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Kill the Web's Dumbest, Most Annoying Symbol: The Smiley X-(
They're everywhere. The entire landscape of the digital age is just crawling with them. Like Volkswagen-sized subway rats or hipsters clad in plaid, smileys are so universally ubiquitous that you hardly notice them anymore. But how much is too much? At what point do we assert our evolutionary claim to language, slam our fists on our keyboards, and scream "Enough is enough!"? Is it time that we finally kill the smiley?
Mary Elizabeth Williams, in a pleasantly snarky article for Salon, tackles these questions in perhaps the best articulated diatribe against the typographical glyph that we've all come to love... or hate. Williams bemoans the proliferation of the smiley species, describing them as cheap, cop-out alternatives to prose, and an annoying means to annotate passive aggressiveness. Above all, though, she sees the smiley as superfluous. As she says, "trust that if something is making you smile, you can tell me about it and I'll understand."
It's hard to blame her disdain for emoticons on any sort of generational technology gap: she's only 40, and, as she astutely points out, "the emoticon does not discriminate on the basis of age," as it's been appropriated by grandmas and grade-schoolers alike. No, whatever's irking Williams is more deep-seated. And while it's easy for the emoticon-inclined to disregard the article as mere rant, her main point is sound: smileys distill communication into symbols, quick and dirty, which may make communication easier, but also more stupid.
To a certain extent, we've gotta agree, and even think she could've gone on for longer, especially considering the ridiculosity that's invaded the genre recently. Take, for example, the tongue smiley -- :P. When was the last time you actually stuck your tongue out at someone? Is that supposed to be a mocking gesture? A Michael Jordan caricature? A stroke victim? These are the kinds of things that this article got us thinking. So some sort of global smiley-cide might be a bit extreme, we should at least consider taking things down a notch. ;) [From: Salon]
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Comments
48
Subscribe to commentsMalisaDec 5th 2009 11:09AM
I disagree; to a point. I would never use one in a formal email, but for general chatter amongst my friends, it's fun and comes in handy, especially in instant messages and phone texting. Some people just take things too seriously. Please lighten up Amar and Mary Elizabeth.
【ツ】
kc5tpaDec 9th 2009 10:14PM
For that reason is why need to keep the smiley, because sometimes people don't know for sure when you are joking, and since they can't see you, they must interpret the words they way they sound rather than the way they were meant.
So my opinion is whoever wrote this diatribe is a dumb-ass! ;-)
Former sailorDec 9th 2009 11:09PM
I've got to agree with you, Malisa - I don't use them often, but I enjoy them. What I hate are the ubiquitous abbreviations, in particular: u b cing my point? LOL, ROFL, wruu2? , etc. - I mean, et cetera. Text messaging, while I don't see the need for it, may be a place to use them, but there's plenty of room in an e-mail.
:)
Norm RhettDec 5th 2009 6:28PM
"ridiculosity"? How about using the words, in this case "ridiculousness", that are already in the lexicon. New words and expressions should only be added if they represent something new. More on topic, emoticons allow expression of subtleties and implications that would be lost if they were explicit, you fool ;)
jaguignonDec 5th 2009 6:49PM
Well Mary, not everybody is as well versed in the English language as you are! Some can't seem to get their feelings across in words. I agree with Malisa in what she said about usage. For Pete sake... give it a rest! ; ). Don't be such a stick in the mud!
lisanie43Dec 5th 2009 10:22PM
Mr, Toor, Why are you whining? I hate it when I have to read annoying articles that serve no real purpose but to create such hostility. Enough is enough. If you don't like the smileys, ignore it, but they are here to stay because they give the boring web chat site personalities. Please tone it down.
annarose4everDec 9th 2009 8:15PM
:)
rbpavaoDec 9th 2009 8:26PM
its just a smiley face... get over it.. one day you'll find someone to love you.. dont take it out on the rest of the world.. :-)
DesireeDec 9th 2009 8:35PM
How pathetic does your life have to be for an emoticon to piss you off?
karenDec 9th 2009 9:34PM
ROFLOL! You made me laugh. Thanks! //{~..~}\\
dpick342Dec 9th 2009 8:30PM
why does it even matter. I'm thinking some of these people who have issues with smileys, have issues that need to be addressed by a shrink.....
Sassyt55Dec 9th 2009 8:37PM
Ahhh another outstanding example of someone who needs to get a life....No pun intended. There are somethings during conversation (face to face) that are best responded to with facial expression. Them little guys have always helped out when the conversation is via internet. ;)
MarilynDec 9th 2009 8:39PM
Don't hate. :)
livindeadbeat234Dec 9th 2009 8:40PM
This article makes me xD
woodpushingmafiaDec 9th 2009 8:41PM
i just want you to work on your grammar
CrystalDec 9th 2009 8:42PM
Smilies are awesome! =D =] =p
HannahDec 10th 2009 1:18AM
But over half of human communication is in expressions, gestures, and tone of voice, and I personally use alot of faces and gestures when I talk, and yes, I do stick my tongue out at people lol. This ladies a complainer, get over it please : P
maxsanduskyDec 9th 2009 8:51PM
Well, if we're killing off the smiley emoticom...can we stop over-using the word "snarky," please!!!
peapersDec 9th 2009 8:55PM
WHO FREAKIN' CARES?!!!!! =)
BillyDec 9th 2009 9:01PM
"... her main point is sound: smileys distill communication into symbols, quick and dirty, which may make communication easier, but also more stupid."
The problem with this statement is that all language is symbolic. The words we use to convey meaning are arbitrary; there's nothing inherent in strings of letters or sounds that make them mean what they do. Saying that smileys distill communication into symbols is a pointless statement because all language does that, and in fact arbitrariness is a key property of language.
"Above all, though, she sees the smiley as superfluous. As she says, 'Trust that if something is making you smile, you can tell me about it and I'll understand.'"
The problem with that is that writing, by itself, doesn't convey intonation, volume, or facial expressions, all of which are important clues in interpersonal communication. Sarcasm, for instance, isn't expressed through the literal meaning of the words used but rather through intonation and facial expressions; an emoticon serves the pragmatic function of conveying what the explicit meaning of the words does not.