Do you think use of smileys lessens the gravity of stimulating dicussions?

i have just gotten back to mylot having stopped for more than a year and i have noticed in most discussion where mylotters use smileys and i like it. it helps in expressing more of how we feel. well i don't know about others who use them just for presentation purposes i guess. but i like them and i would want to know where you get them so i could start using them. could anyone teach me please?

No, you are not being too critical about it Mimpi. The way i look at it is that the purpose of the smiley's is to convey and add a little bit of informality and fun in discussions which are humorous, light hearted, and of general nature. Discussions which are serious and of grave nature should always be adressed with right kind of response and seriousness they deserve. Adding smiley's to them takes away the seriousness and tends to make the response look casual, posted with the intention of doing it for the sake of adding to the number next to the star. Further, if we want to say something,why not express it with words ? Words convey much more and the right message.

Whenever we feel strong about something and try to express it,and whenever we are in doubt whether the people concerned are mature enough to take it in the right spirit these lol smileys and their stupid ones come in handy like waving a white flag. I know they look stupid and awkward among the serious discussion. We cannot help it Mimpi.The world is full of people who like to devour the cakes and and have them too.Does this smiley suit my response dear?

ahhh Mou what can i say about that and u must have noticed that i use smilies are well in my discussions and specially while respondiong to friends. well i use them because i believe that some times action speaks louder than words Hmmmmmm Sorry if u feel irritated So no simley in this KHUSH

I really don't like the smiley's because I see a lot of people using 5-10 in a post and that's a little too much,don't your think? Now if they just used them in an appropriate place and not too many places,that wouldn't be so bad

Hi! Well, I guess it just depends on the type of discussion. I mean when the discussion is light, emoticons bring humor and character to the discussion but for those serious issues they should be kept at a minimum to none at all. Unless the poster is trying to lighten things up a bit with a joke or just by putting in the emoticons. Sometimes the emotes are peoples way of trying to cope or to understand and give out their opinions. But then again, thats just me. I think its just a matter of choice. And no, you're not being too critical.

I do think that there is a time and a place for them. I am more inclined to use them in the not so serious discussions and you will rarely see me adding one to a serious topic. They ARE gimmicky and we all enjoy using them but I do have to agree with you that sometimes they are used just for the sake of using them and can be totally misplaced.

I think the same tune. smileys are ok still its casula or funny discussions. in sad things they look weird. once i heard here that people think its helpful to use them for earning!. i do not know but may be they use them without thinking about the gravity.

What I gather from your post is that unnecessary use of smileys can down play the seriousness of any discussion. Some of the dear members use smileys where it is not required to be used, they use 'wrong' smileys for the reasons best known to them. I feel use of wrong smiley can rob the seriousness of a discussion. If someone is not interested in replying to a discussion through writing a few lines, he/she should better skip the discussion.

Hi mimpi1911! I do use smileys every now and then especially when I wanted to convey at least my facial expression. It can lessen the gravity or seriousness of my response so as not to make the discussion in a more friendly level. Smileys or the emoticons really affect the discussions or the responses. And I do love using them one way or the other. Take care always..God Bless!

no mimpi I dont think that smileys lessen the gravity of some discussions as usually people put in appropriate smileys and they are not all gay and happy ones either. there are some for anger and sadness and I think it gives a visual cue to an audience of mylotters who like the visual.

I do tend to use smileys in my discussion when it's appropriate, i use them when we're talking about something lighthearted and funny but if the subject is quite serious or something somebody might be upset or sensitive about i don't use them as i don't want to trivialise or make people think i am taking the mickey!! xxx

Hi! I believe using smileys affect discussions by somehow lessening its gravity. Since we can't see each others' facial expressions, we try to compensate what we feel by using smileys. Facial expressions give non-verbal cues to the listener of how the speaker feels. Without seeing the speaker, the way we use words in our discussions might sometimes appeal insincere, rude, judgmental, or insensitive in the eyes of some readers. I think smileys is the way to express it...virtually

Hi mimpi! I think it depends on the discussion! I add smiley when the discussion its fun and not too serious. But if the discussion is serious or sad and the discussion need some advice, no I wouldn't put smiley. And I wouldn't add smilies here, lol. Have a nice day.

I agree. Smileys go best in more everyday chatting than in a serious debate or discussion. A forum I belong to has rules about it. Feel free to use them on the personal pages, but you should limit them on pages with more serious topics.

Sure thing it does! Smileys are used for precisely that effect. Like you said, they make the discussion somewhat less serious. It is actually a plus point as sometimes, we might offend someone with our words and not know it. Smileys show that we don't really mean it in a harsh light. But of course, if someone does not "understand" the meaning of those smileys, then they are as good as useless. If you feel it is something really serious and you don't want to joke about it, then leave out all smileys. Cheers!

I love you mimpi, but here I would disagree. They might seem like fly specks on the window glass to some, but for others they lighten the mood. I don't think that takes away the gravity of the situation. But I will take great care not to put any in this response. How about that?

I put in a smile very often when there is nothing else to be said. when I just cannot think of any words to acknowedlge the response or would just like to say thanks. Sometimes when I do not want to continue the discussion also.

Hi Mimipi, I myself use smileys in certain situations, obviously on really serious discussion topics I may use a sad face one or a shocked face one, I think sometimes they are used to help lighten a situation not to trivialise it really. Everyone has there own style and for some smileys are a must for others they are childish and sill but each to their own but do hear what you are saying. Huggles. Ellie :D

I do not really like discussions with smileys, they are just annoying. I gave up using them when I was about 11, I am now 17 and many people here are about 50, so really should have given up on them a long time ago. I think that people just use them as there is a rumour going round that you get more cents for using smileys.