The issue is typically knowing it's a joke, just watching comedy shows from different countries on TV shows this cultural difference. No visual cues on the Net also doesn't help. And then we have where the humour is dirrected at, it does get old when it's always aimed in one direction, not self-deprecating. And last, we have the standby of it's only a joke. Well, if it's so funny, why do you think the VICDOM is complaining and not laughing? I hardly ever use Emogies, but they really do express changes in as said tone. Not everybody is mechanically minded, grew up elbow deep in technical work or is as smart as they think they are. Here is an example: a relative of mine works as a High School industrial arts teacher and got into bikes late in life. He couldn't start an old bike he bought and told me it had no spark, he had no idea you needed to ground the plug, it was dangling in mid air when he kicked the bike. I could have laughed my arse off in his face, embarrassing him, or just taught him where he was wrong. Just on this forum, so many have disappeared, usually because of misunderstanding and all sorts of really stupid mind games, so much unnecessary shenanigans. The older I get, the less I like about people in general.