Likely Emoticon Meanings and Usages

[Virgil Showlion]

By request:

Emoticon	Likely Meanings
	1. I am happy. 2. I am happy for you. 3. I agree with you. -or- I support you. 4. I want to set a positive tone. 5. I'm humoring you. (if presented following a sarcastic sentence) [GEL]
	1. I'm just kidding. 2. I'm being sarcastic. 3. I'm being patronizing. (if presented in a hostile context)
	1. I'm excited. 2. I'm filled with childlike delight.
	1. I'm gloating. 2. I'm proud of myself. 3. I'm immune to criticism regarding this issue. 4. I'm grinning like a fool but not exactly laughing. [POM]
	1. I find this unfortunate. -or- I find this frustrating. -or- I find this tiresome. 2. I find this ridiculous. 3. Don't take this too seriously. 4. I find this confusing. 5. I've given up caring about this. 6. I'm partly teasing, but not entirely. [POM]
	1. I find that silly. -or- I can't take that seriously. 2. I'm being silly. 3. I'm being sarcastic, but in a lighthearted way.
	1. I'm cool with that. 2. I'm cool. 3. That sounds cool. -or- You're cool. 4. I'm relaxed. 5. Things are looking good.
	1. I'm celebrating. 2. Let's celebrate.
	1. Yowza! 2. That's extremely attractive. -or- You're extremely attractive. -or- He/she is extremely attractive. 3. I urgently want that.
	1. I'm being patronizing. 2. I'm proud of myself. 3. I'm immune to criticism regarding this issue. 4. I'm attracted to you. (if presented after the statement "How YOU doin'?", or in a flirtatious context) [Beer]
	1. I am taking (or I plan to take) pleasure in doing something I shouldn't. 2. I am taking (or I plan to take) pleasure in tormenting someone. 3. You can't stop me.
	1. This makes me angry. -or- You make me angry. 2. I am offended. (if presented by itself) 3. I am pretending to be angry or offended. (if presented multiple times in a chain) Note that in various contexts, these smileys may be sarcastic.
	1. I mean business. 2. Don't test me. 3. I am frustrated.
	1. So there. 2. Neener neener. 3. Bite me.
	1. I'm sad. -or- I'm depressed. 2. I find that upsetting or distressing. 3. I sympathize with you.
	1. I'm sad. 2. I find that upsetting or distressing. Note that this smiley may be sarcastic, while virtually never is.
	1. I'm sad. -or- I'm depressed. 2. I'm feeling hurt. 3. I'm feeling dejected. 4. I'm feeling melancholy. 5. Bummer! [POM]
	1. I'm shocked. -or- I find that shocking. 2. I'm agog. 3. Holy crap! [POM] Note that the latter smiley is slightly more "joking" than the former. Also note that either can be sarcastic in rare instances.
	1. That makes me sick. -or- That's disgusting.
	1. Ouch. 2. I've been victimized. -or- You've been victimized. 3. That's gross! [POM]
	1. I'm not pleased. 2. I'm grumpy. 3. I resent your comment. 4. I'm bored. [POM]
	1. Just sayin'... 2. My statement implies something negative about you. -or- My statement implies something you won't like. 3. I'm feigning composure/disinterest/equanimity. (when pertaining to a statement made to a third party) 4. I'm pretending I didn't just say that. [POM]
	1. This bores me. -or- This is obvious. 2. Nobody cares. 3. I am sleepy. -or- I am going to bed.
	1. I don't know. 2. I'm confused. 3. WTE!? [POM]
	1. I don't know why exactly. 2. I find this dismaying. 3. I find this questionable. 4. I make this statement uncertainly. (when following a statement) 5. I'm skeptical.
	1. Yeah right. 2. Whatever. 3. I don't believe you. -or- I don't believe this.
	1. Give me a break. 2. I find your comment ridiculous. -or- I find your comment banal. 3. Whatever. Note that this smiley is more hostile than . Although both smileys imply incredulity, generally implies good-natured incredularity, while implies disapproval and sometimes even resentment.
	1. I'm annoyed. 2. I find that offensive. -or- I don't approve of that. 3. I seriously doubt that.
	1. I'm praying. -or- I'm praying for you. 2. I'm hoping for you. (for the non-religious) [POM]
