Emoticons/Do You Use Them? Never, Sometimes, or Often?

Forums: Emoticons, a2k, Site Usage, Netiquette, Use Of Emoticons
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In the new incarnation of A2K, I found that I was having a problem with the placement of emoticons. I wrote a thread on the subject, and the problem appears to have been solved:

http://able2know.org/topic/125956-1

Then I started to think. In all the years on A2K, I have used a LOT of emoticons. And I started to think why, when some people seldom or never use them.

When I interact with people in the "real" world, I rely on body language, eye contact, etc. to help me understand what a person is attempting to communicate. You can't do this on the internet. All you have are the words, and not the inflections, and emotional tone of the person with whom you are communicating.

I have a problem assessing fooling around, teasing and other bass ackwards means of communicating. Because of this, I had misunderstood (early on) the remarks of two members, who are very witty and adept at sarcasm.

I find that I like to use emoticons, so as not to be misunderstood. How about you? Do you use emoticons? A little? A lot? Not at all? Why do you think that you use, (or not use) emoticons in the manner that you do?

P.S. I had mentioned somewhere else that I would love the poll function that we had on the old A2K. This particular thread is one example where a poll would be very useful.

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@Phoenix32890,

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Emoticons/Do You Use Them? Never, Sometimes, or Often?

Sometimes. Not too often.
I'm more of a verbal person, Phoenix. In real life I don't depend on body language very much. I'm not much good at reading any meanings into other people's body language although I do tend to "talk" with my hands myself. Unless I feel that a picture really would be better than a bunch of words in a particular case, it just doesn't occur to me to drop in a smiley. And smileys are about the only emoticons I do use. Often I'll type in the symbol instead of going to the hidden icons above. And there are times when my entire reply will be just a laughing smiley to show I really appreciate the humor of the previous post.
L'chaim! Drunk

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@Phoenix32890,

Quote:

I find that I like to use emoticons, so as not to be misunderstood.

Yes, me too.

For example, a Wink

= this is not deadly serious. Don't get upset. I'm joking!

I'm surprised at the number of times that one can be missunderstood. Then the need to explain: Hey, I was trying (& not succeeding, apparently!) to be funny! Really!
... and then the need to explain what was really meant by that post.

I guess, really, that the confusion which sometimes arises is not so surprising, given the number of different countries represented by posters here. We all have different approaches to humour. What might be funny to me might seem offensive, or completely bewildering to someone else. Subjects that might be "sacred" to some are fair game to others ... Things can get complicated! So sometimes I simply opt for a Razz