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Roommate rules from Friends

Friends is basically about a show about 6 people living in the city. Throughout the entire series, these friends have mingled and lived with each other at different points in their life. Considering their mishmash of personalities, I think it's high time we learn from these guys and gals about how to live with other people in a humane way.



Don't bet your apartment on a game
In season 4, Monica and Rachel bet the boys (Chandler and Joey) that they know them better than the boys know the girls. This contest, done quiz show style, raise the stakes - the girls bet their apartment and end up losing their beautiful apartment to the guys' crummy, dirty apartment. I don't recommend betting land property when playing games - that's one gamble I'm not willing to take.

If your roommate owns really ugly paintings or sculptures, just pretend you like them
Case 1: Joey is an impulse buyer and once bought a whole zoo of ceramic animals. The one that stayed behind was the white dog sculpture, which Ross helped pay to save. It was a really ugly dog sculpture. But hey, at least it doesn't make a mess on the carpet. You can watch the clip here.

Case 2: Monica and Gladys both hate Phoebe's painting, whom she names Gladys. Unfortunately, they soon find out that both of them can revel in Phoebe's (really) scary taste in art. Watch the clip below:

It's probably best to avoid making judgments about your friends' taste in art. You never know when you might offend them. Instead, it's best to just nod and smile - and appreciate their love for ugly things.

If your roommate gives Hannibal Lecter a run for his money, he probably shouldn't be your roommate anymore
You know the roommate I'm talking about? The one who breathes a little too loudly during silence? The one who hides in his room and never seems to come out? This roommate usually leaves creepy things in the washroom and maybe eats parts that look strangely like human body parts? The one with the really creepy smile, maybe? Nevertheless, if you're getting the sneaking suspicion that your roommate could potentially be psycho - then it's probably time to get a new roommate.

Such an instance occurs with Chandler, when he has a new roommate named Eddie. You can watch the clip of Eddie watching Chandler as he sleeps here.

Always have a spare set of keys for your place.
Especially if there's a baby locked inside.

Turn off all appliances before you leave the house.
Rachel moved in Phoebe for a while to give Monica and Chandler some privacy as a couple. In one episode, Rachel accidentally sets the apartment on fire because she left the curling iron on. I would recommend turning off all things before you leave the house - be it a curling iron or, say, the oven.

If you're going to walk around naked, get some curtains for your windows.
Don't just get some curtains - use them, too. The girls' apartment directly faces another apartment window - where a character named "Ugly Naked Guy" lives. It's probably best not to offend neighbours - if you prefer being one with nature and feeling "free", that's fine - but if you're shy about these things, it's probably best to find some privacy away from Peeping Toms.

Do what you have to do, to get the housing you want.
There's a lot of hot property around these days - I know from personal experience. As a student, I know that they start looking very early in the year for a place to live. No doubt there will be some bidding wars for some awesome housing. You have to snatch up these places fast, or else you'll be stuck in some dingy old basement infested with mice and no cable. Hence, you should do whatever's necessary - be it a free dinner, a large bribe or some bonding time. Ross ending up acquiring his awesome digs from Ugly Naked Guy by hanging out with him and eating mini muffins while naked in a desperate attempt to bond with him. I wouldn't recommend hanging around naked with a housing seller though unless you know he or she's a nudist for sure.



Images: babet_02, lepinparasol