- From: Charles F. Munat <coder@acnet.net>
- Date: Fri, 15 Jan 1999 12:23:46 -0600
- To: "Kynn Bartlett" <kynn-hwg@idyllmtn.com>, "Robert C. Neff" <rcn@fenix2.dol-esa.gov>
- Cc: <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
Kynn wrote: "ASCII art is inaccessible. I propose AIR HUG and GREAT BIG AIR HUG." I second the motion. But I suggest "A hug from me." Or "Hugs." First, why do we need to standardize an expression of emotion? If it is real, express it in your own words. Perhaps this is why I'm so appalled by emoticons and consider them so fake. They are akin to McDonald's hamburgers or Hallmark cards. Convenient, but of little real value. Second, I think the whole emoticon issue brings up questions about communication in the wired age. We become more an more isolated in our own feelings, less and less connected to others on an emotional level. In a way, the emoticon is the "smiley face" on the flip side of the email rage coin. In the same manner that we often feel freer to trash others by email, the emoticon acts as a sort of intimacy cop-out, in which a symbol is used to distance us from any real intimacy, from saying what we feel in an honest and open manner with respect for others. Personally, I think that those who find emoticons inaccessible have been spared rather than robbed. I'll take a real, well thought out dialogue over attempts at pithiness and emoticons any day. And people can now stop sending me junk mail full of sappy sayings, "touching" stories, lewd jokes, and all that other crap I have no time and no use for. Why do so many people feel the need to pass that stuff on? I suspect that it comes from a feeling of disconnectedness which is exacerbated by the superficial nature of what's being sent. So it becomes a vicious circle, with more an more crap being exchanged and less and less real communication. Ugh. Finally, I lump animated greeting cards in with emoticons and all that other junk. If you can't spare the time to write three lines telling me what you really feel, why bother? Most of the time I discard animated greeting cards without even bothering to view them. (How accessible are animated greeting cards? But then I guess you wouldn't send one to someone who couldn't see it. Should we demand accessible alternatives for people who want to send on-line greeting cards but can't use the currently available ones?) Charles Munat Puerto Vallarta
Received on Friday, 15 January 1999 13:33:44 UTC