in any phylum more noble, more regal?

But, I don't love all the whimsical things, but I do like the smilies. I don't think the line is that clear. I like some whimsical things, just as I don't adore some smilies. (the blobs). Really, david, such a simplistic analysis. tsk tsk. Not everyone falls into a simple set of labels.

[David]

Originally Posted by amber

I've always expressed myself other ways, especially physical ways - sports, acting, singing, TALKING. And when I talk, I tend to be expressive, so the emoticons are a natural extension of that. So, since writing has never been a primary way for me to express myself, but talking has, and we're all "talking" here, it's just natural that I express myself in a more "conversational" manner, using the emoticons.

Exactly. It's personal choice. There's room for everyone's choice on the Internet.

I myself don't use smilies because I prefer to let my words speak for me. I don't want or need pictograms or hieroglyphics. But we're all God's chillun' (except for like serial killers & politicians & such).

[amber]

Originally Posted by David

Exactly. It's personal choice. There's room for everyone's choice on the Internet.

I myself don't use smilies because I prefer to let my words speak for me. I don't want or need pictograms or hieroglyphics. But we're all God's chillun' (except for like serial killers & politicians & such).

yerp.
Oh, by the way, I don't draw, either.

[Mari]

ah yes, and in reverse, those who don't use smilies at all but type everything out in full sentences as if they're writing a novel come across like they're taking themselves too seriously



(did I just demonstrate.. the winkey after a 'mean' comment?!?! woops )

[DrummerDeanna]

Just to let you know: I like smilies. I do not like fluffy unicorns or fairy boots and whatnot

Eh - whatev. Again - just wanted some input - and now I think I'm getting a more clear picture of the anti-smiley vs. pro-smiley groups

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by sodascouts

Yeah, seriously. Some people are very defensive of even qualified smiley criticism that allows for genuine usage, it seems! lol

I'm not particularly defensive of it most of the time, like I said, they are overused, but I just hate the implication by some that using lots of smilies makes you unintelligent. These people often make fun of it in fact.
Even if that is the case, should we make fun of people who are simply not as articulate as others? As I said before, it's the superior attitude that gets to me (and I'm not talking about anyone specifically here, it's just something I've seen from time to time).
I also don't see the difference between using a laughing emoticon and writing LOL personally. It's all the same to me...
We discuss a wide range of subjects here, most are lighthearted, whether it's the themes in Fleetwood Mac's music or the latest TV show.
I just don't see the harm in it.

[diamondsnake]

I'm an exclamation point whore. I've been trying to tone it down but I just can't!!!

[amber]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

Even if that is the case, should we make fun of people who are simply not as articulate as others? .

I found this bit particularly insightful.

[David]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Just to let you know: I like smilies. I do not like fluffy unicorns or fairy boots and whatnot

That's okay. The paradigm still stands. The people who are driven nuts by smilies are in general also driven nuts by whimsy faerie-fluffs, too.

Eh - whatev. Again - just wanted some input - and now I think I'm getting a more clear picture of the anti-smiley vs. pro-smiley groups

If there's anything else we can help you with, just holler!

[Serrart]

I love smilies, even if after a discussion with David I realized that those little things could be an insidious cop-out so I'm trying to use them more wisely.

Romy

[David]

Originally Posted by diamondsnake

I'm an exclamation point whore. I've been trying to tone it down but I just can't!!!

You whoreson!

Whassup, Christopher? Thanks for scanning the Stevie tourbook.

[David]

Originally Posted by Serrart

I love smilies, even if after a discussion with David I realized that those little things could be an insidious cop-out so I'm trying to use them more wisely.

Romy

But come to think of it, Romy, aren't they all -- smilies, words, gestures, concepts -- just self-referential signs in a semiotic universe gone mad?

Romy, I ate too many pepper crackers for lunch. But I also had two raw spinach sandwiches on whole wheat bread. I take two slices of whole wheat bread, put plenty of Smart Balance spread (an American product that contains the right balance of omega-3 & omega-6 oils & no hydrogenated fats) on both slices of bread, & then add plenty of raw spinach epaulets & . . . there's my sandwich!

Wash it down with a large glass of cold vanilla-flavored soy milk & there I go!