do we really want smilies and all these type of graemlins?

They don't bother me, even though I don't use them.

I hate signatures though.

I don't like them but an emoticon can be useful to mark a comment meant in humour.  Otherwise, it can be hard to tell on a written board such as a forum and a post can be misinterpreted.  Humour doesn't always travel so well...

I'd vote to keep them, but keep them plain and simple.  This one () can go though...

Can the team concentrate on putting back the missing stuff before taking stuff out?

Otherwise a lot of people will be very .

John

I'll trade you seventy Graemlins for one search button sir ;-)

Just joking...I know my button is in production.

Keep them , they add colour or is that color ? Must check my location preferences .

Emoticons have been around a long time. Even if you eliminate the graphic ones people can still use the (origina) text method.

I like these from 1881:

search engine is on the menu

Smilies are a useful way to "lighten" a comment or to make clear your posting intent IMO.

I thought  Graemlins = smilies.


Keep them they help to prevent misunderstandings, if the recipient is willing.

I'd keep the smiley but ditch the rest.

Every half decent forum has emoticons. They're a valued useful tool for displaying mood in an environment which lends itself to conversational chat, the lack of which would be detrimental to the medium.

For Graemlin, substitute Naim-Linn!

Agree with Richard Dane about the angry red one...Naimites do Tai Chi with their Hifi, we operate on a higher karma!

ok will keep em for now

Paul, why are you even thinking of removing them?

Wrong!

I hope you mean =wrong?

Quite!

Another question springs to mind: why would you even consider switching smilies off even though you've just introduced avatars??

I see you!

Keep them
I used to hate them, but I have found it can lighten discussions that otherwise end-up inadvertantly upsetting some people.

If we are aming for a technical journal - they they should go, but a feature of this forum is the good humour of most of its members most of the time, so they should stay IMO.

DB.

Keep them! They add a "human touch" to the forums. Especially this one:   is very helpful sometimes...

I find this site difficult to read. Also if one chooses to zoom text so that its legible stuff goes wrong as the site does not flow over the width of your open browser window.

If anything, the number of graemlins should be expanded and modernized.    IMHO, members should be able to store their own palette of custom emoticons.  Take a look at those available through Skype as a good example.  

And as others have said, they are proven method for communicating the tone of a post, and are often the only well of telling the difference between a serious and a sarcastic comment!

Hook

"search engine is on the menu" - well I can't see it - perhaps I'm going blind

I would like to see them stay, especially for the reason Richard mentioned in regard to helping understand some of the humour. If used with restraint they can make a witty post even more so.