Excessive Emoticon Usage

Discussion in 'Managing Your Online Community' started by Chris, Jun 18, 2009.

  1. Chris

    Chris Regular Member

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    Here's an example of what I'd refer to as "excessive use of emoticons":

    Personally, I cannot stand this. It's one thing to use large quantities of smiley faces and expressive emoticons in each individual post, but it's an entirely different thing to use them in a wild and un-organized fashion - or in other words, using them in a way that relays a sense of immaturity.

    Your thoughts?
     
  2. 50calray

    50calray Grand Master

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    Now unless I'm just screwing around with someone, I try to keep my emoticons down to about 1-2 per post. It just seems like any more than that screws up the post in my opinion.
     
  3. Wayne Luke

    Wayne Luke Regular Member

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    :) I don't :) think :) it is :) really :) a :) problem :) on most :) sites.

    Can be tough if a person does it consistently. I guess the best course of action is to encourage moderation in all things good, including smilies.
     
  4. Soliloquy

    Soliloquy Regular Member

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    I've tried limiting smileys/images per post to four, but that gets used up too quickly if a user wants to post a few photos.
     
  5. Chris

    Chris Regular Member

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    It's something that I see the majority of younger members doing - rather than phrasing their excitement or enthusiasm in a text-based manner, they use an inordinate amount of emoticons. Let's say that a member can't come up with a way of writing what (or how) they're feeling. Rather than making an attempt to do so, they'll use smiley faces instead.

    Example:

    Bob wants to tell the community that he's excited about an upcoming movie. Rather than saying something along the lines of, "I'm ecstatic. I cannot wait to see this movie!", he decides to phrase the message in the following format:

    It's odd, yes, but I've seen it done.
     
  6. Peggy

    Peggy Regular Member

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    Naw. As much as I love my smilies, and y'all know I do, I try not to overdo it
    I use them to express my mood, or emotion, or what I'm thinking at the time.
     
  7. Tyler

    Tyler The Badministrator

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    C:)hri:mad:s, I :rolleyes:rea:rolleyes:lly do:cool:n':pt se;)e:D th:oe problem.:):(:confused::eek::mad::p

    For srs, I don't like excessive use of emoticons but I don't usually run into any problems with this occurring, to my surprise.
     
  8. Nick

    Nick Regular Member

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    I just use them as the emotion is evoked, so it's not a problem for me to make myself limit the usage. Although, I do love using smileys. :cool:

    I've never seen this to be a problem though. And, if done right, it isn't bad. In fact, it's entertaining. For example:
     
  9. Wayne Luke

    Wayne Luke Regular Member

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    Blame Texting. Phones are notoriously hard to type on and many people take that to every thing instead of using real language.
     
  10. Abomination

    Abomination Zealot

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    Too many smilies don't bother me as much as other things.

    The admins of a site decide what smilies to use (unless external links are used) so you have some control.
     
  11. FullMetalBabe

    FullMetalBabe Zealot

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    Psh my post on the new smileys was to show how awesometastic I thought they were. If it's something like what I did when AA got new smileys, I don't mind.
     
  12. Chris

    Chris Regular Member

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    Yes, that was perfectly fine (and creative as hell). :)
     
  13. FullMetalBabe

    FullMetalBabe Zealot

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    I'm cool like dat :monkey:<--- I still say that's you, Chris.
     

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