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.
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:
The “Tossing Cookies” smilie.
AKA, “Excuse me, I’m sick.”
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.
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!
I don’t like the new smilies, either. They’re insipid.
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. 
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
That reflects their wider color pallet, incidentally.
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.
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.
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.)
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.)
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
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?
It’s a little clearer on this image. http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/73_130b4b_b6e78a1_oP.png.thumb
After such a lengthy and intelligent post, I guess that we are stuck with the new smilies.
=)
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.
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!!!)
I enlarged the new rolleyes. Here’s what we have to work with:
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:
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.
: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.
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.
I’m okay with all except Rolleyes, really.
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:|