World Emoji Day

A culturally different perspective

There are 3,664 emjois in the old emoji library all there to support human expression. That is a huge number really isnt it? All there to enhance the message or to simply replace words in expression of what we want to get across to another or others.

I am not a fan of text speak and often will not reply to messages that contain it as I it offensive - yes I actually mean that - offense is officially defined as a thing that causes annoyance or resentment. I will hold my hand up to being offended by what I perceive as an attack on language, grammar, nuance and subtlety.

I can however, also hold my hand up to the utilisation of emoji to support or convey a message.

What is it about the ubiquitous of emojis?

If you are interested in reading a fascinating bit of research that used data from 3.88 million emoji users across 212 countries then please feel free to check this out

Learning from the ubiquitous language | Proceedings of the 2016 ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing

The main finding from this research is that there are huge cultural differences to the use of emojis and the meaning they convey which the authors suggests supports Hofstede's cultural dimensions model.

This model is interesting from both a psychological as well as neuroscientific perspective. During a time where there are plans being made (even as I type) for globalisation and standardisation of responses to various events that may (or may not) happen, it is easy to see how it is practically impossible to create any framework that is workable for all.

One of the things that I find fascinating about human beings is how predictable they can be, until they are not.

There is nothing as variable as a human individual and that as far as there is contagion and group-think, there is also individualism and critical thought.

This is something worth nurturing and worth celebrating.

The ability for human beings to come together and do great things is one of the most amazing abilities that we have.

Collaboration, creativity and cooperation.

Three C’s to be truly celebrated.

It takes innovative and courage to stand up and be counted and I think now is that time.

Ask yourself these questions -

How do I feel when I wake up?

What is the first thing that I do when I wake?

How much critial thinking do I do daily?

How assertive am I when I feel devalued?

How much real human connection do I have?

How much optimism do I have for the future?

How much trust do I have in those who lead?

What messages do I convey to the world?

What messages do I convey to myself?

Who do I want to be?

How do I feel when I go to sleep?

How do I dream?

What information do I know now about myself?

If any of the data you have gathered from yourself leaves you feeling disempowered, detached or discouraged please do not despair.

Take each bit of data and ponder what you would like the answer to be.

We are all different and that needs to be celebrated, not feared. We need to be able to have control over what makes us human, as well as what makes us well, our own socially constructed form of happy and have wholesome, egalitarian attachments with our tribe.

It is part of the human experience to have different opinions, beliefs, attitudes, thoughts.

It should not be part of that experience to have control, fear, hate, aggression, rage or abuse in response to that difference.

World emoji day seems like a double edged sword to me. I can see how distracting it could be, however it can also be informative. Think about the messages you give out and the signs and symbols within them.

Which emoji do you use the most? Mine is the laughing hysterically one, closely followed by the monkey covering its eyes. It used to be the heart emoji and I suppose it sometimes is depending on the recipent.

Are there times when only an emoji can express your inner self, is it an easy way of letting someone know just what is going on within you?

What signs, symbols and expression of self do you consciously want to make?

How do you want to be defined?

What do you want to be the expression you leave upon people?

If today we celebrate emojis and what they have brought to the world, let us also celebrate ourselves and what we bring to the world.

“Later, when April dropped me off at the house on her way to pick up Caitlin, my phone buzzed with a text. I smiled. Stacey.

"You alive?"

"I'm ok." I texted back. "How was your date?"

Three fire emojis popped up in response, followed by an eggplant and ... were those water droplets? Oh, dear. I had no answer for that.”