# Remember Wally? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 3, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812 "2009-12-03T04:18:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/21 "2009-12-04T02:43:06Z")
Wow, that takes me back. Yeah, Wally was OK, but the whole thing was weird after he “died” or whatever. Anyone know what happened in real life with him? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2009, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/22 "2009-12-04T02:51:40Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > Yeah, we’re not popular! :mad: You quacking win the thread. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/23 "2009-12-04T03:27:45Z")
So why do people sometimes write :wally: under their posts, again? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/24 "2009-12-04T03:46:40Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > So why do people sometimes write :wally: under their posts, again? :wally: was a smiley. While this particular smiley was removed from the list, the code remains. The Wally smiley had “putz” above a wink, IIRC. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/25 "2009-12-04T05:09:32Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > :wally: was a smiley. While this particular smiley was removed from the list, the code remains. > > The Wally smiley had “putz” above a wink, IIRC. Was the smiley meant as an insult or a tribute? It sounds like it was a putz smiley, something I would generally consider a bad thing to be named after me. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/26 "2009-12-04T05:12:33Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Was the smiley meant as an insult or a tribute? It sounds like it was a putz smiley, something I would generally consider a bad thing to be named after me. He was fond of calling people ‘Putz’, back in the day when we were allowed to do such things. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/27 "2009-12-04T13:12:35Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > He was fond of calling people ‘Putz’, back in the day when we were allowed to do such things. My interpretation of it was sort of a gentle FU, without the acrimony. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/28 "2009-12-04T17:02:17Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > :wally: was a smiley. While this particular smiley was removed from the list, the code remains. > > The Wally smiley had “putz” above a wink, IIRC. I was going to ask about it. When did we lose that? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/29 "2009-12-04T17:11:08Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Was the smiley meant as an insult or a tribute? It sounds like it was a putz smiley, something I would generally consider a bad thing to be named after me. “Wally” has been Brit slang for an idiot since at least the 1980s, though it’s had its day now. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/30 "2009-12-04T17:16:11Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I was going to ask about it. When did we lose that? Couple of years ago, anyway – we lost the Orthodox Jewish smiley at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/31 "2009-12-04T17:27:48Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Couple of years ago, anyway – we lost the Orthodox Jewish smiley at the same time. The code for which was :happyyid::eek: ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/32 "2009-12-04T17:39:44Z")
Wow. This Wally stuff is well before my time, but I’m intrigued! Say, does anyone have a link to the original funny phone line story, by the original author? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/33 "2009-12-04T17:44:26Z")
I find it intriguing that that Wally and the phone sex thingie, was pretty much the reason that I decided to join up here lo those several years ago. Imagine my chagrin when the truth was uncovered. I considered committing ritual internet seppaku to save face but then I remembered that I didn’t really give a shit about saving face. Several hundred Hamburger Helper references later and now this place is even getting some of my money! Christ, I’m a sucker. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/34 "2009-12-04T17:56:56Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Wow. This Wally stuff is well before my time, but I’m intrigued! > > Say, does anyone have a link to the original funny phone line story, by the original author? Here it is, unattributed, but unedited (probably technically NSFW)… [http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?postid=1350614](http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?postid=1350614) …and here’s the original author complaining about the mis-appropriation. > **[Shopping Online at Shopping.com | Price Comparison Site](https://www.shopping.com/)** > > Shopping.com is a leading price comparison site that allows you shop online for the best deals and lowest prices. You can read unbiased product reviews and compare prices online. Online shopping has never been as easy! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/35 "2009-12-04T18:13:42Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Here it is, unattributed, but unedited (probably technically NSFW)… > > [http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?postid=1350614](http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?postid=1350614) > > …and here’s the original author complaining about the mis-appropriation. > > [Shopping Online at Shopping.com | Price Comparison Site](http://www.epinions.com/content_1138991236) Thanks. It was smirk-worthy, but not quite the knee slapper I was anticipating. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/36 "2009-12-04T18:35:50Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Thanks. It was smirk-worthy, but not quite the knee slapper I was anticipating. It’s was _so_ 2001. You had to be there. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/37 "2009-12-04T18:41:43Z")
I’ve always hoped someone would write a clever story about the Wally “incident”, from start to finish. Properly told, it would be entertaining to read and fill in the gaps of SDMB’s history. But it seems like management doesn’t like to talk about it. Bygones? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/38 "2009-12-04T18:56:36Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > The code for which was :happyyid::eek: I believe it was :j or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/39 "2009-12-04T19:01:45Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I’ve always hoped someone would write a clever story about the Wally “incident”, from start to finish. Properly told, it would be entertaining to read and fill in the gaps of SDMB’s history. But it seems like management doesn’t like to talk about it. Bygones? I’m not seeing anyone coming in here and trying to stop this discussion, are you? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812/40 "2009-12-04T20:00:59Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I believe it was :j or something like that. Yeah. That’s right. The file name was happyyid.gif. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-wally/519812.md?page=3)