>Hi Len,
>
>Don't you know that the smiley icon and the JOKE postscript are the on-line equivalent of the Laugh Track - the yanks would feel lost without them :)
>

Actually, I view the "< g >" as the on-line equivalent of the grin you'd see if we were talking face-to-face or hear if we were on the phone. That's because I see this kind of discussion as the equivalent of a conversation. Viewed that way, it makes sense to use it.

OTOH, I get really annoyed about emoticons in books and magazines. In a publication, if it's not funny enough to stand by itself, take it out.

Tamar