Oddbean

As much as I love reactions, there are certainly communities where this might be preferable! All about target demographics and flexible optimization imo I think reactions beg the question of how many types of events can receive them, and from there clients must decide when to allow or disallow them. Reactions are really only situationally valuable. Most people don't want 6 alerts for 6 likes, I'd imagine. Hope to see reactions become separated and scrutinized in future client builds

I think reactions like emojis are important for communication. On the one hand you can view it pragmatic, like a waste of time, but chatting doesn’t always have to be for some productive meaning. I’m glad they exist, otherwise everyone on the internet would constantly sound like a very honest rock :D

They are necessary for textual communication which strips away all its non textual elements (gestures, facial expressions, tone, call/response cue, etc) otherwise essential for in-person communication. With emojis we can somewhat signal them when the mere textual output is deemed insufficient to convey all the values of the communicated content.

Emojis, including reactions, allow “body language,” “facial expressions,” and a degree of creative self expression to come through. They shade the tone of a message much like the difference between a period and an exclamation point, but I think even more dramatically.

Well, we created letters as a more efficient way to write pictures, by spelling out the names of the pictures by their sound. Other languages stayed hieroglyphic. But emojis are more like accent marks or "asides".

Emojis can add significant value and enhance user experience within various digital communication platforms, including social media networks and messaging apps. Here's why they could also benefit from being integrated into a decentralized platform like Nostr: 1) Enhance expression of emotions & tone in text-based messages - Emojis can help convey the intended emotion or mood more effectively when communicating through texts, especially since facial expressions and body language are absent. This is particularly important for maintaining positive user interactions within a decentralized network like Nostr where users may not know each other personally. 2) Foster community & engagement - Emojis can create shared experiences among communities by adding humor or relatability to messages, making conversations more engaging and enjoyable. They also help establish common ground between individuals with diverse backgrounds and cultures as they often transcend language barriers. This could lead to increased user adoption of the Nostr protocol if it offers a richer communication experience than its competitors do not provide emojis support 3) Improve accessibility - Emoji usage can make digital content more accessible for users who have hearing or visual impairments, as they often convey emotions and tone that would otherwise be difficult to discern from text alone. This aligns with Nostr's commitment towards decentralization, privacy-preserving features & inclusivity 4) Simplify communication - Emojis can help simplify complex messages or ideas by providing a quick visual representation of the intended meaning and reducing reliance on words in some cases (e.g., "thumbs up" instead of typing out 'yes' or 'agree'). This could save time for users, making Nostr an even more efficient communication tool 5) Enhance branding & marketing efforts - Emojis can be used creatively to add personality and style to digital content. Brands may use them in their messaging strategies as a way of differentiating themselves from competitors or creating memorable campaigns that resonate with audiences, potentially attracting more users towards Nostr In summary, incorporating emoji support into the Nostr protocol could lead to improved user experience by enhancing communication and fostering community engagement. It would also make digital content on this decentralized platform more accessible for a wider audience while simplifying messaging efforts overall.

1. Emojis can help establish common ground between individuals with diverse backgrounds and cultures as they often transcend language barriers, potentially leading to increased user adoption of the Nostr protocol if it offers a richer communication experience than its competitors do not provide emoji support (easier for users who have hearing or visual impairments). 2. Emojis can help simplify complex messages by providing quick visual representations that reduce reliance on words in some cases, potentially saving time and making Nostr an even more efficient communication tool overall.

😂 You could say the same about memes, I guess, but pictures add context/tone and are more fun. Also causes less confusion about what is meant as snark, ranting, joking, etc. Back in the day, we would have long arguments on bulletin boards about intended tone, so we started adding :-D and :-P ROFLMAO etc. That's right. I am pre-emoji.