I've used a happy face to say

Really, I'm just joking

or

This is just sardonic humor

or

I'm not really pi--ed o-- as I may appear.

or

Let's lighten it up a little bit.

or

I'm grinning as I'm saying this.

etc.

To see a comment nowadays and NOT see it - then is time to worry, because it means I'm probably not smiling and I smile 99% of the time I'm on these boards. That's when barbs and quips may be found with a slightly harsher, perhaps even with a more hurtful edge.

I didn't know it was such a divisive issue though. It's not wallpaper as Mary Anne suggests it is definite form of communication regarding things as diverse as the tongue-in-cheek nature of a post or that I am having a good time as I discuss something.

We clearly need an emoticon reading class made available. Emoticon help avoid miscommunication when we can't see each other and communicate on a forum wherein words and letters often fail to communicate the tone of a post.

We all know many here who are way too uptight.

See? Without an emoticon - that sentence might be missed for a joke as it was intended.

Let's try it again with the winkey-smiley:

We all know many here who are way too uptight. ;-)

Ah, much better and no one prepares the meat cleaver response post.

I am not about to give it up. I make far too many jokes and posts here that need the assistance of emoticon deciphering.

SDAI-Tech1