Comments on: Emoticon from 1862? http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 20:41:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Phikus http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401153 Phikus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401153 Brainspore: Perhaps it was an Irish typesetter. ;) Brainspore: Perhaps it was an Irish typesetter. ;)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-1119494 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1119494 This may actually be a clever way to use a smiley face in his speech. It is an odd coincidence that is is used with something that is mean to be taken as a joke. It is true that it has been used in the past in almost identical scenarios (at the end of a phrase within a parenthesis). But what makes this unique is the space before the semicolon. This would be an incorrect use of it. It may be a typo, or it may be a clever smiley face. We will just have to wait for resurrection technology to ask zombie Lincoln ourselves. This may actually be a clever way to use a smiley face in his speech. It is an odd coincidence that is is used with something that is mean to be taken as a joke. It is true that it has been used in the past in almost identical scenarios (at the end of a phrase within a parenthesis). But what makes this unique is the space before the semicolon. This would be an incorrect use of it. It may be a typo, or it may be a clever smiley face. We will just have to wait for resurrection technology to ask zombie Lincoln ourselves.

]]> By: massspecgeek http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401161 massspecgeek Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401161 @Deregulator: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_8._Lee @Deregulator:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_8._Lee

]]> By: Gemma http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-402446 Gemma Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-402446 A space before a double punctuation mark ( ; : ! « » etc) and no space before a single one ( . , ) is still standard practice in French. I remember sitting in a lecture in France where students were being warned of errors to avoid when writing up essays on a computer. One error would be to have the opening or closing quotation marks separated from the quotation by a line break. [We were instructed to use a non-breaking space between the quotation marks and the quotation to prevent this.] Unlike some of the above posters, I will give everyone involved in this OMG EMOTICON! excitement the benefit of the doubt and assume they have a sense of humour. For those of you who are relying solely on the fact that there is an opening bracket to discount the time-travelling-emoticon theory, isn't it normal enough, if you want to put a smilie at the end of a parenthetical remark, to put the closing bracket to this double use (it avoids giving your smilie a double chin :)) A space before a double punctuation mark ( ; : ! « » etc) and no space before a single one ( . , ) is still standard practice in French.

I remember sitting in a lecture in France where students were being warned of errors to avoid when writing up essays on a computer. One error would be to have the opening or closing quotation marks separated from the quotation by a line break. [We were instructed to use a non-breaking space between the quotation marks and the quotation to prevent this.]

Unlike some of the above posters, I will give everyone involved in this OMG EMOTICON! excitement the benefit of the doubt and assume they have a sense of humour.

For those of you who are relying solely on the fact that there is an opening bracket to discount the time-travelling-emoticon theory, isn’t it normal enough, if you want to put a smilie at the end of a parenthetical remark, to put the closing bracket to this double use (it avoids giving your smilie a double chin :))

]]> By: Yamara http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401176 Yamara Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401176 Note the extra space given before the colon in the top line. This was common practice at the time. The same is being done for the semicolon in the alleged "emoticon", creating the crosstime illusion of relevance.   Please tell me this is not what Google Books has come to. Note the extra space given before the colon in the top line. This was common practice at the time.

The same is being done for the semicolon in the alleged “emoticon”, creating the crosstime illusion of relevance.

 

Please tell me this is not what Google Books has come to.

]]> By: Oskar http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401690 Oskar Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401690 @#25 Action Ben: Total. Fucking. Win. That's the greatest thing ever! @#25 Action Ben:

Total. Fucking. Win.

That’s the greatest thing ever!

]]> By: action_ben http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401230 action_ben Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401230 #10 is right, there sure are some of these in the King James bible - I found this one a little while ago and it always tickles me! http://s594.photobucket.com/albums/tt27/action_ben/?action=view&current=bible_smileys.jpg #10 is right, there sure are some of these in the King James bible – I found this one a little while ago and it always tickles me!

http://s594.photobucket.com/albums/tt27/action_ben/?action=view&current=bible_smileys.jpg

]]> By: insomma http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401759 insomma Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401759 Imagines Lincoln winking alla Palin / Shudders... Imagines Lincoln winking alla Palin / Shudders…

]]> By: karl_jones http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-400999 karl_jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-400999 It's not an emoticon; only a very silly person would suggest otherwise. It is clearly a parenthetical comment, with a semicolon to indicate a pause in the clause. It’s not an emoticon; only a very silly person would suggest otherwise.

It is clearly a parenthetical comment, with a semicolon to indicate a pause in the clause.

]]> By: pauldrye http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401011 pauldrye Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401011 It's an orthography error. Before the semi-colon dropped out of general use, it was used to separate the items on a list. I suspect the reporter got confused by the "and" that followed the (applause and laughter) stage direction and used it as a sort-of Oxford Comma. At which point the usual confusion about what to do when there's two consecutive punctuation marks kicked in and he made the wrong decision. Notice how the second time there's a stage direction, he makes the peculiar decision to put the period inside the bracket instead of outside it. I suspect he wasn't aiming for "one-eyed smiley pirate emoticon" there. It’s an orthography error.

Before the semi-colon dropped out of general use, it was used to separate the items on a list. I suspect the reporter got confused by the “and” that followed the (applause and laughter) stage direction and used it as a sort-of Oxford Comma. At which point the usual confusion about what to do when there’s two consecutive punctuation marks kicked in and he made the wrong decision.

