» I Hate Smilies! » I Hate Smilies! » I Hate Smilies! » » I Hate Smilies!

I Hate Smilies!  

Posted by kw in , , ,

O.K., they had a moment where they were new, fresh and meaningful.  But that was decades ago.

Now, smilies, a.k.a. "emoticons"/"emoticoms"/whatever, are popping up all over.  Wal-Mart, the evil box store has one for ads and specials, that whizzes around, slicing prices, grinning, winking and sometimes even sporting a hat.  They have spawned with devilish frequency over the net, a frequent flier for those who forward mass e-mails with nothing to add personally, blinking, performing cartwheels and sometimes sporting pirate fashion.  I was posting an introduction to my blog on a blogger site and was horrified to see that a whole host of these little yellow freaks were available for me to chose to use.  I'm re-considering my account.

Picasso said once said that if you try and explain a picture, you're usually barking up the wrong tree.  I'd like to add that if you're trying to express your feelings and emotions with a smiley, you're usually unable to bark at all.

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 10, 2008 at Sunday, August 10, 2008 and is filed under , , , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the comments feed .

6 comments

Sam Simpson  

Your new layout looks great! My old one does not!:<>

(Despair about my lazy layout seems like the kind of emotion that deserves an emoticon.) >:*

Sunday, August 10, 2008
kw  

Hey Sam,
My layout is some one else's work that I've glommed on to. What's great about your blog is that you show your own amazing work, which doesn't need any help...unlike my writing!

Sunday, August 10, 2008
Baker Watson  

I agree with you to a large degree about the smilies. I very seldom use them. I will admit, however, that in this 'short-hand' medium of the internet sometimes a smilie can add a quick punch to a quick message or post such as in chat or a forum. I just think some people use them so much that they lose their effectiveness.

And the layout does look great. I particularly like the 'Push My Buttons'.

Monday, August 11, 2008
kw  

Thanks Baker, for your =) about my buttons. (Tee hee).

I guess my problem is that I'm a survivor of a religious boarding school in England, which was rigorous about certain rules regarding language. (Which I now break frequently).

I'm a serious F.N.G. to the net. I love when people can express what they feel, but I understand too, that the written word can so easily be misunderstood. To use the smilies can ease the reader's mind.
Unless it's mine!

Cheers,
Dano.

Monday, August 11, 2008
Sam Simpson  

Aw thanks! And your writing is great! Plus I don't care if you stole that layout from a lost dog on the street, it's beeeeutiful.

Monday, August 11, 2008
Anonymous  

LOL! ;)
[couldn't help myself...]

Dr Jay and I have been debating emoticons today funnily enough...

Sure, words should be the main form of expression, especially for us writers.

But - in this digital medium sometimes it is hard to get your meaning across. Especially sarcasm or jokes and if you're like me... you miss alot of jokes even when they're told in person!

So, perhaps... they're just reinforcement. And as a visual person (although I know you are too) I like the visual element. Then, I also like cartoons...

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Post a Comment

<< Newer Post
Older Post >>