Why do Lemmy users rarely use emoticons?

Reading comments in different communities, I noticed that users hardly leave smilies. Why is that?

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Personally I feel like if I need to use one, then I've done a poor job of writing.
I guess the other component is that I write a lot at work (I'm an engineering manager) and emoticons aren't really appropriate for that kind of communication, so I'm not in the habit of using them.
- ¯⁠\⁠_⁠༼⁠ᴼ⁠ل͜⁠ᴼ⁠༽⁠_⁠/⁠¯
  
  Such an emoji can be sent to a customer when all deadlines have passed.
- What kind of engineering manager isn’t using a dramatic shrug emoji or emoticon dozens of times every day?!
  Don’t tell me your team has their shit together.
  
  I prefer to walk to their desks and make the expressions and gestures in person.
- 😂 what!? I've worked with 11 engineering managers and they've all used emojis. You're either not in software or you work for a bank/insurance.
  
  Not sure what to tell you, I'm the senior manager for software engineering in a company that makes rocket engines, solid rocket motors, and space electrical power systems. I've been working there for 38 years and emojis are pretty rare.
  
  I also work with space electrical power systems. That was an odd thing to see in the wild lol
  
  Huh interesting. Are you comfortable saying more? The company I work for did the EPS for the ISS, we did the MMRTGs for the Mars rovers, and some others. We're not at the same place, are we?
  
  I work on other projects, not the rovers or ISS. I’m in Houston.
  
  If you're at JSC, maybe you're our customer.
  
  Exactly, not in software as in, not working for a software company.
  
  I did start by saying I was an engineering manager, so I thought that part was a given
  
  Sorry! I've only heard that title used in the context of software engineering gigs.
  
  Hmmm, maybe we have a semantic issue. That's literally my title: Senior Manager, Software Engineering. But it's a heavily engineering company, not a heavily software company.
  
  Yeah, makes perfect sense!
  
  You’re just older. Has nothing to do with being an engineering manager.
  
  Emoticons started getting popular in the 90s, so I'm in the age group where that was happening. You'll see other people in this thread saying they felt like it was a boomer thing. I don't think my age is the reason.

288 comments