[crumbshot]

You can get a delightful spectrum of colour through the filter as well, using the large square emojis:

    ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
    ⬜🟥🟧🟨🟩🟦🟪🟫⬛⬜
    ⬜🟧🟨🟩🟦🟪🟫⬛🟥⬜
    ⬜🟨🟩🟦🟪🟫⬛🟥🟧⬜
    ⬜🟩🟦🟪🟫⬛🟥🟧🟨⬜
    ⬜🟦🟪🟫⬛🟥🟧🟨🟩⬜
    ⬜🟪🟫⬛🟥🟧🟨🟩🟦⬜
    ⬜🟫⬛🟥🟧🟨🟩🟦🟪⬜
    ⬜⬛🟥🟧🟨🟩🟦🟪🟫⬜
    ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜

HN pixel art generator, anyone?

[krapp]

As soon as the HN fun police see this they're going to kill it, though.

[ehPReth]

sadly :(. they have a hate-on for emoji for some reason.

as does some of HN. time to upgrade from the 80s, folks ;)

[ddtaylor]

I think it's the same reason that excessive bold or ALL CAPS are not enjoyed by most: it's a distraction. Instead of focusing on the content of what is being written. I think icons, just like bold or CAPS, can be used in situations where it adds value (formatting pun intended) - but often times it's poorly used and distracting.