to think that the only reason people use the [hmm] face is to be insulting

[Twiglett]

because that's how 99% of the messages read to me

I thought it was supposed to be a humourous face, it isn't to me

predictable

But I often use it to myself (sort of now why did I do that or that is so silly of me) rather than to anyone else

Sometimes people use it to indicate scepticism (ie, to indicate that they were sceptical in a given situation)

But yes, most of the time it is a graphic substitute for the phrase 'I am passive-aggressive'

ooo get you, policywonk

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dubie-doo down down

I use it for reporting some of DS's more obscure-but-perfectly-logical-to-a-2yo utterances.

I use it to say "hmmm...." i.e. "i wonder".

I'm not being horrible to you! Honest!!

perfectly acceptable when used for comments about self / own children .. just in response to others

I say 'hmm' a lot .. don't use the face though

i use it as 'hmmmmm' or 'but i dont really believe that will happen'

i dont mean it in an agressive way!

I don't really like being ed at
makes me uneasy

but one often says exactly that LL ..

I often use instead of "have you seen those cobwebs up in the corner?"

or "she's tall isn't she?"

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twig, i think you are wrong, i think it is only 80%

I often use it to describe my questionable behaviour

vvvqv - its good to see you have learnt the strike through function

I think it is very clear, to everyone what is being said / meant by the sign..
Surely the person knows, that the poster is basically saying, or actually saying( in Twig's case):
You are talking rubbish / bullshit / bollocks.

Hunker - please sign off after you post woman

I kind of use when I'm poking fun at myself, or being stupid about something, or dubious too. I never use it at anyone though ..

It is possibly the most useful emoticon we have. I use it for all the reasons the other posters have said and when I want to be passivly aggressively insulting