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WELCOME TO TUESDAY FLASH FICTION at GOBBLERS/MASTICADORES!

Have you ever had the emoji blues? Not sure which emoji goes where…

It may seem inconsequential. But not if you live with a child or teenager.

They know more than you and will not overlook your emoji mishandling.

In this story, a mother and daughter come to a shaky emoji understanding.

Please read ahead and click the blue link. Cheers!

My daughter calls me the ‘emoji killer’. She rolls her eyes when she says it, and her duck lips ridicule my efforts. It’s easy for her to be judgmental, she grew up with an electronic device perpetually shoved in her face. My childhood knew the pleasures of the outdoors and actual interaction with other human […]

Emoji Killer by Terveen Gill — Gobblers / Masticadores // Editores: Manuela Timofte / j re crivello

17 Comments on “Emoji Killer by Terveen Gill — Gobblers / Masticadores

  1. Luddite Card Holder #1, reporting in. I am most definitely a member of the emoji killer club because between them (I remember when they used to be called “emoticons”) and internet shorthand and abbreviations, we’re looking at the fall of language in the age of supposed increased communication.

    And one of my chat pet peeves is when someone replies with just a string of emojis. So now I need to join the Bletchley Circle or become Robert Langdon and decipher your text like I’m in the DaVinci Code?

    Civilization is doomed.

    • Hahahaha! I can’t imagine this comment being in the form of emojis. Just imagine what a loss it would have been. The meaning, beauty, and effectiveness would’ve been swept away by clueless symbols. And the fall of communication began the day people started saying what they wanted without bothering to hear or listen to another’s perspective. A one way street doesn’t go very far.
      I think writing words can never be replaced. That’s just a shallow attempt at covering up lack of time and effort. And deciphering emojis is best left to the ones who hide behind them. 🙂 (This is the only one I use.) Does this mean I’m crazy, lazy, or uncool?
      I refuse to care. Haha.

  2. 20 years later: Sun emoji 🌞 rises in the east, and sets in the west. Only then, we see moon emoji 🌚 in the sky.

    Hahaha. It’s often said, great writers don’t need emoji to convey emotions. But this is a step higher than that. Terveen can write about emoji, without using emoji.

    On a different note, we certainly need a good emoji AI for moms. Though I don’t think the daughter is gifting her mom an emoji AI anytime soon xD.

    • Haha! Thanks so much, Mayank. I think emoji AI may come in hand looking at the way emojis are taking over communication. It’s so simple to punch a symbol and its meaning can vary from vague to something more definite. Let the sun and moon do their thing. Words are forever beautiful and priceless. 🙂

  3. This story is very relatable. As in: I can relate to both characters somehow. My parents sometimes ask me the meaning of some emojis, or I have to laugh when they use the eggplant in a fairly serious context. On the other hand, I have friends who tell me that “😂” isn’t accepted anymore (but I will keep using it if something’s funny!). So strange how fast these definitions and online norms develop.

    • It truly makes the head spin. And I wonder who’s dictating these changes and documenting the newer meanings. Is there an emoji council seated somewhere? Haha! Thank you so much! 🙂

  4. Emoji killer, wow, i never knew (an) emoji(s) can be so powerful communication tool!! well all the best to you, m sure you r in safe hands ✋ 🙌, (dont know if this one’s right)

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