Last week I received no less than three yellow faces. Up from zero the week before. If Yellow Face Fever is sweeping the country, shoot me now. Nothing brings an email to its knees like a grinning yellow idiot at the bottom of it. I really can’t understand why grown-ups who sit in air conditioned offices and tell their kids not to write on walls would want to ruin their emails with silly looking caricatures. It’s not adding emotion to emails I have a problem with, it’s the smug little look on the yellow brigade’s faces. I don’t even know how to add them, wait, there it is. You go to insert, clip art, from file and falling-asleep3.gif a deliriously happy camper with a glassy look in his eyes. But wait, there’s more. Get a load of this one roll.gif smiling so hard he can’t even keep his eyes open. Do you smell something funny? blow-kiss1.gif Hey, I’ve got my head in a vice but I’m still smiling bouquet1.gif Did someone say emoticons for the deaf? bravo-1.gif Drunk AND in love blings1.gifAnd my personal favourite — I’m so happy I’ve got vertigo bow-down1.gif

There’s no denying these little bastards are in the seventh heaven about something. Whether it’s drugs or just a general sunny disposition we’ll never know. Maybe they’re just happy it’s summer. Now I know you get some who look angry and deranged but I think overall happiness is hogging the limelight here. What about all the other emotions like bemused and clinically depressed? Whoever the graphic genius is behind this yellow wave of annoyance still has quite a lot to do. Where’s the one that says, “I’m really conflicted about what you just emailed me but will work it out with my therapist” and “I’m so angry at you right now but I’m not showing it because you have to take me to the airport later”? And please for the love of God can someone come up with an emoticon that shows sarcasm.

Love them or hate them, the yellow faces are here to stay with nothing short of a ban on email able to stop them. I’ll tell you, it’ll be a real a real shame if the yellow army marches on to take over our inboxes completely; if they kill off the Pioneers in a bloody HTML showdown. I’ll miss the old faces:

The Original : )

The Picasso: :–)

Old one-eye ; )

Freak face :<)

The Clown :o)

The Beard : D

Grumpy : (

Best thing the Pioneers can do is boost their numbers so let’s all work together and break in these new ones:

I’m watching you :::::)

Yawn fest : o

Happy Movember :{

Thanks, next year I’m growing a handle bar :[

Author

  • Hansie Smit is a self-employed writer. He spends a lot of time in coffee shops tapping into free wi-fi making sure he buys a bran muffin every time to ease the inevitable guilt he feels getting something for free. Hansie received a Diploma in Copywriting from the prestigious AAA School of Advertising in Cape Town. He often picks up spelling mistakes in brand communication taking time out of his day to write to said brand to point it out. He does this free of charge. He's won a Silver Pendoring and almost won a Loerie. For more of his stunning insight and weighted opinion, visit his website at www.freehance.co.za or follow him on Twitter @freehance

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Hansie Smit

Hansie Smit is a self-employed writer. He spends a lot of time in coffee shops tapping into free wi-fi making sure he buys a bran muffin every time to ease the inevitable guilt he feels getting something...

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