# The proper use of the "putz" smilie

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-proper-use-of-the-putz-smilie/89772>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [October 26, 2001, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-proper-use-of-the-putz-smilie/89772 "2001-10-26T14:03:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-proper-use-of-the-putz-smilie/89772/1 "2001-10-26T14:03:58Z")

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I have a question about the “putz” smilie. You know,

:wally

Maybe I am the only one who has noticed this, but I get a mixed message from that smilie. One one hand, it is grinning and winking, but OTOH, it is directing an insult at the intended recipient.

What is the intended use for this smilie? Should I use it when I want to be insulting? Is there some double meaning I am not getting here?

Also, what is the story behind it? I get from the coding required to produce it that it must be related to **WallyM7** (who I sadly never met, as I joined the SDMB shortly after his death).

Can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks!

Bob

aka MH

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**Author:** ![Izzardesque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a9adbd/32.png) [@Izzardesque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Izzardesque)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-proper-use-of-the-putz-smilie/89772/2 "2001-10-26T16:00:50Z")

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I’m only guessing but I think its supposed to be a tongue in cheek kinda thing. You are calling the guy/gal a Putz but you don’t necessarily mean it nastily hence the smile. The same way you might call a friend an idiot if they say/do something stupid but you aren’t really trying to upset them or anythnig

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**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-proper-use-of-the-putz-smilie/89772/3 "2001-10-26T16:32:22Z")

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Were I the recipient of a :wally, I would definitely look to the context of the message to see what it meant.

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**Author:** ![ultress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7c8e57/32.png) [@ultress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultress)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-proper-use-of-the-putz-smilie/89772/4 "2001-10-26T16:57:47Z")

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The smilie was created in memory of Walley. He was a classic. He would call someone out for something they had said and then call them a putz for not acting in the manner they should for the board. It is a tongue in cheek kind of thing, not to be overused and only in certain situations.

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**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-proper-use-of-the-putz-smilie/89772/5 "2001-10-26T17:45:37Z")

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Thanks all.

It’s clearer now 🙂

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**Author:** ![RevisionistHistoryChannel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/848f3c/32.png) [@RevisionistHistoryChannel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RevisionistHistoryChannel)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-proper-use-of-the-putz-smilie/89772/6 "2001-10-28T15:41:38Z")

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Just as IRL, I’m pretty sure nobody wants to be called that, even in fun and with a wink, so you should probably only use it for people you don’t care if you offend.