Telecom/1996-04-telecom-walnutcreek.iso/book.reviews/smiley.dictionary-godin

Text File | 1995-01-01 | 2KB | 49 lines

Date: 23 Nov 93 12:25 -0600
From: Rob Slade <[e-mail]>
Subject: Book Review: "The Smiley Dictionary"~ by Godin


BKSMLDCT.RVW  931012

Peach Pit
2414 6th St.
Berkeley, CA   94710
510-548-4393   fax: [phone]
800-283-9444
"The Smiley Dictionary", Seth Godin, U$6.95/C$9.95

One assumes that this is meant to fall into the "computer gag gift"
category.  It is certainly an amusing diversion for those in the know
and, of course, it doesn't take long to get in the know.

The cover blurb's boast that this is "the world's most complete book
of smileys" is only hype.  To this volume's almost two hundred
emoticons, we have to compare Sanderson and Dougherty's 650 (cf
BKSMILEY.RVW).  However, it is laid out in a more organized fashion
with roughly topical sections and a cross index.  The large print of
the sample emoticons gives them an immediacy sometimes lacking in
other lists, although the font sometimes makes the mid- lines of the
face awkward.

Aside from the smileys themselves, however, there is nothing here.
Even the "non-smiley smileys" section has little in it, choosing not
even to scratch the surface of the more common acronyms.  There is no
discussion of online etiquette.  The few prose sections seem quite
sarcastic and could do with a few smileys sprinkled throughout.  (On
the other hand, maybe "smirks" would be more appropriate.)

For your non-computer literate friends, this is probably the gag to
get.  For even slightly more serious use, stick with Sanderson and
Dougherty.

Copyright Robert M. Slade, 1993   BKSMLDCT.RVW  931012. Permission to
reprint only in TELECOM Digest and associated newsgroups/mailing lists.


DECUS Canada Communications, Desktop, Education and Security group newsletters
Editor and/or reviewer [e-mail], [e-mail], Rob Slade at 1:153/733
DECUS Symposium '94, Vancouver, BC, Mar 1-3, 1994, contact: [e-mail]

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