Emoticons: How much are they worth?

[Yeti]

I was just curious about this. Sometimes I see a truly rude or offensive post but at the end there is a ;) or a :p and it is supposed to be all good. I am not sure how that works. I know that in the "real world" when someone is being a jerk and then just kind of laughs it all off and says "Just kidding, man" I more than likely give a Whatever and walk away, or seriously lay into the person for their ignorant statement, depends on the mood I am in.

I guess my point is Just Kidding only goes so far, it is not a get out of jail free card, it doesn't give free license to say whatever you want and then make sure you put a wink or a smiley after it. We have to take special consideration here on the realms because all we know about someone is what they post. It gives each of us the ability to be someone we normaly wouldn't be in real life, to talk bigger and mouth off more than we would to someone we actually have met and spoken to.

Yes there are certain groups of people that do know one another personnaly and so they have a little more freedom than most in what they say to one another, because they know where the person is coming from, but, if you don't know someone personnaly other than here on the Realms don't lay into them at the drop of the hat like you would a friend at home. Emoticons go a long way towards trying to portray a tone of voice which you normally wouldn't get over the web, but that doesn't mean that a person can spout flames and then say at the end "just Kidding"

I really only say this because it seems to be too common an occurance recently and I am too cynical to believe every ;) I read. Don't know if any of this makes sense or even rings true, maybe it is just the ramblings of a mad man. But, I just thought that I would chime in on this and maybe cause a thought or two.

[oogie56]

I feel you my fuzzy friend from the North. i use them a lot, but I think that it means more if you know who you are getting it from. If the person is known to be a real goofball, you know that it is a joke. If you have no idea who the guy(or gal) is, then it doesn't mean squat.

[WadeDeadpool]

I can see where your coming from. Just kidding does go only so far. But I tend to be able to get by it as long as whatever it isn't isn't extremely mean-spirited.

[thugit]

I use them a lot, but mostly with folks like you Yeti, Cap, azs, DS, or darius_dax, guys that I "know".


It depends on the user, I suppose.

[Storm Master]

I rely on them quite a bit myself. Those little smiley faces help me read between the lines, to get a better idea of where the poster is coming from. I also use them a lot myself when I think maybe my words alone don't convey the right meaning. :)

Wanna also say thanks for teaching me that these little :p are called Emoticons! I did not know that! :o

Now if somebody could only tell me what the watery substance that comes out a mustard bottle first is called. You know, the stuff that comes out right before the actual mustard. Been stumped on that one for years now. :laugh:

[Xavier PhD]

hmmm i'll give you a quick rundown of what i mean when i'm putting faces in my posts:

:) - i'm flirting with you
:( - i'm flirting with you
:o - i'm flirting with you
:grin: - i'm flirting with you
;) - i'm flirting with you
:p - i'm flirting with you
:cool: - i'm flirting with you

etc. etc.


how much are emoticons worth? well to put things in perspective... draddog still hasn't asked me out despite my constant emoticons... worthless...

[Yeti]

Originally posted by thugit
I use them a lot, but mostly with folks like you Yeti, Cap, azs, DS, or darius_dax, guys that I "know".


It depends on the user, I suppose.

Right, and that's cool. Cause you have established a history and relationship with people. But what I am talking about is someone completely random flaming you in 500 words or less and then at the end going ";) " and expect that you wouldn't react. And then be like "Dude, chill didn't you see the ;) ? I was just kidding...." Sorry, doesn't make it ok to totaly trash someone.

Just so I am clear though, this isn't directed at anyone in particular and isn't in reaction to anything that happened to me, just commenting on a trend that I see, and maybe something that no one else picked up on.

[thugit]

Ah, I see. I haven't noticed it really, but I honestly don't pay attention....

[DaLuvster89]

You know what Yeti, I am guilty of this. With people I don't even know. I've said some really mean things to pirates specifically, but just ended the statement with a "j/k" or a smiley.

And I hear what you are saying. I don't know these people well enough to cast insults and then hope any bad feelings are brushed away with a ;).

But at the same time - should we really be concerned with what someone has to say about us on a message board?
Should there be no attempts at humor at someone else's expense - when you make sure to let them know you are just kidding around? Isn't "busting someone's chops" (for lack of a better description) the past time of guys everywhere?

I dunno - I think you bring up a good point, because we all should be considerate of the people around us and their feelings. That's dead on. And I personally will take this under advisement and tread more carefully. Except when it comes to pirates. ;) <---oops. I mean... See? It's tough to stop...

[Yeti]

Originally posted by DaLuvster89
You know what Yeti, I am guilty of this. With people I don't even know. I've said some really mean things to pirates specifically, but just ended the statement with a "j/k" or a smiley.

And I hear what you are saying. I don't know these people well enough to cast insults and then hope any bad feelings are brushed away with a ;).

But at the same time - should we really be concerned with what someone has to say about us on a message board?
Should there be no attempts at humor at someone else's expense - when you make sure to let them know you are just kidding around? Isn't "busting someone's chops" (for lack of a better description) the past time of guys everywhere?

I dunno - I think you bring up a good point, because we all should be considerate of the people around us and their feelings. That's dead on. And I personally will take this under advisement and tread more carefully. Except when it comes to pirates. ;) <---oops. I mean... See? It's tough to stop...


That is a good point, honestly I don't care how most people view me on this board, there are a few, the Ninjas and some others that I have good times with, but for the most part I don't know you and I don't care. But I try to only "bust the chops" of people I know, and who know that nothing I say should ever be taken seriously, unless I am being serious, then I should be taken seriously.:confused:

But I have also seen gentle bantering and comradeship go from innuendos about someone's relationship with the neighboors sheep to racist,sexist, blatant flames. But don't worry it is all in good fun? Sometimes, but I think there is a line between bantering and offending. I know that I hold back a lot because I realize that with my dry wit and personality I will cross the line and really cut deep without realizing it. But since I know this about myself and the keyboard has a delete button, I am able to hold back.

[thugit]

Originally posted by Yeti


But I have also seen gentle bantering and comradeship go from innuendos about someone's relationship with the neighboors sheep to racist,sexist, blatant flames.


So stop reading threads that Cap and I post on! Idiot! ;)






























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