Should you make a wish list?

Hey Brunonia!Winter Spring is coming. Do you KNOW what this MEANS?! Cuffing season is coming to an end, we are shedding layers of clothing to bask in the glorious Main Green sunshine, and people are actually willing to go out on the weekends again. The combination of relationships ending, less puffy clothes, and more of a social scene can only lead to one thing: Spring Fever.Now, whom are you to set your sights on this spring? How can you keep track of them all? I only recently heard of a very interesting method: a wish list.This is exactly what it sounds like: a running and constantly-updated list of people you're interested in hooking up with. These people can be friends, acquaintances, or that hottie you always see in the pho line at Andrews. The only requirement is that you're interested in them.On the fence about making one? I asked a few people with wish lists some questions about pros/cons/efficacy of having one. Selections from their answers are below:1.) When and why did you make a wish list?A: "At the beginning of this year (my freshman year), my roomie and I made our lists together—college, and Brown especially, was just such an overwhelmingly beautiful place and I needed to keep track of all of the people I had in mind to get with."M: "I started using it after I got a Tinder last spring. Before [Tinder], I would have thoughts about hooking up (consensually and respectfully of course) with other people but the thought would flit out of my mind because I would constantly be telling myself, 'Of course it’ll never happen.' But once you’re more secure with yourself, you actually feel like you can say, 'Okay, yeah, this is someone I want to get to know more and I’m going to do it.' Hence, they go on the list."K: "A few weeks ago. My friend showed me hers and I was like 'I need that.'"Group: "Freshman year, probably first semester. It never started out as a wish list per se but it sort of just turned into a check list type of thing."2.) How many names are on your list? Any funny ones (that don't reveal actual identities) that you don't mind sharing?A: "Seven, including 'Twin 1' and 'Twin 2.'"M: "Like 10-ish? Some are just weird fantasies and others are actually in the realm of possibility. Two of them are underclassmen in one of my seminars (oops) and one is a guy who works at the Creperie (ugh one day)."K: "21, but some of them are under the category 'Maybe...to be reevaluated at a later date.' One is my Chem 330 TA and another entry constitutes an entire group: 'Any of the hot nameless hipsters you see while you are working at Jo's.'"G: "We have around 40 categories. This includes "Brown Facebook celebrity," "Straight boy crush of the week" (if you remember that blog), "Class President," "TA," and also things like "Academic building" and "SciLi 13th floor." We also had Jo's salad chopper on our list!!"3.) How many names have you checked off of your list?A: "Three out of seven, which I'm very proud of considering the fact I got out of a relationship about a month and a half ago!!" (Interviewer note: Girl, that is very impressive. SNAPS.)M: "I’ve checked off two but I’m working on it!!!! Orgo makes having a personal life hard."K: "None—yet."G: "Collectively, we've hit about 35 on our list."5.) How does having one make you feel? Empowered? Creepy but in a funny/good way? 

A: " It definitely feels a bit creepy and like I’m turning the people I want to get with into purely sexual objects that I can put on a list, but honestly it's helping me to explore my sexuality and just kind of be okay with myself as a sexual being and with my wants/desires, so it doesn't bother me much."

M: "I don’t really feel creepy because I’m not targeting [them] in a weird, feral way like they’re objects. I just like the aura they give off and have enjoyed the interactions (albeit shallow) that we’ve had, and I’m interesting in getting to know them as well."

K: "It really just helps to remind me how many viable options there are at Brown. Otherwise, it's easy to get caught in a rut feeling like there's no one around that you could be interested in."

G: "Well, checking things off of lists usually makes people feel good. It was something fun that we talked about together. We think it's fun to check [people] off as an afterthought, not as an objective."

 6.) Would you encourage others to make one?A: "Yes! It's a little uncomfortable at first to know you have a list, but it's very fun to look at."M: "Yeah, if it floats your boat! I feel like everyone has a secret one they keep in their heads [anyway], but they just might not pursue it."K: "Yes. It's fun and funny."G: "Sure, but don't take it seriously or obsess over it. Also don't go on a prowl/hurt other people in order to check [people] off of the list."Well, there you have it, folks! 4/4 would recommend (for their respective reasons).I know I'm gonna make one.Love,Demi