The problem isn't smilies under or over-use. Or using full-quotes. Or the use of
text formatting. The real point of the discussion should be regarding how effective is our textual communication. In internet discussions you're not only crippled by the well known fact that text doesn't convey emotion (one of the reasons smilies propogate), but it's also because it's one-way communication and you can't get feedback as you express your point. Which leads us to a lesser known problem...
People like to talk... they don't like to write. Most people will talk all day as long as you give them space to express their view. But when typing people want to write as SHORT a post as possible. But brevity sacrifices completeness-of-message.
And
then you have to compound that with the prloblem that if *do* write long posts most people will just skip your message entirely, or only read half of it. So you're damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Since you're screwed anyhow, go ahead and use smilies. At least you'll have pretty pictures to look at.
*shrug*
