>>>I wouldn't get that frustrated - your postings haven't been all that >>>interesting lately, so you're not missing much. For instance, this >>one >>>was just about how you're not getting your postings...very dull >>and >>>uninteresting.
>>Er, shouldn't that have a smiley stuck on the end of it? >Well, it was certainly meant as a joke. I just leave it up to the reader to >figure that out - I thought it was obvious even without a "smiley face". >How did we understand things (such as in satirical letters, or humorous >letters-to-the-editor) before the internet smiley face? And how did we so >suddenly lose this ability? > >On this list I once wrote that Canon users were scum and people thought I >was serious because there was no smiley face! > >Not that he needs my endorsement but, in general, Albano Garcia's postings >are some of the best reading on this list. Thanks for pointing that out Rob. I personally agree with you in that sarcasm and dry wit has taken an unexpected turn on the internet. It seems that the risk of upsetting people, especially people whose first language is not the one being used by the [example above], is much greater. I have come across situations myself where something I have written has been misconstrued, much to my surprise. Then, of course, there are the sillybillies who actually mean what they write! It's difficult to sometimes judge intimation without seeing a face, hence the smileys etc. Over time, I have come to realise that some PDML posters don't need smileys. When Bill Rob posts in the name of Wheatfield Willie, for instance, I open the laughter sluices and let rip. I wish *I* could do that! >How did we understand things (such as in satirical letters, or humorous >letters-to-the-editor) before the internet smiley face? And how did we so >suddenly lose this ability? I think those are two of the best questions I've ever seen regarding modern computer communications. I won't try and answer it in full, except to say that because of this method of communication, the demands are greater on peoples' ability to string a few words together. Not everyone can do this, much less to good and understandable effect. We are the lucky ones - there will be folk reading this who are thinking 'gosh, I would love to contribute to this - but I just don't feel confident with the written word'. Next to a university professor, my spelling's atrocious, grammar non-existent, and composition worse than a Nikon-user. But the inference is spot-on. With the growth in email communication, there is also the growth in mis-communication. Especially on an international list like this where English is the language of choice. Subtlety in humour can be caught, lost, misunderstood - a reinforcement for those less-well gifted in English by the use of the smiley (etc) can sometimes mean the difference between heartache and laughter. FWIW, Best, Cotty. PS :-) ____________________________________ Cor, swipe me. He paints with light! http://www.macads.co.uk/snaps/ ____________________________________ Free UK Macintosh classified ads at http://www.macads.co.uk/ ____________________________________
