# Can we get rid of the "Dubious" smiley? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 7, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-the-dubious-smiley/608752 "2012-01-07T18:35:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-the-dubious-smiley/608752/61 "2012-01-10T22:00:38Z")
This is my reaction to people who make such a fuss over smilies: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-the-dubious-smiley/608752/62 "2012-01-10T22:26:15Z")
> [@JBDivmstr](#): > > (bolding mine) > > Oh… I know what _ **that** _ is! :smack: > ‘Purple nurple’ :rolleyes: (Must be a ‘Yankee’ term.;)) Nope. West coast slang, maybe. And I vote for retaining all current smilies. And adding [this one](http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e130/theevilwriter/evil.gif). ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-the-dubious-smiley/608752/63 "2012-01-11T02:09:56Z")
> [@Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](#): > > After reading all the replies, I’d like to pose a question: > > Which response to the following assertion > > seems more civil to you? > > **Response 1:** :dubious: Cite? > **Response 2:** :dubious: > **Response 3:** Cite? > **Response 4:** Can you provide any data to support this claim? > I’d rather preserve civility at the expense of brevity - but that’s just me, I guess. Be it broccoli or ice cream, #4 is by far the best way to fight ignorance. Number 2 is simply a tantrum. But in practice most people will take shortcuts, and not bother to express themselves diplomatically. This is understandable as it often requires more effort than in this example. Moreover, there’s a large collective who would opt for #2 under the status quo – but would choose Rolley if Mr. Dubious was banished. And if all smilies were withdrawn, prepare yourself for a lot of harsh language and misunderstanding. Continuing the the thought experiment: **Response 1:** Cite? **Response 2:** Cite? :dubious: **Response 3:** Cite? :rolleyes: **Response 4:** Can you provide any data to support this claim? By my way of thinking 4\>1\>2\>3. And there are cases where straight unmodified text can be harshest of all. Either way, withdrawing Mr. Dubious would have consequences unintended by the OP. * * * ## Advertisment Consider Mr. Small Grin! Even if the sentiments are a little lame! [http://wm55.inbox.com/thumbs/2c\_130b92\_3bbb2b38\_oG.gif.thumb](http://wm55.inbox.com/thumbs/2c_130b92_3bbb2b38_oG.gif.thumb) On Mr. Evil. Methinks he’s harmless enough, though I’ve never seen such an emoticon fight ignorance especially well. Still, the icon is fairly well executed. [![](https://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e130/theevilwriter/evil.gif) ](https://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e130/theevilwriter/evil.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crown_Prince_of_Irony)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-the-dubious-smiley/608752/64 "2012-01-11T05:15:23Z")
Thanks, **Measure for Measure** , for seeing the point behind my example. And I see your point as well - many folks would indeed simply default to the next snarkiest smiley. So if we began taking away smileys in descending order of snarkiness, eventually, we’d see arguments consisting of nothing but: > [@Less Filling](#): > > 🙂 > [@Tastes Great](#): > > :D… > [@Less Filling](#): > > :)!! > [@Tastes Great](#): > > :D?? > [@Less Filling](#): > > :)!!??!! > [@Tastes Great](#): > > :D$\*&%#!!! And no one wants that. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-the-dubious-smiley/608752/65 "2012-01-11T17:12:02Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Smilies are best used as _softeners_. > > [snip] > So you’ve basically confessed that you have unusual tastes and that we should ignore everything you say on this subject. :rolleyes: > > [That last one softened the obnoxiousness, right? Let’s try another.] Subjectivity and all that, but I don’t think it softened anything. The rolleyes smiley does not soften any obnoxiousness when aimed at another poster. I tend to use it to indicate my own sarcasm - I make a statement and then rolleyes behind it. Just throwing it at another poster, though, is straight dismissiveness. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-the-dubious-smiley/608752.md?page=3)