# What about some Slug smilies? (or would that be frownies?) **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 14, 2000, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-some-slug-smilies-or-would-that-be-frownies/1365 "2000-04-14T03:57:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tshirts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@tshirts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tshirts)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2000, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-some-slug-smilies-or-would-that-be-frownies/1365/1 "2000-04-14T03:57:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by tshirts: > **What you need are more smilies. > If I took a few of Slug’s faces and made them roll their eyes would you let me link to them? (It’s not a copyright infraction if it’s done as satire, is it? If so, I could just donate them to Slug and he could link to them.) :rolleyes:** [http://www.angelfire.com/on/tshirts/cecil1.gif](http://www.angelfire.com/on/tshirts/cecil1.gif) ---
**Author:** ![tshirts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@tshirts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tshirts)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2000, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-some-slug-smilies-or-would-that-be-frownies/1365/2 "2000-04-14T05:30:00Z")
I also optimized your smilies while I was at it: Now :rolleyes: 1784 bytes optimized [http://www.angelfire.com/on/tshirts/smilierolleyes.gif](http://www.angelfire.com/on/tshirts/smilierolleyes.gif) 310 bytes Now :eek: 1264 bytes optimized [http://www.angelfire.com/on/tshirts/smilieeek.gif](http://www.angelfire.com/on/tshirts/smilieeek.gif) 589 bytes ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2000, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-some-slug-smilies-or-would-that-be-frownies/1365/3 "2000-04-14T16:46:00Z")
Thanks, tshirts. Let me run this stuff by the techs, by Ed, by the Reader. your humble TubaDiva Administrator Just the go-between. ---
**Author:** ![tshirts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@tshirts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tshirts)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2000, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-some-slug-smilies-or-would-that-be-frownies/1365/4 "2000-06-21T23:05:38Z")
It’s been a couple of months, and I see the techs are starting to add smilies again. So, I will renew this suggestion. Current link: **[smokin’ smiley](http://www.angelfire.com/on/tshirts/)** ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2000, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-some-slug-smilies-or-would-that-be-frownies/1365/5 "2000-06-22T00:16:22Z")
And like we told you the first time you tried this, you cannot take someone else’s copyrighted work and riff on it. It’s understood that this is perhaps _hommage_ to someone who is indeed a great artist, but this is not the best way to go about it. I referred your original request to the Reader and they have chosen not to act on it. Or perhaps Slug said no; I don’t know the story. It’s his work, it’s his call. I will try to get some clarification on the issue, but in the meantime let’s not violate any more copyright laws, okay? your humble TubaDiva Administrator ---
**Author:** ![tshirts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@tshirts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tshirts)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2000, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-some-slug-smilies-or-would-that-be-frownies/1365/6 "2000-06-22T06:28:38Z")
I don’t know why you said this: “And like we told you the first time you tried this, you cannot take someone else’s copyrighted work and riff on it.” You never told me that at all before. I have never disregarded your words. What you told me the first time, in its entirety is: “Thanks, tshirts. Let me run this stuff by the techs, by Ed, by the Reader. your humble TubaDiva Administrator Just the go-between.” In fact, it still appears just above. Ed Zotti emailed me on 6/12 about the research position, and in my response I pointed out that I still hadn’t heard about the proposed Smokin’ Smiley, or my offer to “adapt” other images. This is my company’s business, as I told him in previous correspondence, and we normally get paid for such work, so I would hope an offer to provide some free would be appreciated. Just because it’s free doesn’t mean I don’t deserve an answer. I understand the priorities of the last couple of months have been toward bug resolution, but with smilies on the agenda again it just seemed right to bring it up now, and ask for a specific answer. I personally believe it would be in keeping with the personality of the board to have custom smilies that look like Slug’s illustrations. Although larger in size, they are optimized to just 656 bytes, so as to actually be more efficient than your current generic smilies. I have put a “privacy square” over the drawing, for now, but I think you can still see what I’m going for. Thank you for passing this information on. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2000, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-some-slug-smilies-or-would-that-be-frownies/1365/7 "2000-06-22T14:53:19Z")
It’s quite possible that I have conflated two different events here. We’ve had quite a bit going on. And it was not my intention to be ungrateful here, not at all. We appreciate all our Teeming Millions and what they do for and with us. But it IS a copyright issue and one that has repercussions beyond you, me, and this site. I have sent this issue to Ed and the Reader brass; this is not my call to make. your humble TubaDiva Administrator ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2000, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-some-slug-smilies-or-would-that-be-frownies/1365/8 "2000-06-22T19:38:27Z")
(Copied from email.) > [@](#): > > tshirts - I just got off the phone with Slug Signorino. He’s very concerned about possible misappropriation of his images if they appear on the 'net (other than controlled venues such as [straightdope.com](http://straightdope.com)) and consequently is turning down all requests from third parties for any use including smilies, wallpaper, etc. So I have to ask you to remove the Slug smiley from your site . . . [site url removed by TubaDiva] . . . and refrain from any further use or dissemination of Slug’s artwork. Slug wanted me to tell you he’s tickled that you thought his stuff worthy of smileyization but hopes you can understand his position. I appreciate your having asked about this. > > Ed Zotti > Editor > The Straight Dope - [http://www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com) No harm, no foul, Tshirts, we appreciate your efforts on our behalf. Thanks for being one of our more devoted Teeming Millions. your humble TubaDiva Administrator ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2000, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-some-slug-smilies-or-would-that-be-frownies/1365/9 "2000-06-23T19:04:42Z")
OK, so if a person (myself, say) creates an original image specifically for use as a Straight Dope Smiley, so there’s no copywrite issues, what’s the procedure for submitting it for consideration? I’ve got a few ideas, myself. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2000, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-some-slug-smilies-or-would-that-be-frownies/1365/10 "2000-06-24T00:06:54Z")
Send your links to me, we’ll run 'em by the staff, if they pass muster we’ll use em, probably. They need to be original and we need email from you stating that it’s your original work and we have the right to cache and reproduce these images on our site. No compensation to you, sorry to say, but you do get the glow of having done your part to kick Ignorance in the ass. No charge for that either. 🙂 Thanks, we appreciate everything our Teeming Millions do and especially when they’re creative. your humble TubaDiva Administrator ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2000, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-some-slug-smilies-or-would-that-be-frownies/1365/11 "2000-06-24T23:02:42Z")
OK, Tuba, I’ve sent them off-- Look for 'em in your e-mail. I didn’t expect that I would get paid for them, I just like to think that people are enjoying my contributions (as if my ego needs to be any bigger) 🙂