Russell Kirkpatrick's Journal
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Emoticons lie!
24-Jun-2008
Emoticons lie.
They are so insincere. They allow us to be far harsher with each other than we ought to be. They remove the need for moderate language. They mask the most appalling rudeness. Yet another way of strangling the language - or of hiding in plain sight.
:)
Comments
:P
I use smiles in emails & blog comments all the time, just so people are in no doubt when I'm being light-hearted. Yes, it's a shortcut, but it saves words.
In real life I say some odd things with a deadpan expression, but if anyone looks startled or simply doesn't get it, I grin to show it was meant to be funny. Can't easily do that over the web without the handy little smiley, unless I add (just kidding) after every quip.
In real life I say some odd things with a deadpan expression, but if anyone looks startled or simply doesn't get it, I grin to show it was meant to be funny. Can't easily do that over the web without the handy little smiley, unless I add (just kidding) after every quip.
That's the sort of explanation I'd expect from a famous comedic wordsmith :)
It saves words, but I note you didn't use one in your comment :p
It saves words, but I note you didn't use one in your comment :p
Wondering what brought on that particular little rant????
"I note you didn't use one in your comment"
For once, I was being serious!
For once, I was being serious!
awwww, poor little smileys, emoticon's do not lie, the people using them do.
Except me.
Granny, however ...
*g*
Except me.
Granny, however ...
*g*
I wonder, have they begun appearing in novels yet? I bet they've found their insidious little way into short stories.
Simon serious? See, when a person uses deadpan humour, one can never be sure. I'm not even sure he's being serious when he says he's being serious about being serious.
As to what brought the rant on, Jo, it was a line in a BEARDFISH song.
>:)
Simon serious? See, when a person uses deadpan humour, one can never be sure. I'm not even sure he's being serious when he says he's being serious about being serious.
As to what brought the rant on, Jo, it was a line in a BEARDFISH song.
>:)
Hey there Mr writer man! Thought I'd pop on in here and see what you're currently yapping about! I have to admit to being generally irritated (in my usual irrational wee way) by emoticons, especially those yucky multicoloured animated jobs that people seem to love, but then again I am one of those annoying people who tends to resort to excessive exclamation marks and punctuation to make my point ha ha !!!!.....nice to catch up with you when you were down this way by the way, you should do it more often!!!
Hi Amanda, nice to hear from you, cousin! I really enjoyed my time in Queenstown and I will try to get back down as often as I can. By the way, I have a book to send you (the second one, right?) but I can't remember your address. Could you email it to me please?
They do all that? Wow. I just thought they were a good way to poke your tongue out at someone long-distance.
:P
:P
See how well they lie? They had you fooled!
Which song? Now I have to check the lyrics... I'm sure your parents warned you that listening to that rock and roll rubbish was going to cause problems in later life *grin*.
It's a Beardfish song - a Swedish retro-prog band. Don't ask. And yes, my mother was right.
Russell I have orders for the next book....have you finished it yet :-)
Heh, no, but it's not too late for me to include them as characters - we already have Lauren the leaf about to make an appearance. Anyone else? Who wants to be a slug? (No donkeys - the donkey is already taken.)
I would be a slug...except that would involve slime, to which I am decidedly unpartial! Could I be a rat?? I think that's what is living in the wall cavity next to where I'm sitting - noisy buggers, but definately energetic!! (although not for long, husband put baits in the ceiling today, it may get much quieter around here soon...I could be a *dead* rat???).
Ewww, they die in the walls and then there's the smell ... for weeks ...
Slow response, been on holidays... Apparently, according to the packaging, rats will always go away to die. Here's hoping anyway! No suspicious smells after a week away :-).