# What is the function of the buddy list?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-function-of-the-buddy-list/246858>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [May 24, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-function-of-the-buddy-list/246858 "2004-05-24T19:14:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-function-of-the-buddy-list/246858/1 "2004-05-24T19:14:42Z")

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It is a simple question but one I feel I should know. Any help?

Thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-function-of-the-buddy-list/246858/2 "2004-05-24T23:28:44Z")

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Those are actually Citizen Relocation Lists.

God willing, we’ll never have to use them.

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**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-function-of-the-buddy-list/246858/3 "2004-05-24T23:30:43Z")

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OK, now the serious answer: generally, they’re useful for seeing if anyone you like (or dislike and are watching like the proverbial hawk) is online. If the Board has Private Messaging enabled, it makes it easy to set up distribution lists for mass PMs.

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**Author:** ![Limbo\_Donni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Limbo\_Donni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limbo_Donni)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-function-of-the-buddy-list/246858/4 "2004-05-25T00:24:14Z")

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If you want to know if a particular person is online, because they seem to want an answer right now, there’s a checkmark button beside their name in a post.  
It changes color white is online and blue is offline (if you forget which is which, hover over the button)

I have some coworkers on my Instant Messaging list- it’s the same idea, but it works for people who don’t IM.