to think [grin] is often abused on MN

[Lydiaatthebarre]

Just following on from a post I made the thread about OPs being afraid of upsetting regulars - but AIBU to think the emoticon is becoming used, by some posters, to excuse rude, ignorant and abusive posts eg

"You are a self absorbed moron OP with a very boring life. HTH "

It's as if they thing that putting at the end of a string of abuse makes their post witty and entertaining when, to me, it actually makes it look even worse. Like someone kicking someone with a huge smile on their face.

You spend a lot of time thinking about mn

Time to go for a walk, read a book...?

Oh don't worry araiwa. I have plenty to do. But I also like posting on MN.

Eh... it’s an emoticon on a website nothing to get your knickers in a twist over. Badly want to put a grin but have a

Christ, above is a perfect example why I don’t tend to start a thread on MN very often! What a pointless post araiwa , why bother at all? The OP asked a question about a specific opinion, not about suggestions as to what to do in her spare time!
I agree OP, MN has become quite nasty and sarky on a lot of the boards and the is just one example of the passive aggressive attitude of many posters.

Or a ?

I wouldn't get too upset about it tbh, but then again I don't recall having seen it. I do think we need a crying with laughter emoji though.

Seriously, is no one allowed post about anything innocuous on MN anymore without being told to get a life, or posters assuming they're getting het up over it?

I'm happy for posters to say IABU re my specific AIBU. But why the need to make rude comments about my post?

I haven’t noticed that to be honest, maybe I’m on the wrong threads.

I use the emoji for when a isn’t enough. Or when something is particularly funny.

I prefer tbh and try and get it in whenever possible

I use it that way too Yetalkshitehen, but some posters seem to use it as a triumphant sneer, after making a spiteful comment.

I also use for that extra little laugh, but maybe things have changed.

I read on here a while ago that if someone used it meant they were being nasty and passive aggressive so stopped using that. Is going the same way?

You're probably right, OP. But the nastiness is part of what attracts me to AIBU. So people being ruder than they would otherwise because they think the emoticon makes it better is all right with me. The "HTH" seems much nastier because it's gone from a passive aggressive statement to being exclusively used to show spite.

Like someone kicking someone with a huge smile on their face.

I think that’s exactly the purpose of it. I don’t think they want to make things better at all - they want to stick the boot in.

For example:

What a pointless post araiwa , why bother at all?

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a post from araiwa that wasn’t utterly pointless.

I use a lot because there isn't an in site lol 😂 type icon. I'm more self depricating and a tad irreverant rather than intending to be passive aggressive.

"The "HTH" seems much nastier because it's gone from a passive aggressive statement to being exclusively used to show spite."

Yes, the HTH is often tacked on to emphasise a dismissive attitude to the OP.

Naw, not half as much as have been abused recently.

There's been absolute run on every variation of 💐🌹🌷🥀🌺🌸🌼🌻 in the past few days.

I have to say I've never seen the flower emoticon used in a PA way, only when someone's been a bit touched by a poster's plight.

I have to say I've never seen the flower emoticon used in a PA way, only when someone's been a bit touched by a poster's plight.

You just haven't been hanging round the right threads. 💐

🎶 Where have all the flowers gone? 🎶

Sometimes people use it in a passive aggressive way. They pretend they are not seething! I can always tell. 🙃

I think it’s a shame that is becoming misused. When used genuinely it’s really lovely.

I would never use it in a dismissive way in RL Zzzz.

It's something that I've seen people put on the end of an email if they're sending you on some information you asked for, or something like that. It's only on MN that I've seen it used in a sarky, narky way.

I think it’s a shame that flowers is becoming misused. When used genuinely it’s really lovely

In this particular context, I think it worked rather well. 😇

Ooh what was the context Butchy? I’m curious now!