Notice how the second time there’s a stage direction, he makes the peculiar decision to put the period inside the bracket instead of outside it. I suspect he wasn’t aiming for “one-eyed smiley pirate emoticon” there.

]]> By: nopuppy http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401014 nopuppy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401014 Karl Jones is correct. It was quite common at that time to include a comma or semicolon before the closing parenthesis if the clause's grammar suggested it. Karl Jones is correct. It was quite common at that time to include a comma or semicolon before the closing parenthesis if the clause’s grammar suggested it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-405117 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-405117 There's an xkcd that may be relevant: http://xkcd.com/541/ There’s an xkcd that may be relevant:

http://xkcd.com/541/

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401022 Brainspore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401022 It was a transcript of the speech written after the fact. How exactly would you convey an emoticon in a live performance? Is someone suggesting that Lincoln conspicuously smiled and winked at the audience, and this is how the stenographer recorded it? It was a transcript of the speech written after the fact. How exactly would you convey an emoticon in a live performance? Is someone suggesting that Lincoln conspicuously smiled and winked at the audience, and this is how the stenographer recorded it?

]]> By: The Bus http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401026 The Bus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401026 (applause and laughter ;) That's not an emoticon. (applause and laughter ;)

That’s not an emoticon.

]]> By: holtt http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401038 holtt Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401038 Oh GMAFB. Are the qualifications for working with historical papers limited to "can surf web", "2+ years IM, MSN or AIM preferred" and "can use scanner and view images on computer"??? I wonder what the experts think of that mysterious "(" emoticon earlier in the text. Perhaps it is symbolic of an umbrella or shield (President as protector)? After all cultural concepts change over time. I know this because I am a Historical Expert, having lived through some of it and also read stuff in books and online. Oh GMAFB.

Are the qualifications for working with historical papers limited to “can surf web”, “2+ years IM, MSN or AIM preferred” and “can use scanner and view images on computer”???

I wonder what the experts think of that mysterious “(” emoticon earlier in the text. Perhaps it is symbolic of an umbrella or shield (President as protector)? After all cultural concepts change over time. I know this because I am a Historical Expert, having lived through some of it and also read stuff in books and online.

]]> By: Phikus http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401040 Phikus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401040 I don't think there would be any confusion or debate if the stenographer had not put an unnecessary space after the word "laughter" as s/he does throughout. Still, kinda fun to point out, though clearly unintentional. I don’t think there would be any confusion or debate if the stenographer had not put an unnecessary space after the word “laughter” as s/he does throughout. Still, kinda fun to point out, though clearly unintentional.

]]> By: sirkowski http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401559 sirkowski Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401559 Lincoln is trolling the grammar nazis ;) Lincoln is trolling the grammar nazis ;)

]]> By: Tangolomango http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401052 Tangolomango Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401052 it is CLEARLY an emoticon ;) it is CLEARLY an emoticon ;)

]]> By: millionpoems http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401060 millionpoems Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401060 It is clearly a numerical middle name. It is clearly a numerical middle name.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401062 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401062 The same thing appears at least once in the King James Bible. The same thing appears at least once in the King James Bible.

]]> By: bardfinn http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401068 bardfinn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401068 For it to be an emoticon, there would have to be a lack of opening parenthesis. This is merely a case of meta-pareidolia. For it to be an emoticon, there would have to be a lack of opening parenthesis. This is merely a case of meta-pareidolia.

]]> By: Joe http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401079 Joe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401079 The evidence that it isn't, is that the next parenthetical phrase ends in ".)". It's just a punctuation mark followed by a closed-parenthesis. The evidence that it isn’t, is that the next parenthetical phrase ends in “.)”. It’s just a punctuation mark followed by a closed-parenthesis.

]]> By: Shane http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401082 Shane Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401082 Clearly the person seeing the emoticon is projecting. Clearly the person seeing the emoticon is projecting.

]]> By: Art Carnage http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401599 Art Carnage Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401599 <----------- You must be this smart to post to BB. <----------- You must be this smart to post to BB.

]]> By: Church http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401089 Church Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401089 Obviously, the transcript is an early troll. Obviously, the transcript is an early troll.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401096 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401096 Countdown 3... 2... 1.... to inevitable Laugh-Out-Loud Cats reference Countdown 3… 2… 1….

to inevitable Laugh-Out-Loud Cats reference

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401108 Brainspore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401108 <em>I don't think there would be any confusion or debate if the stenographer had not put an unnecessary space after the word "laughter" as s/he does throughout.</em> Well, technically that would have been the typesetter. I don’t think there would be any confusion or debate if the stenographer had not put an unnecessary space after the word “laughter” as s/he does throughout.

Well, technically that would have been the typesetter.

]]> By: w000t http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401126 w000t Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401126 Everyone is missing the obvious answer here: the reporter was merely a time traveler. Everyone is missing the obvious answer here: the reporter was merely a time traveler.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401134 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401134 Help, I'm an time traveler internet addict trapped in a Lincoln speech Help, I’m an time traveler internet addict trapped in a Lincoln speech

]]> By: deregulator http://boingboing.net/2009/02/05/emoticon-from-1862.html#comment-401137 deregulator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-401137 I want to know what "8." abbreviates in the reporter's name. Is "8." an abbrevemoticon? I want to know what “8.” abbreviates in the reporter’s name. Is “8.” an abbrevemoticon?

]]>