>>>Ok I have re-read this thread...
>>>
>>>This MUST be a joke.. So Len.. I'm English and I still didn't get the fact that it was a joke.. use at least 1 little emoticon please?
>>
>>Spoils the fun - if you were sitting in front of me, I'd have done the same completely seriously & left it up to you to decide if I was joking or not. Just my sense of humour.
>
>Good thing I watch lots of Britcoms.

That's a good analogy, either you get the joke or you don't. The emoticons are often the equivalent of canned laughter for 'humourous' e-mails (& I hate canned laughter).