Emoticon overload

[Dave Lenton]

I've noticed that the average amount of emoticons / smilies have been creeping up recently. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

My initial thought was that they're damn annoying. I've got nothing against the odd one or two (a or can let people know that a comment should not be taken too seriously and avoid misunderstanding), but any more then that can look a bit annoying. For example its not uncommon to see:

:roll: :roll: I agree with you

Not only does this kind of message look cluttered and confusing, but it can distract from the textual content of the message. This kind of post makes me think of someone who whistles, scratches their head, picks their nose and hops up and down in a red and green clown suit while trying to make a serious statement - the statement just gets lost in the barrage of colour and movement.

There is another side to emoticons though. Given that the 'ranch is overwhelmingly in English, emoticons may help to improve communication for people who do not have a good level of English. They do say a picture speaks a hundred words after all! Besides, some people find them fun, and a bit of light heartedness is surely a good thing.


So, what do you think? What is a good level of emoticons within a post? When does it get out of hand and annoying? 1? 5? 50?!

---

I realise there's a slight irony about being annoyed about emoticons but then posting a comment with loads of them in it.
[ November 30, 2005: Message edited by: Dave Lenton ]

[Jim Yingst]

[Dave L]: I've got nothing against the odd one or two

One would be odd. Two would be even.

[Mani Ram]

Originally posted by Jim Yingst:
One would be odd. Two would be even.

[Dave Lenton]

Five minutes after starting the thread I had a horrible feeling that all the replies would be full of smilies!

Oh well, if you can't beat 'em....


:roll:

[Jesse Torres]

Happy Holidays!

[Svend Rost]

So, what do you think?

In general I'd say that I prefeer plain old english over smilies
and "internet/sms speak".

One or two smilies, however, to indicate ones state of mind is ofcause perfectly ok.

/Svend Rost

ps. note the absence of smilies

[Bear Bibeault]

:roll: :roll: I agree with you

[Jim Yingst]

Pete: Suits me. I'm voting for yours truly.

Ulysses: Well I'm voting for yours truly too.

Delmar: Okay... I'm with you fellas.

[Dave Lenton]

Originally posted by Svend Rost:
"internet/sms speak".

I also can't stand SMS speak. While its fine when actually sending a SMS to someone, what's the point in doing it on an Internet forum? Its not like the effort of typing the extra letters will take particularly long.

Besides, how is someone not familiar with English going to understand "pls ansr dbt-how2 solv prob m8s pc nt lOdng jav. Wot cn I do 2 fx? Tnx!!!1111"? I mean, seriously, is it really that hard to type the extra letters?

It seems as if SMS has caused people to become linguistically lazy, and slightly ignorant. How long before kids think that "what" is spelled "wot" and that "there", "they're" and "their" are all spelled "ther"?

..... and don't get me started on the abomination that is 7333T or whatever they call it.....

ps. note the absence of smilies

Thank you!

[Rick Beaver]

Originally posted by Dave Lenton:
.... and don't get me started on the abomination that is 7333T or whatever they call it.....

You mean like my sig

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

UseRealWords

[Mannu hak]

Originally posted by Dave Lenton:
and don't get me started on the abomination that is 7333T or whatever they call it.....

What is 7333T?

[Svend Rost]

Originally posted by Mannu hak:
What is 7333T?

I think it's elite.

With 7 being L and 3 being e.

(leet = elite)

/Svend Rost

[Dave Lenton]

Originally posted by Rick Beaver:
ph34r my 133t j4v4 h4><0r1ng sk177z

Originally posted by Svend Rost:

I think it's elite.

With 7 being L and 3 being e.

(leet = elite)

/Svend Rost

Yeah, although I spelled it wrong. Ironic isn't it?

Originally posted by Ernest Friedman-Hill:
UseRealWords

That page should be mandatory reading for anyone using the Internet.

[Rick Beaver]

Originally posted by Ernest Friedman-Hill:
UseRealWords

d00dZ - d4t si t3h bom - w00t - a77 ur ba5e r b3l0ng 2 u5

[Dave Lenton]

Originally posted by Rick Beaver:
d00dZ - d4t si t3h bom - w00t - a77 ur ba5e r b3l0ng 2 u5

Argh... my eyes!