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Rate Your IM Popularity
aicrules writes "The internet has long been a safe haven, and thus a play-field-leveling force, for the less socially adept to create a network of friends to share in fun, games, and conversation. However, it appears as if the influence of the social ladder is creeping its way in. While it will certainly lend itself to the abuse that any online scoring system faces, AimFight is the new place where people can go to check their popularity against others." From the article: "Your popularity is based on who has you on their buddy list. There's a complicated algorithm at work here. Your score is measured to the third degree, in the sense of the 'six degrees of separation' game that seeks to link anybody on Earth to any other person through no more than five friends. Say a couple of your friends, A and B, have you on their buddy lists. A, who has three people on her buddy list, doesn't add much to your score. That's because she doesn't have as many people on her buddy list as does B, who has 16. Your friend A is clearly not as well-connected as your friend B. Not unlike life."
who are the 144 people that have me on their lists?
And why and how? I have less than 6 "buddies" on my list and am considering dropping half of them.
Who gives a shit about being popular anyway? I consider IM to be a horrible nuisance and a pita.
I only have it because I don't have a home phone and I despise talking on my cell phone. When someone "rings me up" it better be important. For the most part, I don't want to talk to anyone.
However, it appears as if the influence of the social ladder is creeping its way in
Well, what about all of us smart enough not to use IM of any kind? Where do we fall on the "ladder"? Really... IM is only *really* ubiquitous among kids and the really sad, pathetic, lonely adults. Sorry to say, but this isn't much of a pissing contest when it's between 12 year old girls, and 42 year old single women that weigh 300 lbs and have 10 cats and participate in medieval fairs/sci fi conventions.
Am I wrong? Are there very many "normal-ish" people who use IM? I don't know a single person that uses IM of any kind.
Typical Cellphone conversation amongst those you saw:
Females
"Yeah, I'm at a bar by Penn State. Yeah. Uh huh. This weird frumpy looking guy is staring at me. Yah, I guess it's my skirt. Anyway, your place tonight? Sounds good. I need a good pounding. See you then!" Males
"Soo...we still up for tonight? Yeah, I can't wait. What...the...fuck. Some fat nerdy looking guy is starting at me. I think he...wants my ass? Yeah, baby, I know you want my ass. Just like I want your ass...and I KNOW i'll get it later tonight . Alright, see you then. Bye."
See, "normies" use cellphones to get laid. It's that simple.