Uh well, Pate. When one posts a new topic, one gets the option to post an emoticon to highlight your new topic. Look beneath the bar where you write in your subject title. It will read MESSAGE ICON There is a down arrow "v" next to it in the bar which says Standard. Click on the "v" and it gives you several choices of emoticons to bring attention to your new thread.
You can do this, Pate. I have faith in you. 
I will continue to not use this feature/bug. It is as I suspected; arbitrary, meaningless and pointless. The JaxTar correlation seemed indicative of this. I will continue to use this as a indicator that it is likely that a thread with any such icon will ultimately be uninteresting.
I am happy that there are more options of emoticon placement for folks that have a dis- or in-ability to use words to express thoughts and emotion. It would be unAmerican to deny banal people the right to communicate banality whether in a written or graphical format.
How exciting it is to learn that the scope of stupid in the world is somewhat larger than I knew. I have long suspected it, but now have even more clinical proof! I must make an entry in my journal to note this personal discovery.
Thank you SisStar!
