We need smileys about as much as we need cancer. Most everyone is pissy after they've lost. Seriously. The next time you win a game, say the nicest thing you can think of to them. I guarantee s/he will take offense to it.
Do we need emoticons in chat?
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Aug 11, 2010
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#3
i don't think we NEED emoticons anywhere. but if but people like them i suppose. they're popular with the teens.
What I find interesting is the use of emoticons. Say something harsh followed by 
..what is that? Maybe the emoticon applied helps to 'tone down' the insult? I've come across that a couple of times now - like someone smiling while verbally sticking the knife in. Maybe I'm just too easy to read.. an insult followed by a frown or a look of contempt
- that makes more sense to me. And real.
The reason I ask this is because it is easy to take offence from a written word without any connotation of the maening behind it.
In a recent game I made a bad mistake early on, but persevered and finally managed a mate. In the ensuing chat I responded to a comment from my opponent by describing the startegy I applied when I was behind. The response I received was to call me an arrogant C. And to describe what I should do with myself.
No offence was intended, but it was obviously taken. Would emoticons help here? Or are some people just predisposed to take the wrong meaning?