best place to get Thunderbird help is at http://forums.mozillazine.org/
that said,
* to enable/disable emoticons: Edit -> Preferences -> Display ->
Formatting -> Plain Text Messages -> Display emoticons as graphics
* to see threads select View -> Sort By -> Threaded
HTH
Karl Larsen wrote:
I tried to get Help on this email client and it is hopeless! I
somehow lost the little thing where I can choose an emotion. I also
wanted to find out how to set up a thread and follow that. The Help
which is a web page is lousy!
If anyone can help I sure need it.