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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Bloodstone Press" data-source="post: 1581530" data-attributes="member: 12468">I think the implied subtext is that WotS does not have access to the search function (here on EN World, since that is what we are talking about), and so someone who does have access has gone the extra mile to help him out.  Perhaps in isolated cases, especially those where the reader is already on the defensive. I think in general, most people find the happy faces useful in assessing the writer's tone. More often that not the happy face is disarming, not smarmy.  This isn't Discourse World, its EN World.  Several years ago I used to hang out here under other screen names and I got into plenty of flame wars. I've also had more than my share of flame wars though other avenues not related to this site.   I can say with absolute certainty that since Morrus and the mods started cracking down on them, this is a much more pleasant place to hang out. I can remember when nearly every discussion on this site eventually devolved into a flame war.  You can disagree with someone without insulting them. People do it all the time here now.   that's what I was talking about when I said  Try this:  "Why don't you go look it up?  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /> "Vs "Why don't you go look it up?"   Now the ambiguity is reduced. Clearly, the first statement is more friendly and passive than the second. Don't you agree?  Of course a better statement would be something like:"Do you have access to the search function? If not, I can look it up for you.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> "  Being smarmy is also a combative tactic, and you don't need the additional phrase in parentheses to make your insult clear.  A quick lesson in flaming: The more subtle and cerebral your insult, the more it burns. Having to explain your insult only makes you look shallow and petty.</blockquote>

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