What exactly *is* a dingbat?

[WilliamPitt]

Besides Robb, I mean.

[Zomby Woof]

1. Edith Bunker

:-)

[boxster]

2. You win.

;)

[WillParkinson]

3. Edith Bunker....

And Mike was a Meathead.

And Gloria was a Little Girl.

[eyesroll]

4. These are dingbats:

http://www.transaction-one.com/gs/html/a/adobe/fontstore/en/type/browser/gifs/ZADQ/C_ZADQ-10006000.GIF

(Copy and paste. I can't link.)

[murielm99]

5. Whatever they are...

God protects them. Archie Bunker used to say that,too.

"God protects children and dingbats."

[Devlzown]

6. an ornamental sign in typography

or Edith Bunker

[markus]

7. An piece of line art; in particular a hand with a pointing finger

Think of those old-timey ads that decorate the tables at Wendy's.

[molly]

8. A person with little or no logical thought process

[Robb]

9. Easy answer:

Dingbats enact the raw material of a culture, ceremoniously demonstrating and articulating what becomes of a society if it forsakes the "burden" of tradition. Folly, the philosophy of the Dingbat, is a ritualized outlet for repressed sentiments.

The Dingbat commonly conducts an interaction between himself and a person who society defines as wise by acting stupid and cunning at the same time, an interaction which would always end in the Dingbat winning in this uneven matching of wits. The Dingbat constantly questions our perceptions of wisdom and truth and their relationship to everyday experience.

He readily applies metaphysical abstractions to attack the routine taken-for-granted aspects of the daily rituals of the audience, becoming an important conduit for determining meaning and clarifying abstractions which rule our lives. The Dingbat lifts the veil of authority, devoid of decorum constantly making silly remarks, acting irreverently, unmasking the unpleasant aspects of power. He gives us the opportunity to humorously look at our own values and judgements as the powerful socio-cultural structures of power pull, push, and shape our identity.

The social significance of the Dingbat cannot be underestimated, it is perhaps the surest sign that a society has attained cultural maturity because the construct allows the society to reflect on and laugh at its own complex power relations.

(With apologies to Bob at Fools for Hire)

[molly]

10. Are you saying -

an antagonizer? a divider?

[Robb]

13. Nah

...More of a foil. :)

Although my favorite is earthman dave's answer. :D

[earthman dave]

11. It's what you play ding with, of course. nt

[GoddessOfGuinness]

12. This is a dingbat