# Did the old rolleyes smiley cause an increase in suicides or something? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 30, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457 "2014-07-30T23:41:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/21 "2014-07-31T17:46:56Z")
NM. I put together a wonder screed addressing the wrong question. No time to fix it within the editing window. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/22 "2014-07-31T17:59:49Z")
If I wish to express disdain for what I see as a proposition or comment of questionable value, I now use the old dubious smilie, like so: :dubious: The new roll eyes smilie is useful for indicating that I just posted an insult that I’m counting on everyone EXCEPT the target to understand. Like this : :rolleyes: It’s my Benny Hill smilie. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/23 "2014-07-31T18:42:42Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Except, apparently, for search time limitations. You’re overlooking the critical difference. Adjusting search time limitations solves the sysadmin’s problem: server stability. That’s kind of central to his job, and he’s going to solve it as definitively as he can get away with. Changing the selection of emoticons on the board solves some subset of the user community’s problem. Which is no problem of any sysadmin’s at all. The server continues to serve up pages, accept postings, the works. Some users don’t like some of the features of the web pages that result (like the emoticons, or the absence of avatars/pictures), but that’s not the sysadmin’s problem unless his boss tells him it’s his problem. And none of us are his boss. Someone up-thread suggested scripting to fix it. I assume by this they mean greasemonkey scripting to do client-side rewriting, in the fashion of the greasemonkey avatar script in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=657890). Look. No one can, or should, stop anyone from complaining. But there are some things that, realistically, complaining won’t change. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/24 "2014-07-31T19:21:27Z")
…and there exist well known characterizations of complaining about piddling stuff. Whether this is piddling is in the eyes of the beholder of course. The old rolleyes expressed contempt at the target. The new rolleyes make the emoter look foolish. I can live with that. After all, we have a perfectly workable dubious smilie. I concede the new rolleyes isn’t very well executed. But BigT and I tried to improve upon it without much success. Designing these little bundles of pixels requires a modicum of talent, which I honestly don’t have. Admittedly2, I didn’t like the old rolleyes too much either: I thought it mostly tended to substitute for intelligent expression, rather than encourage it. No loss, IMHO. > [@Fenris](#): > > I accept that it’s not going to happen and frankly, I don’t care all that much (I prefer the old one) but whatever reason there is for not uploading the new smiley, it’s not an issue of it taking too much time or him being too busy. It might have to do with a general policy of not breaking that which is considered fixed by TPTB. Interesting data though. ETA: Also, you’re an IT guy, right Fenris? Does this sort of thing warrant bringing up the subject in a meeting? There is all matter of rigamarole associated with a 2 minute task, even ignoring (possibly/probably unfounded) worries about breakage. Ed isn’t exactly a big boss. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/25 "2014-07-31T19:57:36Z")
I like the new rolleyes. The use of that emoticon is clearly an indication of deep frustration, but the new one is just so full of whimsy. It’s like watching someone get so wound up that they are about to curse a blue streak, but what comes out is merely, “Fiddlesticks!” ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/26 "2014-07-31T20:05:09Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > ETA: Also, you’re an IT guy, right Fenris? Does this sort of thing warrant bringing up the subject in a meeting? There is all matter of rigamarole associated with a 2 minute task, even ignoring (possibly/probably unfounded) worries about breakage. Ed isn’t exactly a big boss. I used to help with IT, but was never the network guy. However, for similar stuff I would just have done it and then mentioned in passing that Smiley 1234 was upgraded on such-and-such a date. But it was a pretty loose environment. I don’t know what it would be in a really structured corporate environment. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/27 "2014-07-31T21:00:34Z")
I personally love upskirt smiley. It basically conveys the message “while you’re busy yapping about something, I’m busy looking up your skirt, and enjoying it!” ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/28 "2014-07-31T21:15:28Z")
This is the meaning I’m going to use for it now. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/29 "2014-07-31T21:52:03Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Excellent suggestion. Any of you smart people think a script could be made for this? The [SDMB Avatars script](https://greasyfork.org/scripts/2027-sdmb-avatars) displays the old board smilies. I think BigT made one too that can be found in one of the many threads on this subject. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/30 "2014-07-31T22:05:58Z")
