The topic degraded somewhat from quality of the english
language to science fiction literature, but anyway...
Smilies are used to symbolize emotions you would see if
you would talk to someone. I can use sarcasm, but only
some symbol will prevent my communication partner from
thinking I lost it. S/he can't see my wicked smile that goes
with the remark.
I might not be a prime candidate for talking about the
english language. It's not my native language. I use it
to communicate, and I like to use it, but I will never be
as proficient as with my native language, being it use of
words, vocabulary or sentence structures.
What I really hate to see are those abbreviations. There
is a time for short syllables. If you don't have space
( i.e. SMS ) it's ok. But... y r u talking 2 me like z ?
It makes no sense. It costs me time to decipher it. Time
I could use for other things. It just means the writer is
too lazy or too cool. I don't like lazy people, I don't like
people who are trying to be cool.
Sci-Fi:
Starship Troopers R.A. Heinlein.
If you know the movie, forget everything you saw.
The book is more philosophical. Not so much action.
"...shines the name, shines the name of Roger Young..."
Netforce T. Clancy
In the not-so-far future there is another agency, Netforce,
commited to capturing computer criminals. While VR is
everyday life, Agents are hunting spies and terrorists.
While the stories are Clancy-Standard, the outlook of
the future is quite real. This is a scenario that might take
place in 10 years.