Humans Developed Words to Replace Drawings. So What Happened?
You will often see a typed comment that includes one or more emoticons. For those unfamiliar with the term, emoticon is the popular abbreviated form of the word emotional icon. Emoticons are those cute little drawings of a perfectly round face with either an upturned mouth to express happiness or agreement, a downturned mouth to express unhappiness or disagreement, a tear to express sadness, or a wink to express humor or sarcasm.
An experienced writer should have no trouble at all expressing their feelings, emotions, and ideas on paper with words alone. So what logical reason could there possibly be for resurrecting the utilization of symbols and pictures?
I have been told that it is a generational thing, but I don't buy it. Too many of my baby boomer generation have become habitual emoticon users. I have also been told that the practice is well-suited to text messaging on a smart phone. I will not argue with that logic.
Everywhere I go, I see people either texting or viewing something on their smart phone. They seem incapable of spending much time doing anything, including walking or driving a car, before giving in to an urge to check their phone for messages, respond to a text, or view a video of a cat playing the piano or a teenager crashing into a wall while skateboarding. I am convinced that the nefarious plan of those who made the phone smart was to make people dumb.
If some people choose to use icons instead of words to express their feelings, emotions, and reactions, so be it. Their Neanderthal ancestors would be so proud of them. I will continue to expand my vocabulary, improve my technical writing skills, and, as my first-grade teacher Miss McCormack taught me long ago, use my words.
In closing, I wish to also briefly share my opinion regarding the use of acronyms. Some may LOL, ROFL, have a BFF, and verify their belief in a deity with the letters OMG, if they so choose. I personally choose to laugh out loud, roll on the floor laughing, occasionally think of my best friend forever, and use the phrase "Oh my God!" every so often just to annoy my religious acquaintances by taking the name of their Lord in vain, just as I always have.
An experienced writer should have no trouble at all expressing their feelings, emotions, and ideas on paper with words alone. So what logical reason could there possibly be for resurrecting the utilization of symbols and pictures?
I have been told that it is a generational thing, but I don't buy it. Too many of my baby boomer generation have become habitual emoticon users. I have also been told that the practice is well-suited to text messaging on a smart phone. I will not argue with that logic.
Everywhere I go, I see people either texting or viewing something on their smart phone. They seem incapable of spending much time doing anything, including walking or driving a car, before giving in to an urge to check their phone for messages, respond to a text, or view a video of a cat playing the piano or a teenager crashing into a wall while skateboarding. I am convinced that the nefarious plan of those who made the phone smart was to make people dumb.
If some people choose to use icons instead of words to express their feelings, emotions, and reactions, so be it. Their Neanderthal ancestors would be so proud of them. I will continue to expand my vocabulary, improve my technical writing skills, and, as my first-grade teacher Miss McCormack taught me long ago, use my words.
In closing, I wish to also briefly share my opinion regarding the use of acronyms. Some may LOL, ROFL, have a BFF, and verify their belief in a deity with the letters OMG, if they so choose. I personally choose to laugh out loud, roll on the floor laughing, occasionally think of my best friend forever, and use the phrase "Oh my God!" every so often just to annoy my religious acquaintances by taking the name of their Lord in vain, just as I always have.
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Alicia wrote: "I find comments with real words get a lot of Like! and LOL and etc. responses.You can't win, but you can try.
I'm proud of you for being a purist. I'm like Ivory Soap, 99 and 44/100 pure.
Mostl..."
Alicia,
I haven't heard that Ivory soap slogan for years. I remember my delight as a child upon discovering that Ivory soap floated in water.
Thank your for viewing the blog post and taking the time to comment.
Jim Vuksic
You can't win, but you can try.
I'm proud of you for being a purist. I'm like Ivory Soap, 99 and 44/100 pure.
Mostly because in large groups, it is impossible to write words for everyone all the time - and my support group people need to know at least someone is listening.