# More emoticons needed **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 29, 2004, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661 "2004-05-29T08:28:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/21 "2004-05-31T04:13:03Z")
I like what we’ve got. So there. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/22 "2004-05-31T14:08:19Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > One with “mad” eyebrows, crossed eyes and a stupid smile, to use after reading or writing an unquestionably bizarre statement (for example, I read that the Duke of Monmouth was beheaded, but when it was noted he had no portrait his head was sewed back onto his body and a portrait–now in the National Portrait Gallery in London–was painted. [appropriate emoticon] > As in the message board for [www.snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com) , a weeping emoticon, with tears and half-closed eyes. > A similar emoticon with tears and a smile; for expressing emotions when a seriously-ill friend has recovered. > A “sigh” emoticon, with mouth in a frowning grimace, to express a glum feeling. > **A nauseous emoticon, with eyes shut and tongue out.** > A “learned” emoticon, with a smile and a mortarboard,. (I sdrew this emoticon, along with a heart symbol, on the jacket for the Ray Conniff love song “Today” from the mid-Sixties. 🙂 (My Bold) that one soundes like Mr. Yuck from poison control. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/23 "2004-05-31T23:14:10Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > (My Bold) that one sounds like Mr. Yuck from poison control. Take a look at the [Chi-Chi-Chan Web Comics](http://www.wlpcomics.com/adult/chichi/archive.html) and you’ll see one strip with a girl approaching the tiny, busty Chi-Chi and undressing, to reveal a full bosom as well as large male genitalia! Chi-Chi turns her head and barfs! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Beauty\_Personified](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Beauty\_Personified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauty_Personified)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2004, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/24 "2004-06-01T03:53:48Z")
> [@MoodIndigo1](#): > > The putz emoticon is in memory of one of the most beloved members of the board who passed away a few years ago, Wally. I would not be happy to see that one go, as it always reminds me of him, and makes me smile. I did not know that. I still don’t like the look of the “putz” emoticon (though I do understand its usefulness), but its inclusion as a memorial to Wally is commendable. 🙂 That said, I once again appeal to the powers that be (Og, is that you?) for the inclusion of a “devilish” emoticon. I also appreciate keeping the number of emoticons down to a reasonable number. We can keep the current number at fifteen, if we replace the “happy Jew” emoticon ( :ducks: ) with my “devilish” suggestion. Wow! :eek: Before I actually typed that out, I hadn’t noticed the significant differences between the “Jewish” emoticon and the “devilish” one I would like to see. 😛 Anyhoo… ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/25 "2004-06-01T03:59:01Z")
> [@Nightwatch Trailer](#): > > I could do with a “whistling innocently” smiley and a “shifty-eyed” smiley. But I think we should get rid of a couple (coughJewishguy) to keep it at a round dozen. > [@Beauty Personified](#): > > We can keep the current number at fifteen, if we replace the “happy Jew” emoticon ( :ducks: ) with my “devilish” suggestion. Haha, five rows of three IS fifteen. I think this is the perfect place for a… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2004, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/26 "2004-06-01T22:03:01Z")
> [@MoodIndigo1](#): > > The putz emoticon is in memory of one of the most beloved members of the board who passed away a few years ago, Wally. I would not be happy to see that one go, as it always reminds me of him, and makes me smile. Having not been around long enough to know about this Wally, I have often pondered what the “putz” had to do with Dilbert’s Wally. Now I know. ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/27 "2004-06-02T02:21:32Z")
> [@Beauty Personified](#): > > If anyone’s noticed, I’ve commented on numerous occasions (in numerous forums) that we need a “devilish” emoticon - a red smilie ( 🙂 ) with mad eyebrows ( :mad: ), and maybe two horns. Or a mad emoticon ( :mad: ) with a smile ( 🙂 ), and two horns. Same thing. > > If I’ve ever needed such an emoticon, I’ve gone old-school with \>:-) Unfortunately, depending on someone’s system configuration, it doesn’t always look right. (It doesn’t look quite right to me, in fact.) Sounds like you’re thinking of something like [Yahoo’s devil smilie](http://messenger.yahoo.com/emoticons.php;_ylt=Aptf4oFNosW5hI1RgeKP0u1wMMIF) (first column, scroll down the page a bit). Since I’m on a Mac, the smilies aren’t animated for me (in IM), so what I see is the smile, not the laugh. Something like that would be cool. I also like the green-faced sick smilie Yahoo has (no need for actual puking, thanks 😛 ). ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/28 "2004-06-02T02:40:51Z")
They can be amusing the first time you see them, but after that they tend to take up a lot of space and take your attention away from the topic. So I vote no. They only really work in MPSIMS anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Beauty\_Personified](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Beauty\_Personified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauty_Personified)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/29 "2004-06-03T02:49:51Z")
> [@sunfish](#): > > Sounds like you’re thinking of something like [Yahoo’s devil smilie](http://messenger.yahoo.com/emoticons.php;_ylt=Aptf4oFNosW5hI1RgeKP0u1wMMIF) Yuck. Those Yahoo! emoticons are ugly. And their “devil” one is ridiculously ugly. Again, if someone just took the SDMB’s _red_ “mad” emoticon ( :mad: ), changed the frown to a smile, and then added two horns, it would be perfect. And animated emoticons are just plain evil - and not in the good way. 😉 And, on the subject of “yuck”, the “tongue” emoticon ( 😛 ) is totally inappropriate for such a feeling. If the “tongue” emoticon’s smile was a frown, it might pass muster as a “yuck” emoticon. I’d change the color too. A lighter, more sickly pale green, perhaps. Anyhoo… ---
