The Remarkable Fools Letter

The Remarkable Fools Letter

On deciphering emoji on a snow day

big yellow thumbs up to throbbing digital produce

Jim Dalling's avatar
Jim Dalling
Jan 26, 2026
∙ Paid

It’s a snow day, dear reader!

I am grateful.

It’s on days like this that my wife and I dive into the really big issues.

As an example here’s a recent conversation:

Someone set me that hug emoji. WTF does that mean?

Laura scratched her head for a second.

That can mean a lot of things to a lot of people.

Not enough, I thought.

Naw. There’s a place where you can look stuff up and find out the meaning. Apparently a yellow ‘thumbs up’ means you’re racist.

Laura’s eyes got big.

Really? I use that emoji.

Smugly, I found my opening.

Well then dear, you’ve not done the work. You must be a racist then.

She wasn’t having it.

You use the same emoji with me. And you know better?

I smirked.

Of course I know better. I just don’t want people to think that I know better. I want them to think that I’m some old guy who doesn’t know his emoji.

Laura shook her head.

And have people think you’re a racist?

I laughed.

Yellow thumbs up emoji aren’t racist. Millennials who find racism everywhere are just irritating. It’s a good …

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