SOTM#170 - Rayman Legends

[Bradandez]

I'm feeling agitated by that

[Shrooblord]

emotionless smile

[Jewish Candy]

Unfortunately, I must disagree with Shroob. In speech and in person, we use intonation and body language extensively, and as the language moves further into the written sphere new methods to express pragmatic information are necessary. Smileys are one of those methods. Interpreting said information from plain text is a useful one indeed, but the colloquial is not dry and I see no reason why we should insist on reducing the potential for pragmatic expression.

I like this discussion on smileys.

[Shrooblord]

Yes but doesn't it get sad when you need smileys to interpret someone's post, or when you start seeing smileys that DO represent something as some contrived way of performing some sort of personal attack? Seriously, how can two characters conveying a smiling man indicate a passive-aggressive blow? The hell, man!

[Master]

Hmm, while I try to limit my emoticon usage, I do use them now and then, usually defensively if I say something that can be easily taken negatively.

[Imco]

Yeah, I for one seem to find plain text incapable of carrying emotions properly. I don't know, for example, whenever I see a "no." I always think of it as extremely rude. Just like "congratulations.", which for some reason I always interpret as a cynical statement.
Now, if those had been no , no , no , no , and congratulations , congratulations , congratulations it'd have been easier to understand, although I must say these might not be the best examples.

[Shrooblord]

So when I make a typo or my phone doesn't auto-capitalise one time I'm being an aggressive cunt?
ok

[Imco]

So when I make a typo or my phone doesn't auto-capitalise one time I'm being an aggressive cunt?
ok

In my book you are XD, although I'm also perfectly capable of telling my mind this is all bullshit. Which I do, way too often.
(ughh, I hate my brain sometimes)
I think this also has to do with the argument I had with BadGuy lately, about me not being able to correctly interpret his ironic remarks.

[Master]

Meh, I wouldn't really read much into such simple statements like that, if they're vague and ambiguous then they're vague and ambiguous, it's not very healthy to take things negatively all the time.

[Shrooblord]

Amen to that. Why not accept things at face values? If they later turn out to be negatives, so be it, sucks man. But if they never were yet you worried about them, you've gone and ruined your day worrying about nothing.

[Imco]

Amen to that. Why not accept things at face values? If they later turn out to be negatives, so be it, sucks man. But if they never were yet you worried about them, you've gone and ruined your day worrying about nothing.

Like I said, tell that to my brain. I know perfectly well what you mean, but my first interpretation, which most of the time isn't a final interpretation, seems to be negative way too often.

[Jewish Candy]

It can be hard if you're wired that way, so it's all about training your brain to identify where and why it reacts like it does. Anxiety, eh, it's a total butt.

@Shroob, think about it this way; we can interpret most utterances from context, but sometimes we need a little extra information. Sometimes, yes, we need to roll our eyes or speak in a flat tone so that people understand we're being sarcastic etc. Smileys, things like /sarcasm, all ways of giving that information in text form. And, of course, some people need that extra info more than others.

[Shrooblord]

Sure. Since I've started this conversation, I've come to realise I was overreacting a bit. It was just that I'm seeing less and less people being able to not use smileys in their sentences and it bugs me. I don't know why. Maybe I'm just antsy for no reason.

[Master]

Funnily enough, I remember another member getting a little irked over smiley usage. I ought to search about and see what I can find.

[Imco]

I just hope Serza won't forget to review my submission, lost somewhere in this conversation XD

[MrBadGuy]

the argument I had with BadGuy lately

All I know is, I haven't had an argument with anyone on this forum in recent memory, maybe pre-2011, but I honestly can't remember that far back

[Bradandez]

Oops, forgot to say thanks for the nice comments about my signature entry. Thanks y'all!

[Shrooblord]

Absolutely - it looks gorgeous. I wonder what the spikes are near the Elemesque character's chin are though. They look beard.

[Jewish Candy]

That's his hair, Shrup. XD
Or perhaps a beak with a tongue sticking out. Can't unsee it

Did I comment on Imco's entry yet? It's a very nice one

[Shrooblord]

Oh of course, the back of his hair! I'm a dolt.