Gaston

Gaston isn't a bar of gold...you don't always get back what you pay on a footballer. They write them off over the period of the contract...we'd be glad to just get him off the books.

 

I forgot the smiley Fran. I was taking the pee...

 

Is smiley really necessary? I always thought that a joke not accompanied by the smiley is supposed to be delivered in deadpan mode.

 

A joke must be obviously a joke to not require a smiley. A joke, that could be misconstrued as being otherwise serious, needs a smiley to make sure all-hell doesn't kick off afterwards.


After all, body language is not a strong suit in an internet forum.

 

I'd have thought us getting 9m for Gaston or reference to it, was clearly a joke

 

See,too many smileys now,it is difficult I agree.

 

Wait, is this comment a joke?

 

I have never, not once, used a smiley. Ever. Jokes should stand on their own. People shouldn't need "Warning: JOKE" attached to anything if it's real humour. Anyone who misses jokes because they aren't labelled as such needs an emoticon inserting where the smiley doesn't shine.

And don't get me started on "lol".

Vin

 

I think David Mitchell makes some good points about the use of "lol"

 

All my comments are a joke...


Apparently

 

I find LOL useful when texting. Too easy for texts to be misinterpreted and cause offence....LOL makes certain your tone of voice is understood.

 

It took me about 2 years to realise what LOL meant... I was worried that lots of people were giving me lots of love

 

Unlikely.


LOL

 

But this one had no smiley, so it was serious?

 

I have a mate (honestly I do) who has been known as and referred to as Lol for about 30 years. He signs off his texts and mails with this, but never uses smileys...now I'm just totally confused and have to re-evaluate everything he has ever texted me. Something like "See you at 9:00 then. Lol" possibly makes meeting up a real gamble.

 

Lorraine is shortened to Lol....have to ask my friend if it has caused her problems.

 

Lawrie Lee was always known as Lol in his younger days.

 

I should have been clearer. I don't mind "lol" as the response to a joke or comment. Perfectly acceptable, if glib.

My problem is its use where I might expect a smiley from someone less brain-damaged. For example "But Gaston's worth £100M, lol". For that offence, I suggest a rusty bayonet slowly inserted through the chest would be a mild punishment.

In my family we like the deeply sarcastic abbreviation suggested by Bill Bailey, namely "neli". It's often used by my kids after a spectacular exhibition of what they call "Dad humour" and it means "not even laughing inwardly". I love my kids, lol.

Vin

 

My Mum once texted me "Gran took a fall, now in hospital, possible fracture. lol"


...I hope it meant "lots of love"

 

Lol Creme.