Holly,
Though I much prefer emoticon-free verse, I think it is here to stay for a number of reasons.
First, in this age of political correctness, people walk on egg shells in order not to offend. One way to reduce risk of offense is to add helpers, such as emoticons and grins <g> to make the intent of your words abundantly clear.
Second, posted messages today, unlike letters past, have many readers beyond the intended. This raises the risk of misunderstanding and quick, angry response ('getting flamed'). Again, emoticons and grins help lower this risk.
Third, since email is generally short and to the point, ideas and opinions are expressed in terse prose, leaving little room for nuanced language and supporting argument. It's similar to reacting to a newspaper headline without reading the story.
In a separate thought, why do so few online writers use paragraphs anymore? Proper spacing is so much easier on the eye. I also think it helps structure and strengthen the thought process.
Regards,
Mazman |
