>>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

The use of emoticons don't bother me as much as contrived or pompous writing styles.