Explaining #iftheyasked

So, everyone has a list. Right? Yanno what I mean. The list of celebrities or fictional characters or somehow famous people that you would "do" (in this case, read as: wanna hang out with, bang, talk with, meet, etc). Basically, who ever you think are the top 5-10 coolest people out there in the public eye. It's really a lot harder to choose than you think. There are a crap ton of people out there I would like to spend an hour with, just hanging out and hearing their thoughts, so to narrow it down is really a science. 

The boyfriend maintains that this is correct and occasional tests his manliness against my list. This is how the #if theyasked thing was born. If someone from my list showed up in something we were watching, I would always start off by saying something tacky as hell like "Damn, I would love to..." or "Mhm, he is on my list" and then trail off, look at him and grin and say "but, yanno, only if they asked." I was really being a smart ass and he made a game out of it by challenging me.

Boyfriend: "You say that about everyone on TV. Who exactly is on this 'list' anyway?"

Me: "Uhhh...." and I was stumped. I really had no idea what order or who I would put on this mythical list. "Lemme think about it," was all I managed to say in the midst of his victory laughing. Which, in fairness, he deserved. -sheepish-

But, I did it. I made my list after a crap ton of soul searching. It fluxes occasionally in placement, but the hierarchy is pretty set and I think it totals seven people (but, only three of them do I have a total crush on). Thus, I started the hashtag on Twitter whenever I thought about it, in the midst of watching a show or listening to something. I'm proud of the systematic way I narrowed this thing down, the amount of diligent thought it took to make this list. It's like picking your three wishes, and you can't wish for more wishes.

First, you must decide what attributes determine if they make the list. Attractiveness? Talent? Voice? Personality? A character portrayal? Then, you must narrow that pool down (its larger than you think it would be) by selecting the people that best fit your idea of awesome in the category you chose them for initially. Which one of them stands out as the most interesting or exciting or creative or likable. And, invariably, there are the ones you're totally crushing on, which have to be accounted for as well.

Like I said, it's complex. Especially if you're a reader or a thinker, or you take fictional characters as legit choices (I do. Batman is No. 5 #if theyasked). The pool of possibilities is endless. So, #iftheyasked is the best compliment I can give someone, really.

 And, I will never tell which ones I have a crush on, not even if you ask nicely.