[UA] Re: Emoticons

[Patrick None]

> >
> > The problem is, it seems kinda counterproductive to
> > POINT OUT that you're being dry, sarcastic or witty
> > with an emoticon.  It's makes the author seem
> > completely the opposite of dry, sarcastic and witty.
>
> Exactly.

 Except that, within the context of email - or IM - a lot of writing styles
are nothing like their standard written forms. (noting this is just based on
observation; I haven't gotten the theory coherent enough to start any
research). In email, you have things like the above two clipped sections,
followed by my response, possibly followed by another. It creates a style
that isn't like letters going back and forth quickly but spoken word going
back and forth very slowly.
 Emoticons don't, typically, replace good, clever, and clear writing, but
rather a smile or a pat on the shoulder.
 Anyways, that's my theory.

> Emoticons aren't really appropriate for business communications,
> at least not in my end of the world (both day-job and the
> various managerial communications course I've taken). They're
> seen as unprofessional.

 Since I haven't spent much time exchanging buisness emails, how do you
think emoticons unprofessionalness in buisness email relates to my theory
(above), if at all?

> =====
> Chad Underkoffler [chadu at yahoo.com]
> http://www.geocities.com/chadu/index.html
> "Now that is the kind of puddin' that only two-hundred forty dollars can
buy."
>   -- Barry, $240 Worth of Pudding, THE STATE
>

Patrick

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