I'm thinking that smilie may not be meant to be supportive,but for social,silly purposes?
Like for example if someone was poking fun at themselves?
But if it were used in an insultive sense about another person, then I'd say it isn't supportive.
There are loads of smilies and other type of emoticons that I do not think they are all intended to be supportive, some are there for fun, that's how I take it, and I hope others feel the same way too, I'd hate for members to start using smilies for insultive purposes, that would negate the whole meaning of "smilies",eh?
Just my 2 cents.

Roe