Because you are trying to be extra-friendly and non-threatening, or because you’re trying to use smileys to directly indicate your attraction/interest?
I’m both emotionally more inclined to be smiling and thus typing smileys when chatting with someone I’m attracted to AND occasionally consciously aware of smileys and that I might want to toss one in to be extra-friendly. I don’t think it’s a known notion that smileys are flirtatious or about attraction so I don’t really use them that way, though maybe I should.
I’m hugely more likely to use smileys when talking to someone I find attractive online
Because you are trying to be extra-friendly and non-threatening, or because you’re trying to use smileys to directly indicate your attraction/interest?
I’m both emotionally more inclined to be smiling and thus typing smileys when chatting with someone I’m attracted to AND occasionally consciously aware of smileys and that I might want to toss one in to be extra-friendly. I don’t think it’s a known notion that smileys are flirtatious or about attraction so I don’t really use them that way, though maybe I should.
Nono, I don’t think you should! I think this is actually where that “smileys are flirty” impression originated.
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^_^