When you do a lot of Internet surfing (which, ok, maybe I do), you come across various strangers who you might be keen on turning into friends. People write blogs or post videos that make you think, “If we knew each other, we’d totally be BFFing it up at brunch.”
For example, there’s this girl. You’ve likely already seen this video (in viral video years, it’s ancient) but it never gets less amazing. I could use this little one’s go get ‘em attitude in my life, pronto. Also, her hair is the envy of every curly girl in America.
Then there is the author of this amazing blog post. In “My Son is Gay,” the writer defends her 5-year-old son’s right to wear whatever Halloween costume he chooses—in this case Daphne from Scooby Doo—without be subjected to the ridicule of his classmates. Or, really, their mothers. “If you think that me allowing my son to be a female character for Halloween is somehow going to ‘make’ him gay then you are an idiot,” she says. “Firstly, what a ridiculous concept. Secondly, if my son is gay, OK. I will love him no less. Thirdly, I am not worried that your son will grow up to be an actual ninja so back off.”
Um, I think I love you. I certainly want to mother like you one day. Won’t you be my best friend forever?
And finally, there is Harris. I’m not posting the video here as it’s a little lower on the self-affirmation scale and higher on the Not Suitable For Work-o-meter. But let me just say that while comedian Aziz Ansari is hilarious (and this is one of my most favorite stand-up clips of all time) it’s his little cousin Harris—who he lovingly skewers in this bit—who has stolen my heart. Harris loves Burn Notice. And Cinnabon. And AP World History. What a doll.
Have any Internet sensations earned virtual BFF status in your life? Please do share. That’s the good thing about an imaginary online friendship circle. There’s always room for more.
Happy Friday everyone.
MWF Seeking BFF 
Thanks for this post (the Aziz video is awesome)! Lots of laughs this morning!
In regards to your q: I love Mariza Lynch of newdressaday.com (she started out with a blog, and a few followers, then she exploded into an internet/tv sensation. She is so funny, quirky, and infused with an infectious joye de vivre. I look forward to her posts and imagine she’d be a great friend.
I felt a little shy about writing that I’m a big fan of this blog. I had never followed a blog before yours. If I don’t have a new bff by the time you publish your book, then I’ll be taking my boyfriend to one of your book signings.
I totally want nerdyapplebottom to be my BFF after that post she wrote too. Love.
I’ve watched that “Jessica’s Daily Affirmation” clip many times before, and each time I see it, I think she must be the greatest kid ever with oodles of self-confidence and enthusiasm for life. It would be fun to meet her in real life. Supposedly she is 12 or 13 years old now, and thinks that she is just like any other ordinary kid though.
When my first child was a toddler, that’s when I first discovered parenting blogs, and I used to keep up with about 10 of them. I really enjoyed chatting and connecting with certain mommy bloggers (via back and forth blog comments and even separate email conversations). I felt we had lots in common, and if I had consistently stuck with the blogs over time, I think that a deeper friendship could potentially have been forged, but with the busy-ness of daily life, I soon found out I didn’t have time to read and comment daily on blogs anymore. Recently, I went back to check and see if any of my favorite bloggers are still blogging away, but found out that practically all of them had stopped blogging several years ago! I guess life just got too busy for them too to be able to keep up with all of the writing.
I think it’s a rare blogger who keeps doing it regularly for years. It takes someone who really has a passion to write to blog that long.
The one I have is my first blog, and I do have that passion to write. I’ll always write in one way or another.
Rachel, other than your blog (which I love because your subject has been a huge fascination of mine for 30 years, and a topic we both have as blogs), the only person’s blog I read religiously and would love to have the blogger as a close friend, but maybe not as my #1 BFF, is Bernie Taupin (I did meet him once, and he signed an album of poetry he had made in his early 20s that I still own!); the phenomenal lyricist best known as the one who wrote all the great Elton John songs.
Love, love, love his blog! He’s a bit more conservative than me I think, but I’m pretty sure we would get along wonderfully.
Bernie Taupin
http://www.berniejtaupin.com/blog.bt
Over the years, I’ve become disillusioned with people I view on the Internet. So many are not what they appear to be…I still prefer meeting someone for the very first time in person, then have an Internet relationship with them as a between real-life meets for keeping in touch.
If any viral video has earned BFF status in my heart, it’s definitely Marcel the Shell with Shoes on!
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=marcel+the+shell+with+shoes+on&aq=1
Oooh yes I do love this. I would totally be BFFs with Marcel. Or Jenny Slate, in fact, Marcel’s creator. I posted here (and absolutely adore) her Bestie x Bestie video, which surely I should have included in this list.
https://mwfseekingbff.com/2010/09/23/parodies-are-the-sincerest-form-of-flattery/
I have only followed your blog since I found it earlier this year.
I have come across other blogs like Soleil Moon Frye and some others that I can’t recall. I would check their posts for a short while, but never signed up to follow them because they just were not as fun and interesting. They were mostly about “Hey, look at me!”
Your blog applies to my own life and seems more “down to earth” as you try to involve all your followers in answering questions for your research.
I clicked on follow for two main reasons:
1) I came from the Chicagoland and miss everyone that is now far away (yesterday’s post about common ties)
2) You don’t expect to get our attention with a “Hey, look at me,” your angle appears more about helping everyone make friends and maybe finding a BFF if ours have disappeared from our current scene.
I am also anxious to see the book and find out the scoop of what your research among all of us will say.
Thank you Natalie! I so appreciate that.
Rachel,
I have been on a bit of a blog fast for the last few months as life has taken over and invaded my quiet time (not such a bad thing really though). Thanks for this post…in a matter of seconds I have developed 5-yr old curly blond hair envy! I don’t know if you’d call yourself an internet sensation…but I’d have to say in my private world in my head full of stories and wonderful mythical places you are most definitely one of my bffs! I can so easily relate to your daily tribulations of life and your quest for more bffs and well you make me think and laugh and sometimes remind me to pick up the phone and call my real-life bff! so…thanks! and happy weekend!
Thank you Lola! That’s so sweet. (And no, I certainly don’t call myself an Internet sensation… but I appreciate the sentiment!)
Thank you for sharing Jessica’s Daily Affirmation. I’ve never seen it before, and it’s awesome!
I just recently saw that Aziz Ansari standup and the part about Harris was my favorite too! Because I DVR Las Vegas…
Allie Brosh of Hyperbole and a Half is my Internet bestie. Hands down. As an example, I give you the ALOT post – http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html
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