Emoticons

 Frownies

:-(

versus Smileys

:-)

Con

Lamar Graham, Associate Professor of Journalism and Director of Digital Journalism at New York University:

"I won't claim that I've never used one, because I probably have. A couple of years ago they were more flagrant than they are now, but I seldom if ever use them, I see fewer people using them, and in general I do sort of feel strongly that they're stupid.

"I know that the idea is that people use them to convey emotion that they couldn't otherwise convey -- that's just means to me they're poor writers. As a professional writer I look at emoticons as a crutch. But as a civilian, I still think they're a crutch.

"People need to be cognizant that what they write can be taken in different ways, and therefore they need to be precise. I mean, a lot of times you'll see somebody make a really harsh or smart-assed or cutting comment, and then attach a little smiley face at the end, as if that somehow indemnifies or absolves, and I think that's unacceptable - say what you mean, and mean what you say.

"I try to write pretty precisely, and I hope that people who write to me will do the same -- or else, call me."

Pro

Aleta, Web diarist (http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Square/1413/) and undergraduate at the University of Toronto:

"I understand the anti-emoticon feeling, I just don't agree with it. They are very annoying when they're used excessively by people who can't effectively use language.

"It can be really hard to express yourself through written words alone, and I would take issue with language purists. Since computers and e-mail are used for such informal purposes, I don't think it's necessary to get all tight-assed about the way text is used.

"As far as using them to absolve yourself, well, I think this taps into a lot of the ideas about the way women communicate -- there's a sort of percieved duplicity about it, and for some reason emoticons tap into male fears that women aren't playing straight with the world. That's kind of funny.

"You can use them as good idiot detectors as well. If you're communicating with someone you don't know very well, and you say something like, 'Yeah, I think you're a real bitch when you do that'

:-)

," and then he asks, 'Are you serious?' -- well, then you sort of think, 'hmm, maybe they're an idiot.'