To think MN would be better off without that stupid quirked eyebrow face

[Sandsnake]

For want of a better title and semi 'lighthearted' (boak). AIBU to be totally at ? It's just so bloody snarky seeming. I see it all the time on threads where posters can't be bothered to actually articulate their problem with the poster / thread so just leave that passive aggressive instead. I'm sure it does have its place but it just seems so over-used at the moment and seems to add a confrontational edge to threads where that's just not needed.

That's it really! Fully expecting all the inevitable faces in reply...

Really, sarcasm?

Shit.

I wouldn't talk about the same things with my boss and my friends ... but my style wouldn't be all that different.

I would be really quite uncomfortable if a friend sent me an email with a load of faces in; I wouldn't know how to respond to it. When I'm on MN, I don't respond to the faces, only the text.

Having said that, if someone stood in front of me making "faces" to respond to what I'd said, I wouldn't respond.

But surely everyone uses facial expressions as well as words, to respond when you are talking to them, CruCru?

I think the smileys help us to interpret the dry word on the screen.

I love the face but agree it's annoying when somebody posts only the face.

I will reply properly later but am out with my husband etc tonight so need to come out of this thread for a couple of hours or so.

You mean you are going out to have an actual life, instead of talking to me, CruCru? How hurtful.

Have a good evening!

Yes Lweji sarcasm. I was most When queried was advised as it had no face to go with the comment it had to go.

Okay, I'm back. I meant to respond when we got back but we'd had quite a bit to drink so I just went to bed.

People will have nuanced expressions while making conversation. What I was referring to are people (for example clients while you are doing a presentation) who sit there with their arms crossed and the "hmm" face on. They are doing it to derail the speaker. Similarly, bitchy girls at school who would stand there and do the "shock" face in response to something really benign.

In those cases, it isn't possible to respond to the expression without seeming either defensive or aggressive (for example "What's the matter now?!?!").

If some posters respond to something I've said with a load of "confused" / "hmm" faces then I won't reply to them. They haven't actually written anything.

I don't use the faces - I hope that what I write can be understood and that others will judge what I say or write kindly.

Aw, I love the stupid quirked eyebrow face!
Although my personal favourite is
I feel myself wishing to contort my facial features into that in RL when having to deal with/speak to muppets.

I don't use the faces - I hope that what I write can be understood and that others will judge what I say or write kindly.

The RL context you describe is totally different to the context on screen though. In RL, yes, bitchy and uncalled for.
On screen though and dealing with the written word, emoticons are needed in order to convey tone.
Far too easy to misinterpret something without them, as sarcasm and wit never translates well without the use of them and can and has definitely caused conflict before!

I think there would be conflict on MN, regardless of the faces.

I find using the "confused" / "hmm" faces on here quite rude, although perhaps not quite as rude as in real life.