The image to the right is what happens now when you attempt to add a new friend on Orkut.

If you're too lazy to look at the larger version, the scoop is that they ask you to state how "closely" you know your new friend:

  • haven't met
  • acquaintance
  • friend (default)
  • good friend
  • best friend

I'd argue that "haven't met" is completely different than the other four, but we'll see how they use it. And I'm not sure if and how I'd go about classifying the other 142 people already in my friend list. I guess they'll all default to "friend"?

Now if they start to incorporate a few more variables (or relationship attributes), they'll have the beginnings of a FriendRank scheme.

So far this is a baby step, but they're headed in the right direction. I wonder if others will follow--or even try to lead. I wonder if Orkut will let me have more than one "best" friend?

Posted by jzawodn at March 09, 2004 06:11 PM

Reader Comments
# Jeremy C. Wright said:

The interface for your friends page is now butt ugly.

It's a step in the right direction, but still not enough to be useful.

Btw mate, is your email working? Sent you a couple, and I hate resending things, but I've been having problems with my mail server so I wasnt' sure...

on March 9, 2004 06:51 PM
# jr said:

Ok, how is this really a step in the right direction? Again, what benefit is there for me to not only declare my relationships but also define that relationship?

I've never physically met some of my better friends.What about the people I stalk but who'd rather have nothing to do with me personally?

As it is, most of my Orkut messages have to do with folks looking for work or group messages advertising books or services. I'm actually kind of curious how many active accounts are even going to go through the effort.

I dunno. It still seems as if there's a whole lot of work for little real benefit.

on March 9, 2004 07:37 PM
# Jeremy Zawodny said:

Hmm. It sounds like you mis-read my post as "Hey, *now* Orkut is useful!"

But it's really not there yet. This is hopefully just the beginning.

on March 9, 2004 09:11 PM
# Senthil said:

I had actually forgotten about Orkit for sometime now. I just get interested whenever I see your blogs.
I am not a member yet.( If you wish,you could invite me as someone you have not met).

So,consider this point,whoever is reading your blog and is not a member of Orkit, this tries to invoke interest rather than a discussion.Right?

on March 9, 2004 10:00 PM
# Mark Ayzenshtat said:

Speaking of "best friends" and "bestest friends" - is anyone else bothered (or at least made somewhat uneasy) by Orkut's abundance of baby blues and rainbows? If you can think of a web site that looks more like My Favorite Sticker-Adorned Pony Diary, I'd like to see it.

If you're an Orkut user and are looking for a place to vent about the UI, look up the "Tea Parties and Unicorns" community...

on March 10, 2004 02:04 AM
# gabriel ricard said:

Yes, Jeremy, you can have more than one best friend. I've currently got three listed in Orkut.

on March 10, 2004 07:07 AM
# christina said:

I think "haven't met" is great-- for all those folks I love via email, but live in silly places like australia and haven't come slept on my couch yet.

What is still missing is people I know but don't actually like.

on March 10, 2004 07:12 PM
# gabriel ricard said:

"I don't like that guy."
"Creep"
"Enemy"
"Arch-enemy"
"Nemesis"

on March 11, 2004 07:47 AM
# sekure said:

I hope it does not get congested like friendster ..

on March 11, 2004 08:10 AM
# Twisted said:

Intesting but I don't know anyone from this site so I never get to see it

on March 14, 2004 10:04 AM
# Carlos Gonzaga said:

I need an invitation to enter in some Orkut, necessary to make new friends, please I invite me.

on September 18, 2004 04:50 PM
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