To help telecom-sters clarify just how humorous their postings are intended to be, here is a collection of the many faces of humor, emoticon-style.
emoticon: n. a figure created with the symbols on the keyboard that is read with the head tilted to the left. Used to convery spirit in which a line of text was typed.
:-) Humor :-) (-: Masking theatrical comments :<) For those with hairy lips :<)= For those with beards too :/) Not funny '-) Wink P-) Pirate ;-) Wink II (@ @) You're kidding! :-" Pursing lips :-v Just another face (speaking) profiled from the side :-V Shouting :-w Speak with forked tongue :-W Shout with forked tongue :-r Bleahhh (sticking tongue out) :-f :-p :-1 Smirks :-, <:-O Eeek! :-* Oops! (Covering mouth with hand) :-T Keeping a straight face (tight-lipped) :-D Said with a smile :-P :-y :-o More shouting :-O :-{ Count Dracula =|:-)= Uncle Sam 7:) Reagan :-# Censored :~i Smoking :~j (and smiling) :/i no Smoking :-I It's something, but I don't know what... :-x Kiss kiss :-< Alternate happy face :-( Unhappy :-c Real unhappy :-C Unbelieving (jaw dropped) :-< Forlorn :-B Drooling (or overbite) :-| Disgusted :-? Licking your lips <:>== A turkey :-) :-) :-) Loud guffaw :-J Toungue-in-cheek comments :*) Clowning around :-8 Talking out both sides of your mouth (:-) Messages dealing with bicycle helmets @= Warning about nuclear war <:-) For dumb questions o= A burning candle to start a flame -= A doused candle to end a flame OO Headlights on a message :_) I used to be a boxer, but it really got my nose out of joint B-) Batman B-| Michael Keaton Batman #:-) Someone with matted hair :-o "Oh, noooooo!" (a la Mr. Bill) #:-o Same as previous |-( Late night messages :^) Messages teasing people about their noses :-{#} Messages teasing people about their braces (:-$ Message indicating person is ill (:-& Message indicating person is angry (:-( Message indicating person is very sad (:^( Message concerning people with broken noses (:<) Message concerning blabber mouths :-(=) Message about people with big teeth &:-) Message from a person with curly hair @:-) Message from a person with wavy hair ?-( Message about people with a black eye *:* Message about fuzzy things *:** Message about fuzzy things with mustaches %-) Message about people with broken glasses +<:-| Message from a monk/nun... {0-) Message from cyclops... (:-|K- Formal message. ...---... S.O.S. @%&$%& You know what that means... ||*( Handshake offered ||*) Handshake accepted <&&> Message concerning rubber chickens <><> Message about/to someone wearing argyle socks 2B|^2B Message about Shakespeare (-_-) Secret smile <{:-)} Message in a bottle... <:-)<<| Message from a space rocket... (:-... Heart-breaking message... <<<<(:-) Message from a hat sales-man... (O--< A fishy message... (:>-< Message from a thief: hands up! I==I) A message on four wheels :^{ For those with mustaches { ' Alfred Hitchcock @>--->--- A rose.