Craigslist has become something of a staple in the 18-24 lifestyle. I admit without shame that my current roommates and I were set up through the website. It’s got a little bit of everything, so long as you’re smart about it.

You can’t trust everyone, of course, so remember to use your judgment, since it’s good for tons of stuff if used carefully.

You need an apartment? Want to sell your furniture? Need a date for this weekend? Looking for a random job on the side, or maybe job, period? Voila. One website has made it possible to kill about forty-seven birds with one stone, AND you get to search by city.

How convenient!

But of late, Craigslist has become notably more useful for killing time and sheer entertainment. That’s right, if you haven’t already guessed, the Missed Connections section. See here for one of the “Best of Craigslist” postings that you can’t help but chuckle over, or pray won’t be you.

Just doing research to write this piece I probably spent three full evenings scanning Missed Connections, getting so distracted that I couldn’t even pull a coherent sentence together afterward. It’s fantastic. Essentially, you’re taking that guy you made awkward eye contact with or the girl who caught you trying to figure out where her shoes were from, and jumping inside their head. Or, even better, you’re writing them a note to ask them out or apologize.

I don’t want to admit it, but you almost can’t avoid falling into the trap of wondering if someone’s taken the time to write about you when scanning these. I compulsively click on every 4-5-6 train sighting and think if I recall someone checking me out on my walk from the office.

Fine. Maybe I was checking them out. But still? Isn’t it a little cute to think that there are some romantics so hopeless that they’re using a website as an outlet for their love-at-first-sight?

Sure…until you happen upon the “We Hooked Up On a Bus and I Forgot to Get Your Number” ad right below said proclamations.