	1. I'm keeping my mouth shut for diplomacy's sake. 2. My lips are sealed.
	1. I'm being sarcastic. 2. I'm being cynical. 3. I'm being rhetorical. (if presented after a question)
	1. I'm alarmed. -or- I find that alarming. 2. I'm shocked, and not in a positive way. 3. WTE!? [POM]
	1. I'm confused. -or- That's confusing.
	1. That's crazy. -or- You're crazy. -or- He/she is crazy. 2. You're mentally unbalanced. -or- He/she is mentally unbalanced.
	1. I'm embarrassed. -or- I'm being bashful. 2. I'm at fault. 3. I apologize.
	1. You're kissing someone's butt. 2. Kiss my butt. 3. I'm teasing you. -or- I'm being condescending to you. -or- I'm trying to provoke you. 4. I detect romance. (rarely, if presented in a discussion on romance, relationships, or sex) 5. Kisses for you. (rarely, if presented in a consolatory context)
	1. I'm feigning innocence. -or- I'm feigning goodness.
	1. I'm pointing out the obvious. 2. I'm pointing out something embarrassing. -or- I'm pointing out something you'd prefer I not point out. 3. I'm feigning secrecy. 4. That's scandalous. -or- That's titillating. 5. Psst. Just so you know... [POM]
	1. You're nerdy. -or- I'm nerdy. -or- That's nerdy. 2. This is a benefit to your intellect. 3. This is something of academic interest. 4. I'm proud of my intellect! [POM]
	1. I'm extremely critical of that. -or- I'm extremely critical of you. 2. Say what now? [POM]
	No consistent meaning. Can literally be interpreted as "smurf", referring to the small blue creatures in Peyo's Belgian comic series "The Smurfs".
	1. I approve. -or- I agree. 2. Good for you.
	1. I disapprove. -or- I disagree.
	These emoticons are nearly always intended in the literal sense, representing respectively: "present", "celebration" ("special occasion", "birthday party", "festivities", etc.), "music", "vacation" (or "beach", or "tropics"), "bright idea", "car", and "flower". The music note is often used to delimit song lyrics and musical verses, or to otherwise indicate that written content is being sung rather than spoken. The present is often used in the sense of "I'm giving you a present (in spirit)." The flower is often used in the sense of "I'm giving you a flower (in spirit)." The light bulb is also more generally used to represent "light" and "brightness".
	1. I love that. -or- I'm extremely fond of that. 2. X loves Y (if presented between two nouns, X and Y) 3. This statement pertains to romance, love, or intimacy. (if presented in a discussion on romance, relationships, or sex)
	1. That deserves an award. -or- You deserve an award. 2. I'm calling attention to this. Note that like most of the object emoticons, the star emoticon can be treated literally, in which case it represents the word "star".
	1. The preceding pertains to "doom n' gloom". 2. The preceding pertains to calamity or dark omens. 3. Bwahahaha! [POM] Note that the bat is also sometimes used to denote vampires, horror, and Halloween. It can also be used to represent a literal bat (for example, in the expression "bat poo crazy".)
	1. This pertains to drinking/alcohol. 2. I'm drinking. -or- I'm looking forward to drinking. -or- I enjoy drinking. 3. I'm offering you a (virtual) drink. 4. Cheers. Note that like most of the object emoticons, the booze emoticons can be treated literally, in which case they represent the words "beer", "martini", "bender", "wine", and "liquor" respectively.
	1. My condolences for your loss. -or- My condolences to those suffering. 2. I'm expressing my sympathies. 3. I'm grieved. -or- I'm mourning. Note that unlike the , and smileys, is never sarcastic.
	1. This pertains to dogs. -or- This pertains to pets. -or- This pertains to animals. 2. He's a dog. -or- She's a dog. (if presented in the description of an individual) 3. Woof. Note that like most of the object emoticons, the dog emoticon can be treated literally, in which case it represents the word "dog".

