I get *really* annoyed when people feel the need to surround words in asterices because they are unable to emphasise them any other way. They are also easily confused with inverted commas.

However, being a considerate and nice person who does not want to tell people off constantly, I propose an Internet Explorer addon that automatically converts *words* into words in bold, so that I don't have to.

If you know a way to enter bold text in these entry boxes, please tell me.
-- dbmag9, Jul 31 2005

I was expecting a aster-curse revealer. No more f***.

Regarding your last statement, there is no way to do that . That's not an IE thing, it's the bakery. No italics, underline, or different font sizes either.
-- waugsqueke, Jul 31 2005


I didn't mean it to come across as just for the bakery, it would work for all websites.

The curse-revealer could be another addon from the same series (although it would have to be updated regularly for changes in culture).
-- dbmag9, Jul 31 2005


I don't use Aster to emphasise, however I do use them to express movement or emotion, a sort of annotation identifier. e.g.:

*gets off soap box*

*feels smug*

*waves fist and curses*
-- lagerdalek, Aug 01 2005


I'd recommend just ignoring it.
-- contracts, Aug 01 2005


Why limit the idea to a monopolistic corporation? I hate it when people think explorer is the only web browser in existance.
-- Aq_Bi, Aug 01 2005


//unable to emphasise them any other way//

Do you mean unable to <b>bold</b> them, or unable to show the emphasis simply by choosing appropriate words and sentence structure?

If the latter, then I'd suggest that the usage of asterisks (or occasionally UPPER CASE) is more often done to show emphasis on a word that might otherwise not receive the attention it deserves.

For example, the innocuous;

"Do you want to come home for a kiss and a cuddle?"

Could read;

"Do *you* want to come home for a kiss and a cuddle?"

or,

"Do you *want* to come home for a kiss and a cuddle?"

or,

"Do you want to come home for a kiss and a *cuddle*?"

Each version of which conveys a slightly different meaning, and would warrant a slightly different response.

Also, re: //They are also easily confused with inverted commas.//
Who/what are also confused with inverted commas?
The people who use asterices, or the asterices themselves?

If it's the latter, then I'd suggest that the usage of inverted 'commas' is used to denote a sense of witheld judgement, or perhaps to indicate ironic intent.

i.e.

"Do you want to come home for a kiss and a *cuddle*?"

is a far cry from

"Do you want to come home for a kiss and a 'cuddle'?"
-- zen_tom, Aug 01 2005


Not forgetting:

"Do you want to come *home* for a kiss and a cuddle" (as opposed to the bus shelter)

"Do *you* want *to* come *home* for *a* kiss *and* a *cuddle*?" (speech impediment)
-- hippo, Aug 01 2005


gee zen, thanks for all that explan. I wanted to tell him to get *over* it. bone
-- dentworth, Aug 01 2005


*do you* want to come home for a kiss and a cuddle? (blimey, I've pulled!)
-- po, Aug 01 2005


So, not an idea for translating the works of Goscinny and Uderzo?
-- AbsintheWithoutLeave, Aug 01 2005


I sometimes use emphasistic asterixing if only because uppercase looks so shouty. Perhaps as a result, I don't think that use of the mechanism is always is evidence of an inability to emphasise in other ways, rather it is evidence of a more conversational, less long-winded and arguable more immediately engaging style of writing. Proof and disproof of this can be found by searching the halfbakery for the asterix-riddled and informationally packed writings of our very own Guy Fox.
-- calum, Aug 01 2005


//(speech impediment)//

Quality. Absolute quality. That's just made my day.
-- Jinbish, Aug 01 2005


Is an underscore any less irksome?
-- nineteenthly, Oct 01 2005


What do you call a male asterix?

mmm AsterIces. The frozen confection from the stars!
-- bungston, Oct 02 2005


I mmiigghhtt also suggest that the author looking for emphasis and ppuunncchh! try repeating every character twice or more.
-- bungston, Oct 02 2005


//"Do *you* want *to* come *home* for *a* kiss *and* a *cuddle*?" (speech impediment)//

Chronic Iambism?
-- Cuit_au_Four, Oct 02 2005



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