Can we have a [star] emoticon, pretty please?

That's what I think Sandalwood

in fact...have a and a and a too.

Oh you know what MN's like. It'll be used with sarcasm on a boasting threads by the end of the first day 'Here have a gold '. maybe followed up with a hmm.

So in essence it's kind of like daffodils for dementia or poppy's for veterans?

I am pro-star.

That is all.

Oh, and the thought of wanting to get involved is enough for me to give you a

MRD, i think the hope is that the meaning will spread across to other people who are also doing lovely things for their internet friends.

I have seen the blankets used as an example of the brilliant things about mn on several other threads in various parts of the forum and by people who i would have otherwise had no idea knew about them. Posters who lurked but didn't post on blanket-specific threads.

From where I'm standing, it looks about the same. I wasn't involved in the Pombear thread yet know what a bear emoticon "means". Another person may not have been involved in making a blanket - which has had many threads including Part II's - but would (hopefully) appreciate a emoticon and the intention behind it...

I should add that I am not in any way saying that the lovely crafts you all made are not special or mean nothing to others...they do....I would have loved to take part but I can't knit and have arthritic wrists anyway!

meaningless not meaningles

I suppose the thing is that the bear came from a well known and funny thread....this star has come from a specific group of Mnrs who chose to take part in a lovely project...it's not relevant or special to anyone else...and so becoms meaningles to all but the blankety ones.

I'm sorry - but I'm with the 'No' group on this one. They will end up being overused and MN will start to look like netmums.

IF there was a way to keep it for very occasional use then I'd be fine with it, but there isn't (without it being devisive).

All of the people knitting squares and donating wool and especially those who are co-ordinating it & sewing them up deserve A Very Big Thank You and I'd love to give them all a star - but without adding it to the list of emoticons.

Sorry Knotty :(

It really comes down to how much Mners can be trusted. And I'm quite proud to be part of a community that can be trusted to act as adults nearly all the time - we don't need to be moderated for swearing because we use it in the appropriate context, for example.

I do see that, purplep- but what's tricky is that it won't stay special if it is democratised as a general smiley, and it will smack of weird elitism if it isn't. So it's a toughie.

But I do understand the sentiment.

It does, LeBJOF - the star seems to be evolving to denote an extra special thank you iyswim?

Oh, and it is evolving (if that's the term to use) rather than just one or two Mner's deciding there should be one - there are many folk (yes, pretty much all on blanket threads atm) using to thank people.

Kind of like a bunch of flowers for the music teacher at the end of term concert??

I take your point, but a simple typed thank you surely accomplishes the same thing?

The idea of having a emoticon is a pictorial thank you to anyone who has done something nice for another person.

Having a next to someone's name because of an arbitrary contribution to a blanket is elitest and unnecessary, imo. We don't want to set some posters above others simply because they have the time/funds to do something. I will freely admit that my level of involvement in the blankets has been because of the amount of "down time" awful phrase but can't think of a better one i get in my job. If I had children or a different job, I wouldn't have been able to put as much time in.

The has originated on the blanket threads, but posters in other areas deserve thanks just as much - there are people on employment, bereavement, mental health, SN conception etc providing empathy and support on a daily basis for no reward - they deserve recognition. And I know on SN there have been people leave because they simply can't face churning out the same advice time after time...

Anyone remember the thread where to OP discovered the boyfriend cheating and had the locks changed? She deserved a

Not everyone wants recognition for their efforts. I don't - but I damn well appreciate it when I get it!

yes please for a star!!

What?! You want to get rid of me .... GryllsBra?!

Another vote for a from me, I think it's lovely. But then I'm a bit sparkly and glittery and an old hippy anyway.

yes, please a star, one way or another!

TBH, I"m not that fussed about having a star emoticon. It's just a picture - words have far more meaning.

we can forgo the in exchange for the

Maybe if we amassed a star each day we could have a on a Friday then, Lemon?

Yes, I appreciate the impetus behind all this, but on balance, I think I prefer MN as a low-emoticon site. I think the bear, wine and cups of tea were all mistakes.

C'mon, and are what I have with my friends. A MN no-brainer IMO. A gold star is what I give my son when he flushes the loo.

D'you really need a star to thank people? Or feel appreciated? Aren't we bigger than that?

And the is cool in it's own self-referencing ironic way - i.e we're not infantalising ourselves here.

Thinking about it we could get rid of the .
Nickle

Tssh trust you to prove me wrong nickel and point out my poor poor lack of pun skills at the same time