This week I learned that the Emoticon is turning 25 this year:
Web Smiley article
I think it's kind of cool, since I use emoticons all the time. (In fact, a number of years ago, Diane Chapman wrote a rather popular
Computor Companion article about the tremendous variations in emoticons...people can be rather creative with their punctuation marks.)
This week I also saw a lot of the less fun side of email. Apparently, many people who are way, way too enamored of their CapsLock key came out of hiding. I think you know what I mean. I'm talking about the people who send emails like:
I CAN'T GET WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER TO WORK. EXPLAIN IT TO ME!!!!!
(Replace any software product/computer problem/life situation/whatever of your choosing for Media Player and you get the idea.)
Even though
all our contact forms say we don't answer questions via email, that doesn't seem to deter people.
Plus, unfortunately, I've been online long enough for all caps emails to set off an immediate anger response. My finger quivers over the Delete key and I yearn to pound it with great force.
However, normally, I don't hit the Delete key because after I get over my irrational ire, I realize that these people probably just don't know the finer points of email etiquette (aka netiquette), which states that all caps is the virtual equivalent of shouting. So I forward them an article I wrote ages ago:
Understanding Netiquette
Generally, I don't hear back from these people, but at least maybe I've prevented them from annoying someone else. After all, you're a lot less likely to get help with your computer problems if you shout at people ;-)
posted @ Friday, March 16, 2007 9:41 AM