A new trend sweeping TU’s campus includes a friendly dose of psychological abuse.
Fueled by sleep deprivation, “friendlighting” is a brand new game that has made its way to the University of Tulsa. “The rules are simple,” explained psychology major Molly Lewis. “Do whatever it takes to make your friends question their sanity, without causing any physical harm. Sort of like gaslighting… but with friends!”
Utilizing social media giants such as Twitter and Instagram, students tweet or post images of all their successful tricks. The game has no set point system, but certain moves further your street cred and have been given nicknames.
Examples of this include the classic “I’m on My Way” text, when in fact you are still half-naked watching reruns of “Gossip Girl” without the strength to get up and put on a pair of pants. Another one, specifically targeted toward campuses, is a trick called “The Philanthropy Night.” This is where a person says they’ll come to a philanthropy night for fraternities/sororities and invite everyone they know, but come the night of, they are nowhere to be seen.
The most popular one is arguably the “We Should Get Dinner Sometime,” where in actuality you have zero plans of seeing that person again. This one has risen in popularity because it can be used multiple times on the same person.
The bigger the hit, the better the recognition. Corbin Barker used the “I Thought It was Your Turn to Clean the Apartment” move for six weeks straight and has skyrocketed in the ranks.
There is even word of amateur teams forming to pull off bigger and better moves. One team in particular, run by Lewis, has made it a goal to screw over at least half of the college campus without them realizing. These include fake social events such as “Speed Dating Day” and “Facebook Party,” as well as pledging Greek life and then not accepting a bid.
Not all moves are successful, however. Accounting major Sam Markle was shunned by others for snapping a photo of himself putting laxatives in the sauces at Benvenuto’s. “This isn’t a prank war, dumbass,” commented a fellow player. “Go back to playing with babies,” said another.
Of course, with more recognition comes more realizations that perhaps your friends are dicking you over. Certain students are locking themselves in their apartments and refusing to leave in fear that someone is going to go out of their way to inconvenience them. Murmurs of “I’m not crazy” can be faintly heard all over Norman Village. And that’s exactly what the pros are hoping for.
Certain professors have become first responders to students who become victims, and there’s word that friendlighting might be banned. It seems players are not too concerned, however, stating that perhaps this game isn’t real to begin with and people have just made it up.
“People say I might be a sociopath,” says Lewis. “But is it really sociopathic to have a little fun? Oh, by the way, come to my College Prom in February.”
When asked when in February, she provided no further details.
