WTF does this emoji mean from a man?!?!

[NameChangedForThisFeb21]

😊

???

I’m overthinking I know, but it’s driving me insane.

I’ve recently called it a day with a relationship (and I’m fine, no drama, no heartache, wasn’t as serious as what I was looking for) but met this 😊 guy once before lockdown at a get together for some friends. We’ve friends in common but they aren’t super close friends of either of us. He’s an acquaintance but we’ve WhatsApped back and forward in lockdown and spoke once on the phone (I bought something for a shared hobby from him) before mainly moving to WhatApp texts. It was a nice phone call, the conversation was easy, we made each other laugh.

I find him physically attractive, he’s got a brilliant reputation as a decent, good man, and he’s generally a brilliant communicator. I’d be interested in meeting up to see if there is any proper chemistry. We’ve got a lot in common. We are both single, no kids and mid 30s.

I got it into my head a while back that he “just wasn’t that into me” or whatever that silly book was called. He sends long messages but I never got a flirtatious vibe. I’d really put him out of my head and then he sent me a message earlier this week (about a mutual interest), volunteering more info about himself than usual and, like most of his messages, peppered with 😊.
As in “Hey there, Ruth 😊” “please take care of yourself, stay safe 😊”

whenever I’ve messaged him first he always says “it’s really lovely to hear from you 😊”. I’ve had the odd 😉 from him...but usually not in any flirty situation...more like “hope braving the shops was worth it 😉”. Generally our communication is about our mutual interest and mutual friends.

Is the 😊 emoji significant in any way?! Is it some sort of secret “wink wink nudge nudge” code? Does it mean “hello I am unthreatening and like you as a friend please do not try and get in my boxers ”?

By not communicating with emojis at all in response am I fucking anything up?!

Please help a hopeless gal out!

If it wasn’t for this stupid pandemic, we probably would have been at a few events together and I’d be able to tell in person whether there’s anything there or not and I’d have asked him out if there was. But as it is, it’s all a bit awkward.

Based on previous use of this emoji one guy turned into an obsessive sort who was super “into me” which was alarming and the other turned out to be gay and in the closet.

I doubt either is the case with this fella but I guess I’m shit at emoji deciphering .

@stillcrazyafterall

I use that for embarrassment - they are blushing. Shit I hope that's right as I've just sent one to a random stranger wanting to buy something off me! 😳

You used the blushing embarrassment emoji at the end there 😳

OP is talking about 😊 which I think of as the “lovely smile”. They aren’t the same.

Ah no just read your update OP.

Of course now the only emoji for you to use would be 🖕

@CandyLeBonBon

It's an affectionate smile 😊 As opposed to a happy or excited smile 😃

It suggests warmth and friendliness but should not be confused with the hug emoji 🤗

If he was feeling flirty you'd get 😘
And if he was properly loved up, you'd get 🥰 or 😍

If he was embarrassed you'd get 😬 or 😳

But under no circumstances should you respond to 😊 with 🍑 🍆 💦

😂

This cracked me up though 😂

My brother in law spent years using 😬 as a smile.

'Hey Steve will you be joining us at the barbecue this weekend?'

'Yes, can't wait 😬'

@MorrisZapp

My brother in law spent years using 😬 as a smile.

'Hey Steve will you be joining us at the barbecue this weekend?'

'Yes, can't wait 😬'

What does that one mean? Just for complete clarity...

Everyone knows the flirtiest emoji is 🙈

😬 Means yikes, eek, awkward, or sarcasm I'd say.

@MorrisZapp

Everyone knows the flirtiest emoji is 🙈

Everyone but me. I dread to think what signals I've been inadvertently sending out

@MorrisZapp

😬 Means yikes, eek, awkward, or sarcasm I'd say.

Ah, grand.

Oh Jesus Christ ... I've recently been in contact with my dad after decades and we are building a relationship ofer messages and chatting on the phone and are meeting later this month

Errrr I've been sending the occasional 😘 at the end of a message. ARE YOU SAYING THIS IS FLIRTY?!!

It’s a bloody minefield

Just to update...he’s now blocked me on all social media without any further conversation.

From henceforth, I declare that anyone who uses the 😊 smug little rosy cheeked fucker emoji is a confusing, socially inept twat and shall be automatically deleted without a second thought.

I’m so confused. He seemed like one of the good guys! And I didn’t get weird on him. We were communicating in a very equal way. Excuse me for thinking “It’s always so nice to hear from you, Ruth 😊” meant that he enjoyed communicating with me. And I asked again what exactly my friend said to him and it was “hmmm, she’s not said anything specifically about you recently but one of the first times she saw you I remember her asking me who the good looking guy was.” Hardly horrific or worthy of blocking and ghosting.

Obviously I’m not at all interested in him now but there was no reason to block me as we do have friends in common and are likely to see each other in the coming months. Will just give him a wide berth. Or wear a mask with 😊 on it and really freak him out.

@MorrisZapp

My brother in law spent years using 😬 as a smile.

'Hey Steve will you be joining us at the barbecue this weekend?'

'Yes, can't wait 😬'

This cracked me up!

My DM also uses lol instead of lots of love, leading to messages like "oh dear, sorry you're not feeling well lol"

OP he sounds like a bullet dodged tbh. You are also clearly very articulate from your posts - he has to substitute words for emoji - not a good match, he's saved you chucking him back in the sea after a few dates! Onwards and upwards 😊

Crickey. What a tosser. I have a friend who seems to think certain men fancy her or are flirting with her but to me they just sound like they're talking normally.

What a stupid OTT reaction over nothing! Anyway, at least you can't fancy him any more.

I just feel exhausted reading all that OP.
I think you are overthinking it all hugely. Men don't overthink generally.
Forget all of the emojis, if there were no emojis what do you actually think of him from what you've heard and seen?
Base your opinions of him on that.

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

I just feel exhausted reading all that OP. I think you are overthinking it all hugely. Men don't overthink generally. Forget all of the emojis, if there were no emojis what do you actually think of him from what you've heard and seen? Base your opinions of him on that.

Have you read any updates?

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

I just feel exhausted reading all that OP. I think you are overthinking it all hugely. Men don't overthink generally. Forget all of the emojis, if there were no emojis what do you actually think of him from what you've heard and seen? Base your opinions of him on that.

I take it you’ve not read the rest of the thread. To save you getting more exhausted by reading further and having to click on “see all OPs posts”;

Emojis aside, from his very long messages, his repeatedly getting in touch, his disclosures about himself, our mutual interests and similarities, I liked him and was interested in getting to know him better. He gave the impression that he enjoyed communicating. In fact, he told me as such.

He’s now blocked me on every medium for no reason. So now I’m not interested at all.

What a weird over reaction on his part. I would try and make sure that mutual friend filters back to him that you now think he is a right odd bod and that you have had a lucky escape.

@DivorcedAndDelighted

I'd reply with something like 🍆😋😘😊 and see how he responds 😉

That me laugh!

Worrying now as that's the only smile I use in texts 😂😂😂