Emotional Icons

Emoticons



:)



It has been a long while since I have passed a day without using an emoticon in a text message. I don't know if you realize this, but the majority of issues, gossip, fights, drug-selling, etc., among teenagers today is done via SMS (Short meesage service or "texting"). In fact, as I'm sure you have noticed, the means of communication these days, while becoming increasingly more global is also becoming increasingly more impersonal. More and more I hear of a boy or girl who was dumped by their significant other by an "I think we're over" text. No kidding :0



My conclusion is that this leads to people knowing much more (global communication) about how many terrible things are happening. :'(



The answer to our problems is not to burn cell phones. Farhenheit 452? Anyone? :P Rather, the answer is in teaching people, of any age, how to text properly. Which brings me back to my word of the day. Emoticons. These are absolutely essential in texting for a plethora of reasons. Only a few of which shall I cover here.



1. They are fun. Ok, so not much of an argument.



2. Unlike a novel, a text must convey much in few short words. Consider the difference:
Wanna go for coffee
OR
Wanna go for coffee :)

The emoticon in example #2 adds a definite emphasis to the brief sms that example #1 fails to convey. Here is the difference in novel form.

Disgruntled and tired, Joe arrives at his home, eager for some rest. He opens up his door, only to find his wife wearing clothes that suggest she does not feel like staying in. He knows that her favourite coffee shop is just down the road and that this is her coffee day, only, today, he does not want to accompany her. However, obligingly he asks, "Wanna go for coffee?"
Or
Joe has just had the best day of his life! He got off work early because everything seemed to fall in place. As he approaches his driveway he is thinking, a coffee with the most lovely lady in my life would be well deserved right now! As he opens the door he greets his wife, stunning as always, but more so today as she appears ready to leave her place of work where she works tirelessly to care for their children. "Wanna go for coffee?" Joe asks as he looks eagerly into his best friends eyes.

Trust me, a simple :) is the difference between these two scenarios!

Texting without emoticons can destroy lives!

People will forget what you say, people will forget what you do, but people will never forget the way you make them feel.