The amount of time it takes is essentially irrelevant. (And, even if takes only a few minutes to make the change, it takes time to explain what and why and to look into it. Prep time, testing time, all those other bits take up time. ) But the main thing is: we only have access to Jerry for really, really important stuff. That’s how it is. So, the amount of time it takes is irrelevant if we don’t have someone who can do it. Jerry’s priorities are not set by us, and he’s in that overworked/underpaid situation. This is far from what we (the mods) would like, but it’s how it is. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/31 "2014-08-01T03:18:29Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > No rolleyes, old _or_ new is suitable for a statement that compares this situation to > [@](#): > > how women got the right to vote, black people got equal protection, gays the right to marry, etc. That attitude is just not how people get things\* done\*. Try to look at it like [this](http://i.imgur.com/pQSnzGV.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/32 "2014-08-01T18:16:42Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > The [SDMB Avatars script](https://greasyfork.org/scripts/2027-sdmb-avatars) displays the old board smilies. I think BigT made one too that can be found in one of the many threads on this subject. Cool. I have that running at home. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/33 "2014-08-02T06:24:18Z")
You [meaning many of you] keep talking about scripts to display custom avatars or smilies. I do not think scripts to display custom avatars or smilies do what you think they do. Persons _reading_ those posts won’t see any custom anything unless _they too_ are running that script. It’s not like the person posting a post has any control over what custom images other users see. And it doesn’t do you (as a poster) any good to see your favorite //old-rolleyes// icon when the readers of your post mostly won’t see it. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2014, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/34 "2014-08-02T07:51:46Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > The [SDMB Avatars script](https://greasyfork.org/scripts/2027-sdmb-avatars) displays the old board smilies. I think BigT made one too that can be found in one of the many threads on this subject. “Made” is too strong a word. I isolated the part of the SDMB Avatars script that fixed the smileys, and then embedded the smileys into the script. The only code actually added by me was the ability to [switch](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17185825&postcount=253) to the original animated version of Mr. Rolleyes. Also, here’s [a link to the script](http://userscripts-mirror.org/scripts/show/410188). And here’s [a link to the installation instructions](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17185529&postcount=242) if you need them. Note that I’ve updated the script link since then, as the one that post is not as reliable. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/35 "2014-08-02T15:01:12Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > You [meaning many of you] keep talking about scripts to display custom avatars or smilies. I do not think scripts to display custom avatars or smilies do what you think they do. > > Persons _reading_ those posts won’t see any custom anything unless _they too_ are running that script. It’s not like the person posting a post has any control over what custom images other users see. And it doesn’t do you (as a poster) any good to see your favorite //old-rolleyes// icon when the readers of your post mostly won’t see it. Thanks but everyone understands that. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/36 "2014-08-02T15:10:12Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > You [meaning many of you] keep talking about scripts to display custom avatars or smilies. I do not think scripts to display custom avatars or smilies do what you think they do. > > Persons _reading_ those posts won’t see any custom anything unless _they too_ are running that script. You mean the client-side script that i have running in my browser won’t affect how thousands of other people see the Straight Dope? You don’t say? Next thing you’ll be telling me that changing my desktop wallpaper doesn’t change the wallpaper on everyone else’s computer. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/37 "2014-08-02T16:11:00Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > I like the new roll-eyes fine. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/38 "2014-08-02T17:08:02Z")
The new rolleyes smiley is the worst thing I’ve ever seen. Thank you, **Crazyhorse** , from saving us from this hell. (I like how it took longer for Crazyhorse to write the script than the literal minute it would take for the admins to make the change, but whatever.) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/39 "2014-08-02T21:54:51Z")
The script is nice, but the old smilies are only seen by me. When I insult a person and dismiss his ideas I want him to KNOW it. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457/40 "2014-08-03T01:59:32Z")
> [@john mace](#): > > :rolleyes: ◔\_◔ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-old-rolleyes-smiley-cause-an-increase-in-suicides-or-something/694457.md?page=3)