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From: wilbaden@netcom.com (W.Baden)
Subject: Re: help: Questionaire on EMOTICONS (smilies)
Message-ID: <wilbadenDp8sn3.KzD@netcom.com>
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Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 16:04:15 GMT
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Smileys are important, perhaps necessary, to electronic
communication.

There are only two that mean anything: the one with colon and
the one with semicolon.  They should never be used to show
emotion.

Their uses overlap, but one or the other should be used when you
do not want what you write to be taken as what you actually
mean.

Otherwise your intention shall be misunderstood.

The one with semicolon is the irony mark, and is stronger than
the one with colon.  It is appropriate when what you write is
WRONG.

The one with colon is used to soften the impact of a statement.

I seldom ever use them myself, but there have been a lot of
times that I wish that I had.
--
Wil Baden   Costa Mesa, California
"The dog does not thank the master for the bone."
