Where Would Modern Business be Without the "Sarcastic Smiley"?

Here at work we have something called the "office communicator" which sounds very professional, (or like a super terminator-like robot that wears a tie and communicates with pristine efficiency) but the fact that I can use it to send a coworker an icon of a rainbow, slice of pizza, martini, or "dogface" (that's actually what the program calls it) makes it feel a little less business like.  That could be just me though.  It also tells me that while an instant messaging program may be important for serious "office communications", it's main purpose is for people who want to screw around while at work.  Which of course is something I never do.