That's the first three rows. I'll add the rest over the coming days.

ETA: That covers all of the small smileys and a few of the medium ones. That's enough for today.

[whoisjohngalt]

Did someone really didn't understand this and needed explanation?

[Lizard King]

Not only that, but at some point an argument is going to develop over Virgil's arbitrary and restrictive definitions.

 <--- neither gloating, nor proud, nor immune to criticism

[Deleted]

1. I'm being patronizing.
2. I'm proud of myself.
3. I'm immune to criticism regarding this issue.

WRONG! It stands for "How YOU doin'? 

[Lizard King]

I did think "at some point" might be more than sixty seconds in the future...

[whoisjohngalt]

Apr 2, 2014 7:19:20 GMT -5 Lizard King said:

I did think "at some point" might be more than sixty seconds in the future...

[NoNamePerson]

Apr 2, 2014 7:18:42 GMT -5 @beerwench said:

1. I'm being patronizing.
2. I'm proud of myself.
3. I'm immune to criticism regarding this issue.

WRONG! It stands for "How YOU doin'? 

I always thought that one meant "BITE ME"

[Lizard King]

And it's on!

Ladies, the ring is this way.

Who brought jelly?

[Lizard King]

Apr 2, 2014 7:18:42 GMT -5 @beerwench said:

1. I'm being patronizing.
2. I'm proud of myself.
3. I'm immune to criticism regarding this issue.

WRONG! It stands for "How YOU doin'? 

I may have to re-evaluate my relationship with billisonboard...

[billisonboard]

Apr 2, 2014 7:31:06 GMT -5 Lizard King said:

Apr 2, 2014 7:18:42 GMT -5 @beerwench said:

WRONG! It stands for "How YOU doin'? 

I may have to re-evaluate my relationship with billisonboard...

We need to include a clause in the CoC that prohibits Sir Virgil from creating ex post facto definitions of emoticons.

[Deleted]

Or we can just keep ignoring him... 

[Lizard King]

Apr 2, 2014 8:09:58 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Apr 2, 2014 7:31:06 GMT -5 Lizard King said:

I may have to re-evaluate my relationship with billisonboard...

We need to include a clause in the CoC that prohibits Sir Virgil from creating ex post facto definitions of emoticons.

You know as well as I do that Virgil will be able to find three (3 (iii)) examples of each emoticon being used in each of the ways defined, culled from across the boards over a substantial period of time, and offer these as evidence of the veracity of his determinations. And then somebody is going to have to scour the boards, and/or create new posts - although this latter tactic will deservedly arouse suspicions of expediency - to validate additional definitions, and eventually the list of meanings will be sufficiently broad for each one that we can confidently assert that  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  for at least some conceivable circumstance.

Is that really a road we want to go down?

[Green Eyed Lady]

Or we could wait till he's finished, cross out his definitions and make our own.  For example:

Emoticon
 

Possible Meanings

1. I am happy.
2. I am happy for you.
3. I agree with you. -or- I support you.
4. I want to set a positive tone.


1.  I'm humoring you because I really think you are an idiot.
2.  I'm joking - really - I'm not serious, but some people don't get it so I have to post that emoticon.
3.  You just made me lol.


Stuff like that....

[Lizard King]

Or, we could all abandon these fly-by-night emoticons and go to the definitive internet source:

www.emotioneric.com/

For example, "Sarcastic respect for authority figures:"

[Deleted]

I think we should let him finish his list! If anything we can use it to decipher his future posts. 

[Lizard King]

Apr 2, 2014 8:21:50 GMT -5 @beerwench said:

You take that back right now. I didn't come here to be insulted.

[Deleted]

But insulting you is my "thing". 

[Lizard King]

I feel one of the exact same ways this smiley might come to represent.

[Deleted]

Checking your junk to make sure it's still attached?? 

[Lizard King]

Apr 2, 2014 8:57:21 GMT -5 @beerwench said:

Checking your junk to make sure it's still attached?? 

I know it's still attached at this end...

Could also be this - "staring at your hands the way people do in movies when they've just killed their first person:"

[Virgil Showlion]

This is precisely why we need standardized emoticon definitions.

As Jim says, if meant "How YOU doin'?", then billis would have inadvertently come on to pretty much all of P&M.

