Smilies have their place. How else to convey tone? So many here are quick to pull iron at an imagined slight that we need a toning device. A range of colours could work but gets tiring in bulk. Brad tries to convey a range of tones with interspersed cApiTalS, quick dives between sources (Croizat`s take on Gladyshev`s inTerpretation of Gould), made-up words (flaginestrated)(dict.com says no)and changes in thought processes (herps can be co-singular but at Cornell the icebergs flow via newspapers), but that isn`t a skill the rest of us can master. Being a Wordmeister may let you avoid Little Weird Faces, but not all have the time (or skill) to expound in depth to clear up misunderstandings.ITM, let us convey our thoughts in what seems the most appropriate way.