# A question regarding smilies **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 21, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882 "2010-01-21T19:35:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/1 "2010-01-21T19:35:02Z")
I note that in the smilies menu, this —\> :eyeroll: is named “Roll Eyes (Sarcastic).” That’s all well and good, but sometimes I feel like I’d like to use a “Roll Eyes (‘Innocent’)”. Could we maybe get one of those? It could be just like the default one, but yellow instead of green. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/2 "2010-01-21T20:06:30Z")
The problem is it is open to (mis)interpretation. If you post a yellow eyes-looking-up similey half the people will see ‘innocent’ and the other half will see ‘tsk tsk how silly you are’ ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/3 "2010-01-21T20:23:58Z")
Really, if you use any smiley at all, you are saying, “Please don’t take this too seriously, and please don’t take offence.” The exact colour or shape of the smiley doesn’t matter. 🙂 😕 :eek: :mad: :rolleyes: 🆒 😛 😉 😃 :o :dubious: ☹ :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/4 "2010-01-21T23:26:53Z")
I’m not sure how rolling eyes is meant to express innocence. Those smileys are based upon facial expressions. Can you explain for me? Or better yet, find a picture or smiley that demonstrates how that works? Offhand I can’t figure out what an “innocent” smiley should look like. ---
**Author:** ![Magicicada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c67d28/32.png) [@Magicicada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magicicada)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/5 "2010-01-22T00:18:05Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I’m not sure how rolling eyes is meant to express innocence. Those smileys are based upon facial expressions. Can you explain for me? Or better yet, find a picture or smiley that demonstrates how that works? > > Offhand I can’t figure out what an “innocent” smiley should look like. With a halo? Angel wings? I think the idea of the rolling eyes is a gazing-upwards-to-the-heavens thing. Which, in a smilie, would look like rolled eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/6 "2010-01-22T00:42:13Z")
Something like [this](http://www.giraffeboards.com/images/smilies/smiliewhistle2.gif)? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/7 "2010-01-22T01:17:24Z")
> [@sweetie pea](#): > > With a halo? Angel wings? > > I think the idea of the rolling eyes is a gazing-upwards-to-the-heavens thing. Which, in a smilie, would look like rolled eyes. Halo’s the one I’m used to. [noparse]O:)[/noparse] on Facebook transforms on rotation to [http://www.creativestable.com/files/u1/facebook\_smiley\_angel.gif](http://www.creativestable.com/files/u1/facebook_smiley_angel.gif) . ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/8 "2010-01-22T01:52:49Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I’m not sure how rolling eyes is meant to express innocence. Those smileys are based upon facial expressions. Can you explain for me? Or better yet, find a picture or smiley that demonstrates how that works? [![](https://cinemaretro.com/uploads/SAINTHALO.jpg) ](https://cinemaretro.com/uploads/SAINTHALO.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/9 "2010-01-22T17:28:27Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Really, if you use any smiley at all, you are saying, “Please don’t take this too seriously, and please don’t take offence.” The exact colour or shape of the smiley doesn’t matter. 🙂 😕 :eek: :mad: :rolleyes: 🆒 😛 😉 😃 :o :dubious: ☹ :smack: Really? Because I’ve been on the receiving end of a few eyeroll smileys, and I’ve always taken them to mean (and occasionally used as a quasi-legal substitute for, in threads where the literal phrase would be prohibited) “Christ, you’re an idiot.” ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/10 "2010-01-22T18:12:06Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Really? Because I’ve been on the receiving end of a few eyeroll smileys, and I’ve always taken them to mean (and occasionally used as a quasi-legal substitute for, in threads where the literal phrase would be prohibited) “Christ, you’re an idiot.” I’ve been on the giving end of a few eyeroll smilies, and I’ve always meant them to mean “christ, you’re an idiot.” True story. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/11 "2010-01-22T18:34:38Z")
Huh. Say, have we met? ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/12 "2010-01-22T18:41:14Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I’m not sure how rolling eyes is meant to express innocence. Those smileys are based upon facial expressions. Can you explain for me? Or better yet, find a picture or smiley that demonstrates how that works? > > Offhand I can’t figure out what an “innocent” smiley should look like. While the expression certainly typically shows some form of negative reaction, it can be directed at oneself, and so “innocent” in that sense. I make sure to add “at myself” to avoid any unintentional offense. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/13 "2010-01-22T18:44:26Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Huh. Say, have we met? :rolleyes:🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/14 "2010-01-22T20:09:11Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I’m not sure how rolling eyes is meant to express innocence. Those smileys are based upon facial expressions. Can you explain for me? Or better yet, find a picture or smiley that demonstrates how that works? > > Offhand I can’t figure out what an “innocent” smiley should look like. [Like Benny Hill pretending that he **didn’t** just let fly with a huge double-entendre.](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VHDUWIIqzc0/StTNQcIA-5I/AAAAAAAAAn0/3dBWYprk6g4/s320/75863.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/15 "2010-01-22T23:36:28Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I’m not sure how rolling eyes is meant to express innocence. Those smileys are based upon facial expressions. Can you explain for me? Or better yet, find a picture or smiley that demonstrates how that works ? Not really “rolling” eyes as such, but looking away from somebody (either at the ceiling, or intently staring at your own fingernails) and whistling a jaunty tune in a deliberately conspicuous “what ? Who, me ? I didn’t do nothing, honest guv !” attitude. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/16 "2010-01-23T00:05:54Z")
Bring back Putz and Jewy! ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-smilies/525882/17 "2010-01-24T13:05:49Z")
Thanks for the examples. **Peter Morris** , Roger Moore doesn’t so much appear to be rolling his eyes in innocence as looking up to heaven. Not quite the same thing.