# OMG new smileys??! **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 26, 2014, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330 "2014-02-26T17:03:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/161 "2014-03-02T03:16:42Z")
Weird. I thought I was seeing the new smilies on this computer yesterday, but I see the old ones now. Maybe I’m thinking of my work computer. ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/162 "2014-03-02T03:46:04Z")
Put me down as another who is deeply alarmed and distressed by the new smilies. This is sick and wrong and I won’t stand for it! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/163 "2014-03-02T03:49:44Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Not for me. :eek: The “Tossing Cookies” smilie. AKA, “Excuse me, I’m sick.” ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/164 "2014-03-02T03:57:34Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > The only reason I foresee this not being fixed is if Jerry just doesn’t have time or has lost the image files. Look, G-d hates me, it’s noy going to happen. I have decided this =) is for regular smilies, and this :eek: is for insults. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2014, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/165 "2014-03-02T20:01:42Z")
Is there a limit on how many smilies there can be? (Other boards have many more, don’t they?) How’s about we re-instate the Old Ones along with the New Ones, so everybody can use whichever smilies or pukies they want. All things to all people! Then we shall see which ones get used the most! ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/166 "2014-03-02T20:37:56Z")
I don’t like the new smilies, either. They’re insipid. ---
**Author:** ![compositejoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/compositejoe/32/7232_2.png) [@compositejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/compositejoe)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/167 "2014-03-02T21:20:54Z")
OMG, I totally LOVE these new emoticons, the old ones lacked character in comparison! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/168 "2014-03-02T21:44:45Z")
> [@compositejoe](#): > > OMG, I totally LOVE these new emoticons, the old ones lacked character in comparison! 😃 Anyone who posts “OMG” probably would :rolleyes: See? That smiley just doesn’t cut it. I say we beat him up and steal his lunch money. 😃 ---
**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:** [March 2, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/169 "2014-03-02T22:04:12Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > The new sarcasm emoticon doesn’t look sarcastic to me. If anything, it looks whimsical. It could even be wistful. Yes. That’s the point: emoticons are softeners. A less wistful but still amused version is here: [http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/72\_130b4c\_53a7e841\_oP.png.thumb](http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/72_130b4c_53a7e841_oP.png.thumb) > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > They suck. > > I hate the bright stupid pastel colors. They look lo-rez to me, like they’re fuzzy or something. That reflects their wider color pallet, incidentally. > [@](#): > > The sad face is purple: :(. WTF? People who are sad aren’t feeling purple; they’re feeling blue. Yes, and when people see the winky they automatically think the guy is depressed, because it is blue. Most people don’t have one to one linkages between color and concept. > [@](#): > > And people who are mad are red in the face, not pastel-umber in the face, like the new :mad: smiley. Yes, and when humans are mad in the face, their complexion is identical to the old smiley. Except not: if anything the new pastel is closer to (Caucasian) flesh tones. > [@BigT](#): > > Therein lies the problem, I believe. They are not as good at expressing the emotions they are intended to express. All the ones that were changed seem to be somewhat “happy” or goofy. That doesn’t work with, say, :mad:, which is supposed to indicate anger. > > Like it or not, this is a very snarky site. Toning down the snark is not desirable to most people here. Snark and sarcasm is easy. Check out my last 2 remarks. Obnoxious, yes? Most posters would put a rolly or dubious next to it _because otherwise it might just look mean_. Sarcasm does _not_ work very well in the printed medium: emoticons substitute for tone of voice. In practice turning up the rhetorical heat is easier than turning it down: the emoticon is a shortcut for the latter. (Oh, and apologies to **Snowborder Bo** : the above replies were intended to illustrate sarcasm without the use of emoticons, to demonstrate that smilies have always been used as softeners. Please disregard the substance.) > [@Snowborder Bo](#): > > At least for now the :smack: is still the same :smack: that we’ve all come to know and love. Oh, and the :dubious: looks the same at the moment. Will those two be replaced as well or will they be given a reprieve and retain their familiar countenance? :dubious: FYI: Smack and dubious were designed by members (tshirts, with some editing on dubious by myself). So in practice changing those would involve extended deliberation. If I was to rework dubious, I’d borrow the color pallet from the new Mr. Happy. Maybe I’d tone down the whiskers a little. Not sure. (I am not an artist, and I’ve never worked with Photoshop.) > [@Morgyn](#): > > I don’t like the new smilies, either. They’re insipid. The smilies have always been goofy in execution. The old ones weren’t that great either. As pieces of artwork, they aren’t much but I think they serve their main purpose well, which again is facilitating communication by softening overly sharp language. People will get used the pastels. I’ve edited Mr. Rolleyes to reduce his gentleness, but nobody seems to be interested. _:😭:_ [http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/72\_130b4c\_53a7e841\_oP.png.thumb](http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/72_130b4c_53a7e841_oP.png.thumb) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/170 "2014-03-02T22:13:26Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > People will get used the pastels. I’ve edited Mr. Rolleyes to reduce his gentleness, but nobody seems to be interested. _:😭:_ > [http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/72\_130b4c\_53a7e841\_oP.png.thumb](http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/72_130b4c_53a7e841_oP.png.thumb) > 😉 They look exactly the same to me. I thought you linked to the wrong picture, because those two roll eyes look identical. But you keep repeating the link, so I guess that is the one you meant so…what’s the difference between the two? It’s too subtle for me, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/171 "2014-03-02T22:30:55Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > They look exactly the same to me. I thought you linked to the wrong picture, because those two roll eyes look identical. But you keep repeating the link, so I guess that is the one you meant so…what’s the difference between the two? It’s too subtle for me, I guess. If I blow up the image and look closely, the mouth doesn’t seem to stretch as far in the second one. Did I guess right? Do I win a prize? ---
**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:** [March 2, 2014, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/172 "2014-03-02T22:42:53Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > They look exactly the same to me. I thought you linked to the wrong picture, because those two roll eyes look identical. But you keep repeating the link, so I guess that is the one you meant so…what’s the difference between the two? It’s too subtle for me, I guess. It’s a little clearer on this image. [http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/73\_130b4b\_b6e78a1\_oP.png.thumb](http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/73_130b4b_b6e78a1_oP.png.thumb) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/173 "2014-03-02T22:44:14Z")
After such a lengthy and intelligent post, I guess that we are stuck with the new smilies. =) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/174 "2014-03-02T23:03:01Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > It’s a little clearer on this image. [http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/73\_130b4b\_b6e78a1\_oP.png.thumb](http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/73_130b4b_b6e78a1_oP.png.thumb) Ah. FAR too subtle for me. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the upside of the dude’s mouth, it’s the curly smile on the downslope that neuters him. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/175 "2014-03-02T23:13:37Z")
The admins of this board really need to bring the original “rolleyes” smiley back. The new one doesn’t even remotely convey the appropriate disdainful attitude that the old one did. Guess I can live with the rest. :rolleyes: (dammit!!!) ---
**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:** [March 2, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/176 "2014-03-02T23:17:34Z")
I enlarged the new rolleyes. Here’s what we have to work with: [http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/74\_130b4a\_1b32a75\_oP.png.thumb](http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/74_130b4a_1b32a75_oP.png.thumb) I’d like to retain a curvy mouth, as the old rolleyes was a little harsh. Not so curvy as the new winky or even then new rolleyes. Hm. Perhaps I could experiment with the mouth of Mr. Cool. I’d also like to note that there are many expressive options besides the 13 emoticons on this board. **carnivorous plant** ’s recommendation is worthy: =). And in a couple of years, the emoji will be more widely available. So this debate may get dated pretty quickly. Ref: :rolleyes: 🆒 😉 🙂 ---
**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:** [March 2, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/177 "2014-03-02T23:31:04Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Wait, we now have two posters named Big T? There’s a reason why I said “most posters.” 😛 Also, I’ve warmed up to the snark over the years. I can actually learn, despite what some posters may think. 😉 And are you guys saying you like the new angry smiley? I can’t even see his face unless I look really close, and then he just looks really goofy. If we had to compromise, I’d be fine with just the old rolleyes and old mad face for tone reasons, but I still think they look inconsistent from a design point of view. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/178 "2014-03-02T23:46:35Z")
:mad: “Mad” should be a more vivid red color. 😛 I preferred the old color, but I can live with it. :eek: That’s not “Eek!”, that’s “Angry Kermit the Frog”. :rolleyes: Add me to the list of those who prefer the old rolleyes. The new one looks more amused than sarcastic. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2014, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/179 "2014-03-02T23:49:53Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Yes. That’s the point: emoticons are softeners. The happy and silly ones are. The others not so much. I have never seen :dubious: used as a softener, for example. Nor the old rolleyes. Heck, I’d say both of those are actually used as intensifiers. Rolleyes is used here often to completely dismiss someone’s comment without saying a word. :rolleyes: \<– This guy just doesn’t have that in him. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330/180 "2014-03-02T23:51:20Z")
I’m okay with all except Rolleyes, really. > [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > I’d like to retain a curvy mouth, as the old rolleyes was a little harsh. Not so curvy as the new winky or even then new rolleyes. Hm. Perhaps I could experiment with the mouth of Mr. Cool. I think rolleyes with the mouth of Mr. Cool would be great. Slightly less snarky and more amused, but not looking up a skirt. /\_\_\_\_ /\_\_\_\_\_ _|:rolleyes:|_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-new-smileys/682330.md?page=10)