Date:  Fri, 14 Nov 1997 09:23:41 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <199711141423.JAA28699@locke.ccil.org>
Reply-To: And Rosta <a.rosta@UCLAN.AC.UK>
Sender: Lojban list <LOJBAN@CUVMB.BITNET>
From: And Rosta <a.rosta@UCLAN.AC.UK>
Organization: University of Central Lancashire
Subject:      Re: Ironic Use of Attitudinals
X-To:         LOJBAN@cuvmb.cc.columbia.edu
To: John Cowan <cowan@LOCKE.CCIL.ORG>
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X-From-Space-Date: Fri Nov 14 09:24:13 1997
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Lojbab to Ashley (whose assertions I mostly agree with, btw):
> Using an attitudinal ironically is thus very much like using a smiley in
> Internet communication when youy intend to be serious.  It is almost certainly
> guanranteed to be misunderstood.

It is quite normal to see people use a :-( smiley jokingly; a
written analogue of doing an exaggerated moue but with smiling
eyes. Same goes for written expressions like $@!%*! and
AAAAAAAARRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!! - these can also be used jocularly;
indeed unless one is talking to an intimate, I think they are
*more* likely than not to be used jocularly.

--And