First-person
This collection highlights my work as a journalist, primarily with Gulf News (2003–2013) as a writer, multimedia reporter, and subeditor across both magazine and newspaper formats.
My journalism career was built on a foundation of in-depth research and narratives that capture the essence of people, events, and ideas shaping our world. With hundreds of bylined articles ranging from long-form features and first-person pieces to cultural deep dives and human-interest stories, my editorial work reflects both journalistic integrity and the art of storytelling.
Each article in this portfolio is a testament to my ability to translate complex subjects into engaging, accessible narratives whether covering social issues, industry trends, or personal journeys that deserve to be told.
Pull a yellow smiley face
The moment I spot a smiley – might I add, used in lieu of a period – I question the senders’ intent
Forget text speak. It is the smiley that has hijacked the English language with its lack of conduct. That happy face has turned out to be a fully formed wolf in sheep’s clothing.
When it was introduced, which was in 1963 by American artist Harvey Ball, it was perfect. The yellow emoticon with its black oval dots for eyes and black concave mouth expressed humour and delight in such a weepingly beautiful way, it made you beam. The idea behind its creation was to place it on pins and buttons to get employees to – you guessed it – smile.
Nowadays it appears with abandon. It pops up everywhere from emails to texts and chats. Even in official dealings. It is a red herring, distracting the receiver from the sender’s intentions. It is used to hide Schadenfreude and mendacity, and present an apology before a misdeed.
Heck, it even qualifies itself as a stock reply.
I write from experience.
The other day I texted a friend, who was travelling, wishing him a safe journey. His response? A yellow face. Now I can live with a mono-emoticon response among close buddies. But it is a worrying trend among those who aren’t on my friends list.
I read statements that end in a smiley from people I barely know.
Like that seemingly benign work comment, “I hope you are OK with the modifications”. Like that optimistic suggestion: let’s finish everything on that day. Or “Sorry about that”, “Hope your don’t mind”, “I hope it wasn’t too much of a bother”…
Without the smiley, these words strung together make sense. The moment I spot a smiley – might I add, used in lieu of a period – I question the senders’ intent. Are they using it as a code for what they would rather not spell out?
So I am beginning to believe that the smiley is emblematic of our inability to communicate. Just look around. Where do you spot the emoticon? In places and ways unintended by Mr Ball.
Curious, I asked around. I got nods upon nods, agreeing to the smiley’s infamous reputation. A few went as far as impugning the emoticon’s usage. One serious Facebooker said that it stifles common courtesy. A fellow journalist remarked that it unties straitjacketed grammar.
Clearly, the smiley has caused a shift in semantics. The symbol with its DNA of warmth has mutated into something else. Instead of helping convey happy intentions, it abets to mislead and misinterpret.
What can be done? We cannot amend its intrusion. We cannot do away with it because that would be throwing the baby out with the bath water. Perhaps then, the worst punishment that can be inflicted on the smiley is to tell it that it has nothing to smile about.
Next on the list of offenders is the exclamation mark. 🙂
Disclaimer
This article was originally published in Gulf News and authored by me. Read the original version here.