The point is that for the typical older HN denizen, emojis were legitimately a sort of counterculture element associated with trivial conversations in the counterculture of our youth.
That's not what they are anymore. They have a rich meaning - ask a young person what :) means and you'll have your example.
Emojis are, like it or not, part of the lexicon now.
>typical older HN denizen, emojis were legitimately a sort of counterculture element associated with trivial conversations in the counterculture of our youth.
Emojis didn't exist in the youth of the typical older HN denizen. They are the exclusive purview of Gen Alpha, Gen Z, and younger millennials.
That's not what they are anymore. They have a rich meaning - ask a young person what :) means and you'll have your example.
Emojis are, like it or not, part of the lexicon now.