=P
I think =P is like a piece of punctuation.
Consider:
1. I hate you.
2. I hate you!
3. I hate you?
4. I hate you =P
(1) expresses like, it as a statement, with a note of seriousness and finality, which comes from the falling tone when you speak it.
(2) has lots of like, emotion in it.
(3) is, naturally a question. It's quizzical, and it has a rising tone.
(4)...you can tell they are joking. It's a statement, but it's not serious like a full stop is. It's most like an exclamation point, in that it expresses strong emotion. :)
Consider:
1. I hate you.
2. I hate you!
3. I hate you?
4. I hate you =P
(1) expresses like, it as a statement, with a note of seriousness and finality, which comes from the falling tone when you speak it.
(2) has lots of like, emotion in it.
(3) is, naturally a question. It's quizzical, and it has a rising tone.
(4)...you can tell they are joking. It's a statement, but it's not serious like a full stop is. It's most like an exclamation point, in that it expresses strong emotion. :)