Smiling sideways

We've all met this happy guy :) right?

You've probably met his sad roommate :(

And his wise-cracking drinking buddy ;)

Oh, and his perpetually-shocked landlord =:0

In reviewing a concept document moments ago, I was writing a note to a designer about a photo I wanted changed. To make sure the comment wasn't misconstrued as too critical, I literally wrote the smiley face sideways. :)

I was taken aback at actually scribing it at a ninety-degree angle. I've apparently become so conditioned to typing it that I'm instinctively writing it that way now. What's next? Will we need to begin smiling sideways at people? If you flash kind teeth at someone, will they not get it until you cock your head to the side? Will little kids start doodling colon-based caricatures in their notebooks? Is the traditional, upright smiley face now abandoned to a lonely life whoring Coleman coolers and Britney Spears fragrances at Wal-Mart?

Or will Microsoft save the smiley face? Many chat and email programs now automatically translate the :) emoticon into a fully-illustrated, even animated, happy head. So, now I don't know what's worse: handwriting emoticons or the world becoming so stupid that they need Bill Gates to tell them what happy looks like.

Actually, what's worst of all is wasting 43 seconds of your life with this dribble.