Do you think it's a little disrespectful

[Jed Dilligan]

to salute or mourn the dead and maimed in the war using smilies?

I think if I lost my legs to an IED, the last thing I would want is to be saluted by an emoticon holding a flag.

I don't intend this as a criticism of anyone who has used smilies to express their emotions about the war. In fact I've watched it go on for months, and only just now has it struck me as disrespectful. Yes, it shows emotion--but it's also a goddamned smiley face! As in "Have A Nice Day"!

Am I being overly sensitive here? What do DU veterans think?

[sonofliberty]

1. did i miss something??? don't understand n/t

[Jed Dilligan]

2. Probably not

People commonly use :cry: and :patriot: in posts related to war wounded and dead. It just suddenly struck me that this might be a little disrespectful.

[sonofliberty]

4. right, got it....

then no I believe it is not disrespectful to do so..... it is heart felt support and is more welcome than the vietnam homecoming:spray:

[Solly Mack]

3. I don't think emoticons - AKA smilies

are inappropriate. I'm not offended by them - though to be honest, I've got no use for the flag one - for other reasons entirely.

As a military spouse, they don't bother me.

[Journeyman]

5. You're talking about a board where some members. . .

greet the death of someone elderly, someone they knew something about (say a movie star or a long retired politician), with subject lines of "Oh, shit!" and "Fuck, we lost another good one." In light of this sophomoric behavior, the use of crying smilies or smilies with a flag can be seen as an expression of reverent admiration for the dead.*

*Of course, there'll be those who'll demand a link, so I'll say up front I don't have one -- why would I save something so idiotic? But then, well-known old people die pretty regularly, so watch the DU obituaries if you haven't seen this sort of thing countless times over the years.

[Erika]

6. Just visit www.icasualties.org

Just the facts about W's war. No emoticons. Just cold hard facts concerning our dead and wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Shalomar]

7. Not a Veteran

I have a friend who lost a niece to a brain tumor; and is herself now on her second; experimental round of chemo. Life goes on; ready or not. War is hell- the fact you acknoweledge we are in what is usually called a war can be more than our homecoming veterans expect. But I think the surprise will be pleasant.

[NightOwwl]

11. I'm sorry about your friend Shalomar....

Welcome to DU, glad you found us.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi Shalomar!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Shalomar]

15. Thanx for the kind words

Much better than the reaction from Freepers!!!

My username is Shalomar at http://www.avsim.com and you might want to check out my post "a scary new world" in the "hangar chat" forum. After over 1,000 views and 75 replies it was locked when it started getting personal; but it's one of my best. Can't post here yet.

Best Regards, Donny

[Nicole]

8. I just asked the veteran in the other room

he said no, it's not disrespectful. To him "a salute is a sign of respect, whether it's in person or on the internet via a smiley face emoticon".

[rocktivity]

9. It was I who submitted the patriot smiley for DU's approval.

I did so precisely because I liked the idea of taking back flag waving from the freeper crowd. I interpreted the fact that it was added to the DU smiley list within two days as an indication that my instincts had been right. And when I saw that someone had added the smiley to their DU sig, I sent a PM of gratitude.

Aside from that, I think the smilies make a more respectful gesture toward the troops (living and dead) than the Bush empire can now ever hope to.

:patriot:
rocknation

[Jed Dilligan]

10. And I appreciate this!

I just had a visceral reaction, is all. I understand now how much better a smiley is, than apathy!

[DarbyUSMC]

13. Personally, I wouldn't use one but am not offended by it. Maybe

this type of illustration would be more appropriate. Still, to each their own.

[Jed Dilligan]

14. I was going to say--

Yeah, something more realistic or detailed than a smiley seems more appropriate. Do you have Army/NG versions?