# We need to lose the "rolls eyes" emoticon.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [May 31, 2012, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602 "2012-05-31T01:33:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/101 "2012-06-02T02:32:42Z")

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> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> Sneaky.  
> :dubious:

Made you look!

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**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/102 "2012-06-02T14:21:58Z")

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> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> What does it mean, “Snookums”?

Inside joke. URT knows.

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**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:** [June 2, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/103 "2012-06-02T15:05:05Z")

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> [@Cheshire\_Human](#):
>
> Inside joke. URT knows.

:dubious:

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/104 "2012-06-02T16:34:48Z")

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> [@Cheshire\_Human](#):
>
> Inside joke. URT knows.

:rolleyes:

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**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/105 "2012-06-02T16:43:16Z")

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> [@Cheshire\_Human](#):
>
> Inside joke. URT knows.

☹

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**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/106 "2012-06-02T17:07:51Z")

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> [@Cheshire\_Human](#):
>
> Inside joke. URT knows.

😕

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**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/107 "2012-06-02T17:24:35Z")

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> [@Cheshire\_Human](#):
>
> Inside joke. URT knows.

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:  
:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:  
:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:  
:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:  
:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:  
:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:  
:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

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**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/108 "2012-06-02T18:22:08Z")

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Alright, now I wanna see “Pukey”. I miss Pukey the most.

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**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/109 "2012-06-02T19:31:34Z")

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> [@lemur866](#):
>
> alright, now i wanna see “pukey”. I miss pukey the most.

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**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:** [June 2, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/110 "2012-06-02T20:15:42Z")

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This thread should be stickied.

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**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/111 "2012-06-02T20:21:48Z")

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> [@Tangent](#):
>
> This thread should be stickied.

After the last one, it’s certainly become sticky.

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**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/112 "2012-06-02T21:03:25Z")

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How does **elmwood** keep making those???

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**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:** [June 2, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/113 "2012-06-02T22:27:38Z")

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> [@boomerwang](#):
>
> How does **elmwood** keep making those???

It is apparently a Black Art. :eek:

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**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:** [June 2, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/114 "2012-06-02T23:04:51Z")

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> [@Irishman](#):
>
> That’s because we can’t tell what the hell that expression is supposed to be. He’s got one big googly eye, one small screwy eye, and a quirk to his mouth. That means 😕

Heh. Tell me about it. Ironically, I based the design on my misunderstanding of the English word, [bemused](http://www.elearnenglishlanguage.com/difficulties/amusedbemused.html), which I _thought_ (for many years) meant “Pensive amusement”, but which actually means, “bewildered or confused”. Yes, I was bemused about the word bemused. I still think a variant of winky or big grin might be somewhat useful, though I should probably give whatever-the-heck-I-made a decent burial.

> [@](#):
>
> You’ve said this before, but I still don’t get it.

But on the topic of emoticons-as-softeners, I’m sticking to my guns. [Here’s a citation](http://the99percent.com/tips/6991/Email-Etiquette-II-Why-Emoticons-%28And-Emotional-Cues%29-Work), though really, this idea was almost conventional wisdom at least in the early days of www/email. Emphasis in original: According to Goleman, there’s a negativity bias to email –\* at the neural level\*. In other words, if an email’s content is neutral, we assume the tone is negative. In face-to-face conversation, the subject matter and its emotional content is enhanced by tone of voice, facial expressions, and nonverbal cues. Not so with digital communication.  
…\*\*

1. Heed the negativity bias.\*\* …

**3. Consider emoticons.** Until keyboards can actually perceive the emotional content of our digital messages (not so far off!), emoticons may be the simplest method of clarifying tone. I’ve had to let go of my own perception that emoticons are silly. They may currently be our best tool for elevating the emotional clarity of digital messages. Another cite: [http://www.businessemailetiquette.com/293/emoticons-in-business-e-mail](http://www.businessemailetiquette.com/293/emoticons-in-business-e-mail)

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**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/115 "2012-06-03T13:55:27Z")

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> [@Cheshire\_Human](#):
>
> And still maintain plausible deniability. That was _other_ kids…

There’s nothing plausible about you, smoochypuffs 😛

(aaaaand I predict the next post will be carnivorousplant asking, “what does it mean, smoochypuffs”?)

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**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/116 "2012-06-03T13:56:25Z")

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> [@boomerwang](#):
>
> How does **elmwood** keep making those???

Just push the “quote” button, you’ll see how he does it. It basically comes down to " too much time on his hands". Or "“all day to kill, and not much to do to kill it”. It’s easy to do, but incredibly time consuming.

And to all you people who replied to this:

> [@Cheshire\_Human](#):
>
> Inside joke. URT knows.

You people, you know who you are, but just in case, here’s a list:

> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> :dubious:

> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> :rolleyes:

> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#):
>
> ☹

> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#):
>
> 😕

> [@MOIDALIZE](#):
>
> :eek::eek::eek:[snipped for brevity’s sake]

Here’s my reply:

:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p My snookums knows who I’m talking to, and unfortunately, now the rest of you do, too. I hate you all. I’m permapissed!

BTW, OMG, That other thread, I should have bolded **URT** ’s name. Now I’m forever a perma-asshole. I’m going to hide in my closet.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/117 "2012-06-03T14:20:22Z")

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> [@Cheshire\_Human](#):
>
> :p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p My snookums knows who I’m talking to, and unfortunately, now the rest of you do, too. I hate you all. I’m permapissed!
> 
> BTW, OMG, That other thread, I should have bolded **URT** ’s name. Now I’m forever a perma-asshole. I’m going to hide in my closet.

Now, now, muffincakes, remember what happened the last time you hid in the closet. The talking lions and all…?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [June 3, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/118 "2012-06-03T16:33:11Z")

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Lord, spare me.

🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/119 "2012-06-03T17:59:11Z")

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Too much _clap clap_ time on my hands

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-lose-the-rolls-eyes-emoticon/623602/120 "2012-06-03T18:10:18Z")

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> [@ugly ripe tomato](#):
>
> Now, now, muffincakes, remember what happened the last time you hid in the closet. The talking lions and all…?

SHIT! You just had to remind me, didn’t you. Just for that you’ll have to wait til tomorrow for me to call you “my lovely cupcake”. I’m punishing you like my cat does me. Laughably.

😛

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