# Why I don't like the putz smiley
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [February 1, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048 "2003-02-01T04:47:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048/1 "2003-02-01T04:47:47Z")
I don’t like it. I don’t use it. Why? Because its meaning is unclear. It’s saying “Putz” which is an insult, yet it’s winking, which seems to mean that the person is just making a good-natured gibe. A lot of times I see it used when I think the person means it as an insult, yet it makes it seem like they don’t mean it.
I know it’s sort of a tribute to Wally, but I still don’t like it. I’d like it better if it was like… the rolleyes smiley with the “putz” balloon.
I also don’t like that the bubble shape is separate from the little part sticking out below. The black line between them should be removed so that it’s one shap. So there.
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### Author:  [@Pucky\_Schumer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucky_Schumer)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2003, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048/2 "2003-02-01T04:51:38Z")
OpalCat, I’m posting just so someone can’t be the first to reply with the putz smiley.
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### Author:  [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048/3 "2003-02-01T04:52:36Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by OpalCat \*
> \*\*
>
> I also don’t like that the bubble shape is separate from the little part sticking out below. The black line between them should be removed so that it’s one shap. So there. \*\*
I agree with you as far as the balloon. That little line kinda bugs me.
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### Author:  [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048/4 "2003-02-01T04:55:44Z")
IMHO the putz smiley makes a statement in a non-confrontational way, suggesting that you check your baggage.
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### Author:  [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048/5 "2003-02-01T06:12:52Z")
I don’t like the putz smilie because he is a simlie.
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### Author:  [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048/6 "2003-02-01T06:25:01Z")
I always took the wink to be a way of saying, “This one’s for you, Wally.”
But I agree, the way it’s used most, it contradicts itself. It also screws up the line spacing way more than the other smilies.
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### Author:  [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048/7 "2003-02-01T21:25:44Z")
That’s pretty much why I don’t like smilies at all. Many people use them exactly the way that the putz smilie indicates - they want to insult someone, but at the same time they want to be able to pretend they’re not insulting them. If you’re calling someone a putz, call them a putz. Don’t backpeddle, don’t pretend it’s all tongue-in-cheek. I can’t tell you how many times, on usenet and message boards, I’ve seen someone flat-out insult someone else and then stick a smilie behind it as though that makes it all better.
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048/8 "2003-02-01T22:21:38Z")
Seems to me it can only be used as a personal insult. A bad idea isn’t a “Putz” idea. Since I’m not into insulting others, I only use it in reference to myself, as in, “Sorry, I was a real Putz there.”
I find it quite useful for that. I’ve noticed that a lot of Members never acknowledge being wrong or making a mistake, so I can’t say I’m in favor of the ways which it is otherwise used.
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### Author:  [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048/9 "2003-02-01T22:29:06Z")
**Biggirl** , this simile is like a poem.
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### Author:  [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048/10 "2003-02-01T23:49:09Z")
I don’t like ANY smilies. Odious, they are, and a way to avoid learning how to use words and sentences to convey ideas… just use a picture. Bah.
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### Author:  [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048/11 "2003-02-01T23:54:04Z")
**C K** , I’ve just read your post and wanted to say this: :dubious:
Hope this makes my position clear on the subject.
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### Author:  [@NothingMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NothingMan)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048/12 "2003-02-02T16:16:38Z")
This thread makes me miss Wally.
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048/13 "2003-02-02T16:19:19Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by C K Dexter Haven \*
> \*\*I don’t like ANY smilies. Odious, they are, and a way to avoid learning how to use words and sentences to convey ideas… just use a picture. Bah. \*\*
:rolleyes:
😉
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### Author:  [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048/14 "2003-02-02T16:58:49Z")
I find the jewish(?) smiley a little… odd. Perhaps it has some relevance in American culture that I’m not aware of. But when I see it, it makes me feel awkward, like I have to be extra careful posting about Middle Eastern issues in case I offend a Jewish person.
All in all, I find it inappropriate, because it’s a racial or religious marker, so I don’t like it (not because it’s jewish, I would feel just as uncomfortable with christian sign, or with a chinese person sign, or something). I realise it’s mainly used in a humourous context, but still, I find it uncomfortable.
And I agree with the OP - I too dislike the “putz” smiley. The only time I nearly used it by accident was when I acutally needed to type [colon] [P] in some post, and it showed up in preview. I used [hypen] [P] instead I think.
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### Author:  [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048/15 "2003-02-02T18:46:55Z")
Wow. I thought I was the only one who was bugged by the juxtaposition between the wink and the “putz.” I agree with ya, Opal.
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### Author:  [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-the-putz-smiley/152048/16 "2003-02-02T18:52:38Z")
I don’t like it. We’re adults, and as such know how to use words. I wouldn’t dream of calling someone an asshole, for instance, while winking.