# Ain't It Good To Know You've Got A Friend? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 26, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100 "2019-06-26T15:05:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/1 "2019-06-26T15:05:33Z")
I’m sure this has been previously addressed, but: Is there any actual point to the “Friends” function on this board, or is it just something that came with the software that can be used as a minor form of validation but otherwise conveys no particular benefits, special access or privileges? I mean, it’s lovely that the odd person [sic] wants to be my “friend” but mutual messageboard friendship doesn’t appear to change anything in terms of how the messageboard works. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/2 "2019-06-26T15:22:16Z")
As far as I can tell, it’s utterly meaningless in any tangible way. I’ve been refusing to use it or respond to friend requests because it’s basically insulting in the way it’s currently set up. Just another example of how the boards could have been made into something more back when that might have made a difference, but blew the opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/3 "2019-06-26T15:44:11Z")
I should add that I’m not saying that it should or shouldn’t do something. I was just wondering if it already did and I just hadn’t noticed. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/4 "2019-06-26T16:26:08Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I should add that I’m not saying that it should or shouldn’t do something. I was just wondering if it already did and I just hadn’t noticed. I’m agreeing that it seems to do nothing and that if it does anything, anything at all, I’ve also missed it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/5 "2019-06-26T17:40:03Z")
It could, but it’s not activated. I think what it does is send a Pm to all your friends. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/6 "2019-06-26T17:42:53Z")
They had to disable the feature. If you Friend someone and then put them on Ignore, the hamsters go into reverse and the universe returns to a point singularity. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/7 "2019-06-26T17:45:09Z")
The first Sunday in August my friends all come over and hang out for the day. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/8 "2019-06-26T18:12:05Z")
Very few people do this, but you can set up your profile so that some things can be seen by everyone and others only by people you are friends with. Other than that, it’s mostly just the warm fuzzies you get from having a friend. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/9 "2019-06-26T18:53:07Z")
It helps you keep your friends close. Now if we only had an Enemies function. Oh wait, that’s the Ignore feature. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/10 "2019-06-26T19:00:07Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I’m agreeing **that it seems to do nothing** and that if it does anything, anything at all, I’ve also missed it. Isn’t that supposed to be the beauty of it? ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/11 "2019-06-26T19:06:30Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’m sure this has been previously addressed, but: > > Is there any actual point to the “Friends” function on this board, or is it just something that came with the software that can be used as a minor form of validation but otherwise conveys no particular benefits, special access or privileges? It allows me to send out some token friend requests any time someone starts an ATMB thread about the feature. Except in the case of Kayaker. Is that weekly or just every month? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/12 "2019-06-26T19:26:09Z")
¡kopek, mi amigo! ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/13 "2019-06-26T19:31:16Z")
I belong to an exclusive, difficult to join club known as Friends Of Idle Thoughts, and my life hasn’t been the same since I was asked to join. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/14 "2019-06-26T19:32:04Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I belong to an exclusive, difficult to join club known as Friends Of Idle Thoughts, and my life hasn’t been the same since I was asked to join. 😛 Asked? You weren’t paid, then?😕 ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/15 "2019-06-26T19:41:09Z")
I think the ones who get paid get a title that’s different from “friend”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/16 "2019-06-27T03:52:54Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I think the ones who get paid get a title that’s different from “friend”. 😃 And then only blow remains on the list? 😕😃 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/17 "2019-06-27T05:56:13Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Very few people do this, but you can set up your profile so that some things can be seen by everyone and others only by people you are friends with. > > Other than that, it’s mostly just the warm fuzzies you get from having a friend. There’s also an option to restrict PMs to only be from Contacts and Friends. What’s a Contact? I’ve never used it, but I believe it’s basically a bookmark for a particular user’s profile, making it easier to contact them. And it has the same effect as being a friend, other than sending them a request that has to be accepted. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/18 "2019-06-27T09:00:49Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > They had to disable the feature. If you Friend someone and then put them on Ignore, the hamsters go into reverse and the universe returns to a point singularity. You say that like it’s a _bad_ thing. > [@kopek](#): > > It allows me to send out some token friend requests any time someone starts an ATMB thread about the feature. Well I’m thrilled to be your token friend. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2019, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/19 "2019-06-29T04:49:24Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’m sure this has been previously addressed, but: > > Is there any actual point to the “Friends” function on this board, or is it just something that came with the software that can be used as a minor form of validation but otherwise conveys no particular benefits, special access or privileges? I mean, it’s lovely that the odd person [sic] wants to be my “friend” but mutual messageboard friendship doesn’t appear to change anything in terms of how the messageboard works. I’ve hit up several of mine for a loan. Sold some swampland to a couple of others. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2019, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100/20 "2019-06-29T08:58:03Z")
I suppose I have about 4 or so on my friends list (after 20 years here that says a lot!) It just signifies to me - and hopefully them- that we are genuine friends. They’re probably all dead though. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-it-good-to-know-youve-got-a-friend/836100.md?page=2)