After some time writing on the web, I realized the important communicative function of a well placed wink or smile represented by a subtle semicolon\colon – dash- end parentheses.Now, though, many web sites interpret that as an instruction to display a silly looking yellow smiley ball. I can’t put my finger on it, but it seems to me that the smiley ball conveys something other than, or at least additional to, the simple message contained in the text symbolized expression. Maybe it just projects more of an air of silliness than appropriate for the content of the comment, whereas the text symbol is a bit more subtle.
Defending the liberal tradition in history, science, and philosophy.
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I agree. Converting the emoticons to pictures just makes them look goofy.
Inv A. DeSoda’s last blog post..Lili Von Shtupp Would Agree
Death to smileys. All of ‘em. Don’t even get me started…
Actually, what it is that you are pointing out, is Naftali, the failure of the internet to be a reliable communication system for person to person contact. Not that information isn’t important, but.
Articulating words in print form never adequately express
words spoken person to person with eye contact.
Never cared for the smileys myself, in whatever form. I think the old-school (g) has something going for it, though.
–|PW|–
pennywit’s last blog post..Minister sinister
Not my favorite way of communicating, either, but I still leave them enable on my blog. I’ve actually been known to use one or two when I thought it necessary to be sure my joking or cynicism was clear.
John_B’s last blog post..Saudi Shaybah Oil Field Now 75 Years Old
If they weren’t brightly colored, they’d be all right
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