i haven't used that giant peach icon in awhile

[keryx]

Brilliant readers, thank you for the poetry suggestions. I will assemble them before my next library & bookstore trips. Yay!

I have another question for you. Is there a proper expression of detached indifference in IM/email/text/chat emoticons? There's definitely an ambivalent expression - :/ or :\ - but is there one that says "I am not iffy on this subject; I simply do not care" without any air of snark or pissiness?

Just a moment ago, I typed "whatever" meaning "whatever you want, I am untroubled by any possible outcome" but it read "whatever" as in "whatever, loser... talk to the hand". And there was really no appropriate emoticon to back up my text with emotional content.

I am troubled by this. Please assist.

Comments

[moongirli.livejournal.com]

I've always just used *shrug* and the aforementioned "whatever." [Occasionally, to avoid the "talk to the hand" connotation, I add as a preamble, "ah, you know," which seems to be unoffensive.]

[peregrin8.livejournal.com]

yeah, *shrug* or, depending on the context, it might be appropriate to say "ymmv" (your mileage may vary) or "just my 2 cents," though I am so non-L33T that I not only don't know emoticons for them, I don't even know how to make a cents symbol!

[snidegrrl.livejournal.com]

I use the flat face, but that can be interpreted SO many ways.

:|

[miffyness.livejournal.com]

yeah, I would [shrug] too.

[(Anonymous)]

I will either go *shrug* or "ehhh" to show my indifference

[divinerose.livejournal.com]

that was me...not logged in

[kazoogrrl.livejournal.com]

Final poetry note:

I vote for Neruda too, especially my favorite ode, which you can read in the following blog post I found:

http://beabijoubea.blogspot.com/2008/04/for-my-hubster.html

well...

[(Anonymous)]

If only you could rotate the tilda, we'd have the perfect solution to the "whatever" problem. :~}

John McCain (http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-02-19-mccain-roe_x.htm) is interested in taking this from every single woman.