What Does the Facebook Emoticon 42 Mean?
A recently added emoticon on Facebook pays tribute to one of the greatest puzzles in literary history--the number 42. What exactly does the emoticon 42 mean?
The number 42 rose to prominence through the science fiction series entitled The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe by Douglas Adams. In the first installment of the series, a group of non-human intelligences want to know"the ultimate answer to the ultimate question" about life, the universe and everything else. They turn to a powerful computer they called Deep Thought for this ultimate answer to the supreme unknown question. Deep Thought processes their request for seven and a half million years before yielding its now famous answer: "42."
But what is the question in the first place? Deep Thought cannot say, but it says it can help create an even mightier computer that would produce the answer - planet Earth. So the creation of our planet begins. Unfortunately Earth is destroyed by aliens in connivance with a psychiatrist who does not want the "ultimate question" to be discovered, lest it make his profession useless.
Author Douglas Adams maintained that he chose the number 42 at random and that it had no special meaning. But this does not stop people from playing with number 42. As a smiley on Facebook, there are many ways 42 can be used. You can type up the emoticon formula :42: to give a humorous reply, to tell a joke, or as a Facebook status. No one knows the "ultimate question" that 42 is supposed to answer, so you can use it pretty much any way you like.
When someone asks about the meaning of life on Facebook, you can say "42 is the answer!"
When you are not sure what to put on your Facebook status, say "42."
When you are speechless, you can say "42."
When you get tired of answering questions say "42."
When you want to be mystical or philosophical, say "42."
Facebook smileys are great for having fun with your friends at online chat. Try using the mysterious 42 next time to impress - or baffle - your friends.