What is the "Buddy List" for? Why must we request/give consent?

[Whateverist]

I'm trying to understand what it means to put someone on your "Buddy list" here.

I ask because I use it over at TTA where I post less frequently to more quickly follow the posters I like to hear from. 

When posters post less frequently here it would also be convenient to have a little directory to locate their user page so I can check their most recent posts.  But if that is all it is, why should it be necessary to request or grant permission.

I think it is a little murkily confusing what it means to be "buddies" here.  I know in the past I would get alerts saying someone wants to be my buddy and I didn't do anything about it, assuming they could do it without my assent.  Oops.  (In fact, I never even knew what "Alerts" were for my first few years here.  If anyone ever sent such a request to me in the past and failed to get a response I'd be happy to formally give my assent now.)

Maybe it should be called "My personal directory of favorite posters" and everyone could unilaterally add or delete members the same way they do to their "Ignore list".  I mean, if someone wanted to stalk someone else here they could do so through the members list anyway.  It amounts to a shortcut .. unless I'm missing the point?  A little help?

[Silver]

I honestly didn't know it existed until one day I got bored and was looking at my User CP. I found requests from a few people. xD

[Edwardo Piet]

You must give consent because Buddy List Rape is wrong.



It's an old forum feature that no one really uses and it kind of just sticks around by default. It's pretty fucking useless really.

[Whateverist]

Wouldn't it be better just to rebrand it as your personal directory and quit bothering people with confusing requests?

[Tiberius]

I don't see an option to disable the requests, so I'm not sure how they do it at TTA. Probably via a mod.

[Cyberman]

Is it so bothersome to get friend requests? I for one would be glad that someone was thinking about me.

[vorlon13]

I think about the Cybermen menace all the time !!

All hail the Daleks !!!

[mlmooney89]

Is it so bothersome to get friend requests? I for one would be glad that someone was thinking about me.

I know right? I'm sitting here going 'wait people actually use that?' I just assumed by my lack of even one buddy request that it was something people didn't feel necessary

[Whateverist]

Is it so bothersome to get friend requests? I for one would be glad that someone was thinking about me.

Not at all. But when sent one recently I was asked what their purpose was. Don't worry my request box is empty.

[brewer]

Isn't it obvious? It's for buddy love.