[Mark M] #> My friends and comrades, this is why emoticons are used. In cyberspace, #> no one can hear your tone of voice or read your facial expression or #> body language, whether you're saying something or reacting (with a wince #> or a grin) to something someone else has said. May I ask all present to #> return their weapons to their sheaths and join me in a glass of Piarran #> Mist? [Philip Hart] #A participant in the above exchange, I don't think there was any weaponry #involved To be sure; I was speaking metaphorically and in a style inspired by Paarfi's. # - the first response seemed a bit rude, but in a later reply #(which you've excised) the writer explained why he chose that manner. I eventually did see that, and I'm glad. I just don't like flamewars, and I have seen some (too many) discussions devolve into them. I am glad to see yet again how civil and decent the group on this list generally is. #I think emoticons are evil and encourage bad writing. Any device can be misused. -- Mark A. Mandel http://world.std.com/~mam/Cracks-and-Shards/ a Steven Brust Dragaera fan website "Gods don't kill people. People with gods kill people."