Cult of Mac is reporting that Apple Inc. was a formal objector to the Uniform Consortium’s inclusion of the rifle emoji. This brings up an interesting debate over just how much respect do emoji deserve. I think the battle between voice calling and text messaging was settled long ago and the masses overwhelmingly chose little bubbles. But are emoji an essential part of that package?
I have to admit that I rarely use emojis. Classical education is all about teaching children to be adults and leaving childish proclivities. Communicating with silly pictures is something that kids do, not adults. However, I won’t deny that there is a worldwide movement to use emoticons as a valid part of written language. They can quickly convey emotion without having to do a lot of thumb typing.
If Merriam-Webster decided to fight racism by deleting the word racist from the dictionary, everyone would criticize them for stifling debate. How can you encourage the free exchange of ideas if you withhold the tools of communication from people? Apple is making a similar move by campaigning against the gun emoji. It was a petty move that stifles the free exchange of ideas.
Reasonable people are on both sides of the gun control debate. However, one thing that all of them should be united on is that there needs to a free exchange of ideas. Stifling debate is done by those who don’t want the debate to be held because they believe that their point of view will lose.
Are emoji a part of language or not? Apple just sent a message that emoticons are a frivolous afterthought and not necessary for communication. It may have been unintentional but they essentially demoted the emoji.
If Merriam-Webster decided to fight racism by deleting the word racist from the dictionary, everyone would criticize them for stifling debate. How can you encourage the free exchange of ideas if you withhold the tools of communication from people? Apple is making a similar move by campaigning against the gun emoji. It was a petty move that stifles the free exchange of ideas.
Reasonable people are on both sides of the gun control debate. However, one thing that all of them should be united on is that there needs to a free exchange of ideas. Stifling debate is done by those who don’t want the debate to be held because they believe that their point of view will lose.
Are emoji a part of language or not? Apple just sent a message that emoticons are a frivolous afterthought and not necessary for communication. It may have been unintentional but they essentially demoted the emoji.
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