Or if means "I'm humouring you." or "You just made me lol." as GEL suggests, then how will people differentiate between these meanings and the four in the OP? The two groups of meanings are incompatible. Plus, "You just made me lol."

One of the things you'll notice is that the definitions for each smiley given in the OP are all highly compatible. Jim's hypothetical situation of = = = ... is precisely what I'm trying to avoid. Each smiley needs to have a reasonably confined, similar set of definitions.

That said, I'm not averse to adding new entries to the list. For example, I have seen used to mean "I'm attracted to you." (specifically, when placed after "How YOU doin'?" or in a flirtatious context), and so I've added that definition to the list, crediting Beer with the alternative definition.

I've also seen mean "I'm humouring you" when it follows a bitingly sarcastic sentence, hence I've also added that definition for GEL.

[NancysSummerSip]

Apr 2, 2014 7:23:59 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Apr 2, 2014 7:18:42 GMT -5 @beerwench said:

WRONG! It stands for "How YOU doin'? 

I always thought that one meant "BITE ME"

And how you DOIN'?

[Virgil Showlion]

"Bite me" is reasonably close in meaning to the current definitions. The only difference is that actually saying "Bite me." would be far more hostile. The smiley is far more patronizing than hostile.

[Lizard King]

I detect a problem.

For simplicity's sake, I'm going to refer to the listed emoticons in the order presented, assigning to each the appropriate letter from the Hebrew alphabet.

So for definition aleph-5, for example, Virgil has accepted GEL's argument - purely on its face, although with reference to claimed prior personal experience, a somewhat worrying verecundiam if you ask me, but nobody is doing - that  can mean "I'm humoring you" in a sarcastic context, although in non-sarcastic contexts it does not.

But the purpose of emoticons is to contextualize the content of the post -  itself lends context, the interpretation of which properly should not be subject to further contextualization. Beth-2, for example, would appropriately modify aleph-5, but then aleph-5 itself does not mean what Virgil's supposedly definitive listing would have it mean: the combination of beth-2 and aleph-5 has that meaning - and chet-1, whose stated interpretation is "I'm being patronizing," is arguably synonymous with the beth-2/aleph-5 hybrid. In the interests of efficiency, surely our definitive smiley list shouldn't have so much overlap?

Moreover, if we are to allow for multiple smileys - and I don't see how we can avoid doing so - then even greater difficulties arise. Consider, for example, the very reasonable pairing Gimel/Chet, which we could equally view as Gimel-1/Chet-4 or Gimel-2/Chet-2. The former case borders on sexual harassment while the latter might merely betoken the accomplishment of some difficult task (indeed, it's possible to imagine an individual for whom the achievement of excitement in a Gimel-1/Chet-4 context amounts to an accomplishment in a Gimel-2/Chet-2 context). But how are we to tell?

[billisonboard]

Apr 2, 2014 9:30:19 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

... inadvertently ...

Maybe, and maybe not. You can't be sure, can you?

[Green Eyed Lady]

...Virgil has accepted GEL's argument - purely on its face, although with reference to claimed prior personal experience,...

What can I say?  I'm persuasive. 

[Lizard King]

Apr 2, 2014 10:02:31 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

What can I say?  I'm persuasive. 

ETA: I mean by that neither daleth-1 nor daleth-2 nor daleth-3; my meaning is, and I've been pretty consistent about this historically, rather closer to Aleph-3/Gimel-1/Vav-1.

It's extraordinary, given that irl a smile and its associated mannerisms are most commonly elicited as a response to humor, that nowhere in this allegedly exhaustive list do I see one betokening amusement.

[Green Eyed Lady]

I'm just glad you didn't use .

[Lizard King]

Apr 2, 2014 10:05:21 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

I'm just glad you didn't use .

Never on a Wednesday, except during October.

Sometimes I'd use , or even , but of course those have very different meanings as the table in the OP makes clear.

[wyouser]

Hey, remember you are dealing with a left handed male here.......I don't multitask......you must draw me a picture.  And now you tell me these little round pictures have multiple meanings? (and folks wonder why we get paranoid as we age...geeeeeeeze!!)