What's your relationship with insert random name here

November 16, 2007 5:58 PM

I'd like more choices under the contact list thingy, plskthx.

Currently when asked "What's your relationship with [insert random MeFite here]?" we have choices like aquaintence, co-worker, spouse, whether or not you've met that person in the flesh, muse, crush, sweetheart, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. I've noticed when I find other people linking to me, they're not taking these choices very seriously. I've also noticed that I have not been taking these choices very seriously. I believe it's time we take these choices very seriously by making more of them which lack any sense of seriousness whatsoever. I'd like to see more options here, or perhaps some fields we could type into, where we can add one or more of the following:

second cousin twice removed
bitter enemy
agent
double agent
joke writer
manager
black sheep
yellow belly
red bull
hound dog
personal assistant
my own personal jesus
significant other
life partner
death partner
dead ringer
bridge partner
wing man
coach
protoge
mentor
still owes me ten bucks
knows what i did last summer
co-worker
co-worker with the keys to the office supplies
co-worker with the keys to the liquor cabinet
conehead
meta-worker
metal-worker
metal-head
head-worker
head-wonker
bass player
virgin sacrifice
cook
pirate
ninja
assassin
evil clown
pirate ninja
ninja pirate
spy
bombadier
go-fer
golfer
gopher
french
disembodied face of cthulhu
stunt double
favorite flavor of ice cream
organ donor
substitute teacher
he haz mah bucket!
pinch hitter
goal kicker
boot licker
reminds me a bit of my Uncle Ned
understudy
chosen one
patsy
slave
slave girl
orion slave girl (green optional)
disgruntled postal worker
temporary disposable personal savior
innocent bystander to my metaphorical train wreck


also? An option to add at the end of any of the choices: "with benefits". Please add to this list or edit said list to make improvements or give just cause why these two should not be wed in holy matrimony oh waitaminute that's wrong plskthxby!

posted by ZachsMind to Feature Requests at 5:58 PM (38 comments total)

We have talked about this often. The XFN system as built does not support these. We have not been inclined to extend its functionality. Here is the most recent thread where we talked about this.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:02 PM on November 16, 2007

other personality
my real daddy
brother by another money
lust object
I'd hit it
posted by jonmc at 6:02 PM on November 16, 2007 [2 favorites]

I'll go for "ninja Pirate". Obviously that one should be added!
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 6:16 PM on November 16, 2007

hmm...i looked quick and saw "asspirate".

I think I need to go to sleep.
posted by C17H19NO3 at 6:19 PM on November 16, 2007

ok, we can close this now
posted by blacklite at 6:35 PM on November 16, 2007

piss off
posted by cog_nate at 6:43 PM on November 16, 2007

ass burgers.

Don't close it yet, because I want to add something.

Can we have some sort buttons for the contacts? By date added would be nice, or by proximity, too.

I suppose it's an edge case, but I get a little overwhelmed and I like meeting and talking with people. A couple of times people have added me as a contact and I had no idea who was the newest contact 'cause they're all just sort of jumbled in there alphabetically and I have to try to remember who was there before.

Also, when we click on the "favorited by" links with the list of clickable usernames, can we have it take us to their profile pages and not their list of favorites when we click on their names? I want to see the profile of the user, not the things they're favoriting. I can't quite understand why it's done that way and it's been bugging me forever.
posted by loquacious at 6:43 PM on November 16, 2007

Zach, this is really silly post and I don't mean that in a good way.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:46 PM on November 16, 2007

It does kind of seem like a HAY GUYZ LOOK AT MY LIST OF FUNNY rather than an actual feature list, doesn't it?
posted by dersins at 7:08 PM on November 16, 2007

er, feature request.
posted by dersins at 7:08 PM on November 16, 2007

adds ZachsMind as relationship "joke writer", "coach" for dersins
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:14 PM on November 16, 2007

Don't forget "consistently PUI."
posted by Cyrano at 7:17 PM on November 16, 2007

Wendell already made a metatalk post like this two weeks ago.
posted by puke & cry at 7:23 PM on November 16, 2007

So maybe it's just a list of the funny, but I'll be damned if the addition of "with benefits" isn't a fucking genius idea.

A+++++ WOULD READ JOKES AGAIN
posted by Banky_Edwards at 7:25 PM on November 16, 2007

Wendell already made a metatalk post like this two weeks ago.

