Why do so many out there seek to dilute the subtleties and nuances of emotion conveyed through actual language with all those silly emoticons and pixelated expressions?

When I see four yellow circle smilies lined up with eyes bulging out, it just makes me think your an idiot. Which is sad because I'm sure in reality you're not. It reminds me of middle school cheerleaders text messaging each other vacuously. But we're adults here, right?

You're all thinking I'm a pretentious jerk. Thats okay - I still want to know why you use them so much.

Although language can be utilised through the correct tones of words grouped together....there are so many potentials for miscommunication within this medium, that the simple use of emoticons, conveys the spirit with which the post is made.

Quite simple really.

I agree with Jess

There is hunger and a pogrom in Darfur, flag draped coffins returning to Dover from Iraq, inner-city violence that doesn't seem to have an end, and the prospect of Hillary being elected President, and you're worried about the emoticons? Surely someone with as much as intelligence as you seem to feel others are hiding can come up with someone better than that? But, since you asked....most of us use them because they are there to be used.

JSH idiot--Drew

I agree with you jess, I love it when I get messages sprinkled with these, they do help convey a message sometimes, and they are just plain fun.

Maybe you're right. Speaking for myself, I don't feel comfortable using them. I feel as if I'm selling myself short. Maybe its the accumulated years of inane conversation associated with them through online messengers.

Spot on Drew!!!!

And usually any discourse in regards to serious communication of the world that is tatters is slammed quick fast, by the blind, the naive, and the blinkered few, in Current events.

I like to use a certain amount of cynicism and sarcasm in my posts, and some of it could come across as pretty mean-spirited if I didn't toss in a every now and then.

Language is fluid, and this is just a form of shorthand, no better or worse than "blog" or "NASA" or KONG MUSE."

hmmm.. . i don't quite understand it myself it's quite confusing ya know all these little faces looking at you like you're crazy it's very confusing to me he he

Drew - this is a general forum, I believe theres one for politics.
But thanks for exposing my monumental waste of time and thought.

Go snacky!!!!

Yeah, and thanks to those for taking my query seriously. I knew about half would be clever and respond with a gross over use of the expressions. Congrats.

thank you thank you *bows*

Imagine that...no general forum for hatred of emoticons. Surely the moderators should be taken to task.

But, you remain, sincerely welcome.

-Drew

Its funny how sarcasm compounds sarcasm.

yeah i'm laughing so hard it's hilarious

I've forgotten what we are talking about

And how fun it was to be on here

A little tongue in cheek never hurt anyone, and a daily dose of 'lighten up' pills makes the world go round.

tongue in the cheek?

Is that a new kind of foreplay or something?

nothing new about that