# Friendless on the SDMB **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 11, 2017, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308 "2017-08-11T01:20:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/1 "2017-08-11T01:20:20Z")
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. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2017, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/2 "2017-08-11T01:41:04Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/3 "2017-08-11T02:15:43Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/4 "2017-08-11T02:23:16Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/5 "2017-08-11T03:27:39Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > 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! The Straight Dope Message Board, brought to you in part by the Amway Corp. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/6 "2017-08-11T03:30:00Z")
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](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19702407&postcount=9). TL : DR version: It’s like an online form of sitting at the mall and people-watching for me. Relaxing. Calming. Meditative. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/7 "2017-08-11T03:32:28Z")
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”? ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/8 "2017-08-11T03:34:03Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > 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. I have noticed users with a + after their name (and one with a ++) and always assumed it was just part of their name. . . mc ---
**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:** [August 11, 2017, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/9 "2017-08-11T05:02:46Z")
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. 😛 ---
**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:** [August 11, 2017, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/10 "2017-08-11T05:19:01Z")
“It’s the friends you can call up at 4am that matter.” – Marlene Dietrich ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/11 "2017-08-11T07:24:50Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > 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. 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? ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/12 "2017-08-11T08:21:13Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > 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 ---
**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:** [August 11, 2017, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/13 "2017-08-11T08:41:00Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > 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). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/14 "2017-08-11T09:06:29Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > 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?🙂 ---
**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:** [August 11, 2017, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/15 "2017-08-11T09:25:51Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > I missed that memo. Link?🙂 > **["I'm really a girl" (April 1st prank PM)](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=753253)** > > So I did this on Halloween, too. April 1st’s version is: \*I’ve been keeping a secret for awhile and I don’t really know who to tell…I saw you were online, though, and figured “What the hell?”. I know you and I don’t talk, really…but I’ve always... ---
**Author:** ![Kzbre5m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kzbre5m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kzbre5m)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/16 "2017-08-11T09:50:58Z")
[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. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/17 "2017-08-11T12:12:26Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > 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? 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. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/18 "2017-08-11T12:48:51Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > I have noticed users with a + after their name (and one with a ++) and always assumed it was just part of their name. . . > > mc Those are the “Pro” versions of those posters, and you have pay extra to see their posts. Regards, John Mace+ To see the rest of this post, please PM me with your credit card info, and a signed form authorizing med to bill you $24.99/mo. To cancel, just check the box at the bottom of this post. If you have any questions, please refer to our website, where you will not find a customer service link. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2017, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/19 "2017-08-11T13:19:48Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > 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. 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. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308/20 "2017-08-11T13:47:29Z")
Friends are good to have around when it’s moving time … I wonder if **Idle Thoughts** owns a pick-up truck? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendless-on-the-sdmb/793308.md?page=2)