I’ve been on this MB for 17 years now, and have not felt the need to Friend anyone. Nor has anyone felt the need to Friend me. Until today, that is. So now I have a Friend[sup]1[/sup]. What, if any, special functions does this board’s software have for Friends?
[sup]1[/sup] Idle Thoughts. Which puts me in an exclusive group of 904 (as of this morning) other board members. Someday we’ll have to rent a stadium for a Friends of Idle Thoughts Convention.
No function whatsoever AFAIK. And I only have friends because I often read and respond to these threads about the Friend Feature. 
Other than that I am loathed and despised the same as in real life.
A certain percentage of your Post Count now accrues to Idle Thoughts. But now, if you go out and make Friends of your own, you’ll be credited with part of their Post Counts. And then, when they go out and make Friends of their own, a small fraction of those Posts get passed on up to you. Pretty soon you’ll be rollin’ in the Po$t$, man!
There is a function but it is not activated at the SDMB and it’s not very useful anyway. If the “Currently Active Users” function was used here, you’re friends would get a “+” next to them if the were Currently Active.
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It doesn’t really serve any overly useful function, although it can be used to mass PM people at one time and to more easily find posters you like and to see who is online or offline at any time.
I don’t use it for any of those reasons, though…
My reasoning is best explained here, I feel.
TL : DR version: It’s like an online form of sitting at the mall and people-watching for me. Relaxing. Calming. Meditative.
Oh. I do use it for another thing, actually.
I will sometimes PM people who are on it, just with random stuff and conversations…just as a way to say “hi” or “how are you”?
I have noticed users with a + after their name (and one with a ++) and always assumed it was just part of their name. . .
mc
There are some privacy options for your profile in your User Control Panel that can be set to allow friends to see information that regular users won’t see.
But yeah, other than that, your Friends list here isn’t terribly useful.
I’ve been here since 2001, and in that time I’ve received exactly two friend requests, one from Idle Thoughts and one from someone who just joined, posted once, and was never heard from again (I didn’t accept that one).
But hey, I’m an engineer. I’m not expected to have social skills. 
“It’s the friends you can call up at 4am that matter.” – Marlene Dietrich
I have nothing against you personally (or any other way), so I hope you don’t take it badly that I’m not going to return your Friend request. You see, I feel my Friendship with Idle Thoughts is special and I don’t want anything to come between us. Well, except for the other 904 Friends she has. I hope you understand.
BTW, does she get a special prize when she gets to 1000?
You’re a lousy friend if you don’t even know the preferred gender of your ‘special’ friend.
:D:D
It does get a bit difficult when your special friend’s gender is known to be a bit inconsistent (especially around the beginning of April).
I missed that memo. Link?
[QUOTE=kopek]
Other than that I am loathed and despised the same as in real life.
[/QUOTE]
At least you have that. I don’t even exist in real life.
We are all quite fond of Idle Thoughts here on this board. But as likable as he is, it is a well known fact that Idle Thoughts is this board’s local “Friend Slut”. He doesn’t use much discretion when choosing friends.
Those are the “Pro” versions of those posters, and you have pay extra to see their posts.
Regards,
John Mace+
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Not at all. Like I said, its basically a lark I enter into when one of these threads pop up. Very rarely do I even look at the list.
Which brings me to one thing I do regret. One of the few was Opal and it looks like she has disappeared from the list. One or two others as well (at one point I was aware I had 18 and now its down to 15) but that one hurts a little. 
Friends are good to have around when it’s moving time … I wonder if Idle Thoughts owns a pick-up truck?