No thanks.
Can you imagine what it would have been like if Mark Twain had had such a powerful literary device as the smiley? His considerable vocabulary would have been completely overshadowed by a few dancing pictures on the screen. The raw emotion that pours through a smiley is remarkable, and leaves little room for an erroneous interpretation by the reader. Paragraphs of wasted narrative could have been replaced, and even the simpletons of the world could have understood the intent of his writings. Alas, poor Mark, your works are a victim of progress.
No thanks.
Without the eye-roll, your statement was almost a polite way of dismissing the invitation to a new frontier. This, however, was not a time to be polite! I agree, more emotion was needed in response! I was most impressed when you edited your post 12 minutes and 12 seconds later to add the eye roll. You added the punch that your original post was missing, and truly let the internet know how you feel.
All from a simple smiley. Mark Twain would have exploited those little bastards to no end. He would have truly grasped their literary importance, and would have tried to use them as efficiently and succinctly as you just have.
I have taken the liberty of adding a few smileys to Twain quotes.
"All right, then, I'll go to hell.
"
Mark Twain
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.
"
Mark Twain
The possibilities are endless.
A powerful literary device indeed, this little smiley. Wield them cautiously, consider their underlying meaning, and let us revel in the glory of your jackassery.