I ALREADY SAID THAT.

Oh hey, allcaps is fun!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:29 PM on November 16, 2007 [2 favorites]

I'd like to ad Krrrlson as my baby daddy. As would many of you.
posted by SassHat at 7:29 PM on November 16, 2007

And now I notice that was linked it the first fucking comment. Clearly I need to drink more. Excuse me.
posted by puke & cry at 7:31 PM on November 16, 2007

mentor
guru
life coach
nemesis
posted by Meatbomb at 7:35 PM on November 16, 2007

I ALREADY MADE A METATALK POST LIKE THIS TWO WEEKS AGO.

You're right! All caps can be very cathartic.

Zach, that nice thing I said about your mind, I take it back.
posted by wendell at 7:54 PM on November 16, 2007 [2 favorites]

Myself, I only use "met". I have no siblings that use MetaFilter, and only one spouse, who doesn't.
posted by yhbc at 7:56 PM on November 16, 2007

Hi! Is this the drinking thread? Hang on, I'll be right back. *gets another beer*
posted by brain_drain at 8:19 PM on November 16, 2007 [2 favorites]

oh man!
I'm glad I stumbled into here from the Flashing Deletion and Flashing Deletion 2: Semantic Boogaloo threads.

[opens duty-free bottle of Knob Creek]
posted by heeeraldo at 8:22 PM on November 16, 2007 [4 favorites]

I just want "crushed." I don't give a goddamn about any of you, but I know a lot of you want to jump my bones. I should be able to indicate that.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 8:30 PM on November 16, 2007

AskMe once this is implemented: Where can I buy biodegradable organic free-trade green bodypaint?
posted by Skorgu at 8:45 PM on November 16, 2007

I believe it's time we take these choices very seriously by making more of them which lack any sense of seriousness whatsoever.

Ya, that is pretty much why I don't add any contacts..



I'd like to add SassHat as my sassy mama.
I guess met will do though.. Do I really want to take the plunge?!?!
posted by Chuckles at 9:16 PM on November 16, 2007

I want a nemesis option.

You know who you are.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:19 PM on November 16, 2007 [1 favorite]

This thread contains too much talk, not enough drinking.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 9:55 PM on November 16, 2007

OH HAI!

I can has something?

exhibitionist
voyeur
cat
posted by Ceiling Cat at 10:03 PM on November 16, 2007

I was previously in favor of expanding the contact options, but now I see why it's a terrible idea. Because the minute you do, everyone will come up with huge lists of bullshit that they think is useful (or most likely just funny) and then bitch that their unique snowflakes aren't a part of the storm.

So mathowie, even if you change things in the future and it becomes an option, just keep saying "No."
posted by kyleg at 11:33 PM on November 16, 2007

literal viking
metaphorical viking
posted by oh pollo! at 3:39 AM on November 17, 2007

You all need a little more silly in your life. Especially those of you who think you don't. =)
posted by ZachsMind at 5:57 AM on November 17, 2007 [1 favorite]

hmm...i looked quick and saw "asspirate".

It beame a meme of a 3-day Lifeboat meetup, when at lunch on the first day, a teacher amongst us us related how a semi-literate high school student of his, while reading aloud pronounced the word aspirate as "ass pirate." Much hilarity and hi-jinx ensued.
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:59 AM on November 17, 2007

ZachsMind, I had to add you as a contact, just to see what the options actually were. I considered "crush" but as you might find that awkward, I went with inspirational muse.
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:05 AM on November 17, 2007

but I know a lot of you want to jump my bones. I should be able to indicate that.

Dude, I wouldn't jump your bones if I was Evel Knievel.
posted by Sparx at 7:12 AM on November 17, 2007 [1 favorite]

You forgot 'poland'.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:17 AM on November 17, 2007 [1 favorite]

You can use crush if ya want DR. Steven's got me listed as his sweetheart or something like that. It's all in good clean wholesome family fun.
posted by ZachsMind at 10:29 AM on November 17, 2007

You all need a little more silly in your life. Especially those of you who think you don't. =)

I would add you as a contact, but I don't see Bottomless Fountain of Triteness as an option.

See also: Colin Hunt.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 11:04 AM on November 17, 2007

I do think that "acquaintance" is a bit academic-sounding. I mean, if that's the extent of a relationship, what's the point of listing it?
posted by bingo at 11:10 PM on November 17, 2007