**Author:** ![trey\_goesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9c0ed/32.png) [@trey\_goesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trey_goesh)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/30 "2004-06-03T03:03:47Z")
is there an emoticon for “i’m too illiterate to use the english language to convey my ideas and opinions”? ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/31 "2004-06-03T11:28:41Z")
> [@trey goesh](#): > > is there an emoticon for “i’m too illiterate to use the english language to convey my ideas and opinions”? Smilies aren’t a substitute for language, but for facial expression whilst _using_ language. It’s all too easy to be misunderstood on a message board like this, when you can’t see the writer’s demeanour. Smilies go some way to alleviate that. Try to go through a day IRL with a totally impassive expression on your face, and see how many times you’re misunderstood. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/32 "2004-06-03T13:19:48Z")
> [@Shrinking Violet](#): > > Smilies aren’t a substitute for language, but for facial expression whilst _using_ language. It’s all too easy to be misunderstood on a message board like this, when you can’t see the writer’s demeanour. Smilies go some way to alleviate that. > > Try to go through a day IRL with a totally impassive expression on your face, and see how many times you’re misunderstood. 😉 That is why publishers went to such great expense to enable the presses to handle smilies. The English language is just totally incapable of expressing mood, humor, or attitude. That is why works by a writer such as Terry Pratchett or Lawrence Block are peppered with smilies; otherwise no one would know when they’d got to the funny bit. Gosh, why do we even use such a useless language as English anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/33 "2004-06-03T15:35:32Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > That is why publishers went to such great expense to enable the presses to handle smilies. The English language is just totally incapable of expressing mood, humor, or attitude. That is why works by a writer such as Terry Pratchett or Lawrence Block are peppered with smilies; otherwise no one would know when they’d got to the funny bit. Gosh, why do we even use such a useless language as English anymore? Now, which do you prefer … Oh, for a sarcastic smilie. Oh, for a sarcastic smilie. :rolleyes: Oh, for a sarcastic smilie. 😃 All quite different, y’see? In my view communication on a message board such as this is more akin to a roomful of friends (or enemies!) chatting, than to a work which has been honed to perfection for publication. Yes, smilies are a shortcut - but one which IMO suits the environment. BTW … despite my faux pas earlier in the thread, I’d _hate_ to see animated smilies here … ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/34 "2004-06-03T16:02:15Z")
How about a tin foil hat smiley? 😛 needs to be changed or killed - it just doesn’t read right. It looks like a bemused turtle. ---
**Author:** ![iamme99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/57b2e6/32.png) [@iamme99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamme99)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/35 "2004-06-04T02:45:05Z")
OK, so it appears that there is a lot of interest in this subject. Where do we go from here? Will there be any action from TPTB? An officially scantioned poll perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/36 "2004-06-04T04:13:28Z")
> [@Shrinking Violet](#): > > In my view communication on a message board such as this is more akin to a roomful of friends (or enemies!) chatting, than to a work which has been honed to perfection for publication. Yes, smilies are a shortcut - but one which IMO suits the environment. We have different views of this message board, and probably should agree to disagree. I rarely post in the chat forums (IMHO and MPSIMS), just popping in with an occasional comment or non sequiter now and then. My main hangouts are the Pit and GD, where I don’t think of myself as chatting. I am, with varying degrees of success, attempting to hone a statement to perfection. I understand your view, but honestly, I’ll still vote “no” given the opportunity. 🙂 Oops. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/37 "2004-06-04T05:15:25Z")
We need the head-banging-on-the-wall smilie because there is _alot_ of head banging going on around here. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/38 "2004-06-04T05:50:01Z")
We’re still fixing stuff and tweaking things. I wouldn’t totally rule out another smiley contest, but it’s a little ways down the road. And we are not stealing any smilies from some other site; if we have new ones, we’re gonna be creative. So you can start putting on your thinking caps and giving it some cogitation. your humble TubaDiva Administrator ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/39 "2004-06-04T15:16:06Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > If there should happen to be another smilie election, I would hope that “none” would be one of the candidates. Seconded. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661/40 "2004-06-04T15:26:40Z")
> [@Nightwatch Trailer](#): > > Hmm…personally, I could do without the animoticons (is that a word?). I prefer mine to be static; moving ones are too distracting. 🙂 Great. Now I have the theme to “Animaniacs” running through my head again, this time with smilies… Animated emoticons: Yay, more bandwidth issues! Personally, I tend to hand-code everything I post, so I’d like to avoid emoticons which take longer to type than the thing they’re replacing. So, even though it’s long, :dubious: makes sense because it’s quicker than typing “are you sure? That sounds kind of goofy”. On the other hand, :lol: is three more keystrokes than LOL, so we’d want to avoid it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-emoticons-needed/247661.md?page=3)