using smilies

Status
Not open for further replies.

IV2010

Well-Known Member
#1
I see a lot of negative stuff on here about using the emoticons in posts...
mostly people saying they are a useless way of offering support..

I disagree..
If someone takes the time to reply, open the smilie page, find an appropriate emote and posts it, it helps me enormously..
even if it's just a *hug*

at least they took the time to show they care even if they didn't know what to say ..
 

Petal

~*Mod Extraordinaire*~
Staff Alumni
SF Supporter
#2
I'd have to agree, even a hug emote shows the OP that the person replying has read it and cares :)
 

Illusion

Well-Known Member
#6
Emoticons are not a bad way of offering support As a matter of fact, I think they bring a bit more of happiness into posts. Without them, posts seem more stern to me. The hug ones always warm my heart.
 

Fitzy

Well-Known Member
#7
Some people don't know what to say but an emote shows that they care enough to respond.
I can't figure out how to insert them!
 

nolonger

Well-Known Member
#10
I quite like the SF emoticon things. Most other sets/websites smilies seem to piss me off....probly because the SF ones are based around words....not various different signs found around the keyboard :laugh:.
 

Mortal Moon

Well-Known Member
#14
It can just seem a bit lazy at times. Like giving someone a gift card for their birthday instead of something personal and meaningful.

That said, I think that smilies, used judiciously, can express shades of meaning that would be awkward or impossible in normal writing. One of the things I love the most about Lojban is its system of "attitudinals," which are essentially formalized written/spoken emoticons. English is great for pointing out that the sky is blue, but something like "the sky is blue, and that makes me very happy and a little bit nostalgic" is difficult to convey gracefully.
 

Ravenwing

Well-Known Member
#15
I think if used in context, there is nothing wrong with them at all. To me it shows that a person has taken the time to think about what they want to say and to personalise it a little. That means a great deal.

Some people may not be so great with words, but offering up an emoticon in the form of a :hug: can be enough to make a real difference to how a person feels. There is no bad there.
 

Mortal Moon

Well-Known Member
#16
Eh, I guess. Personally, I can't imagine a situation where ":hug:" by itself would make me feel the slightest bit better. It just seems like an empty gesture; you could :hug: anybody, in any situation where they're feeling down, regardless of the details, and it would be appropriate. No need to actually give their problems due consideration or offer any normative content; if you see someone who's got the blues, just give them a nice pre-packaged :hug: and it'll all be just fine.

I guess that sounds harsh. If an unaccompanied smiley honestly makes someone feel better, then I'm glad. And maybe I'm just too jaded or whatever. But to me, a mere expression of emotion, without any further indication that you actually give a damn, is like giving a hungry person a bowl of sugar instead of some real food.
 

Chargette

Well-Known Member
#17
There are many times when I cannot express myself because my brain seems frozen and that is where the smileys are a great way to say that I do care.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Please Donate to Help Keep SF Running

Total amount
$70.00
Goal
$255.00
Top