diff --git a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
index 034eef546..052df272a 100644
--- a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
 
   before_filter :ensure_http_referer_is_set
   before_filter :set_header_data, :except => [:create, :update]
-  before_filter :count_requests
   before_filter :set_invites
   before_filter :set_locale
   before_filter :set_git_header if (AppConfig[:git_update] && AppConfig[:git_revision])
@@ -34,10 +33,6 @@ class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
     end
   end
 
-  def count_requests
-    @request_count = Request.where(:recipient_id => current_user.person.id).count if current_user
-  end
-
   def set_invites
     if user_signed_in?
       @invites = current_user.invites
diff --git a/app/controllers/photos_controller.rb b/app/controllers/photos_controller.rb
index 1291513d1..573236b41 100644
--- a/app/controllers/photos_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/photos_controller.rb
@@ -12,9 +12,6 @@ class PhotosController < ApplicationController
     @person = Person.find_by_id(params[:person_id])
 
     if @person
-      @incoming_request = Request.where(:recipient_id => current_user.person.id, :sender_id => @person.id).first
-      @outgoing_request = Request.where(:sender_id => current_user.person.id, :recipient_id => @person.id).first
-
       @profile = @person.profile
       @contact = current_user.contact_for(@person)
       @is_contact = @person != current_user.person && @contact
diff --git a/app/controllers/posts_controller.rb b/app/controllers/posts_controller.rb
index baecafd1a..838a0d39d 100644
--- a/app/controllers/posts_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/posts_controller.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 #   the COPYRIGHT file.
 
 class PostsController < ApplicationController
-  skip_before_filter :count_requests
   skip_before_filter :set_invites
   skip_before_filter :which_action_and_user
   skip_before_filter :set_grammatical_gender
diff --git a/app/controllers/publics_controller.rb b/app/controllers/publics_controller.rb
index 6e5461506..41e3d13b3 100644
--- a/app/controllers/publics_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/publics_controller.rb
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ class PublicsController < ApplicationController
   include Diaspora::Parser
 
   skip_before_filter :set_header_data
-  skip_before_filter :count_requests
   skip_before_filter :set_invites
   skip_before_filter :which_action_and_user
   skip_before_filter :set_grammatical_gender
diff --git a/app/controllers/tags_controller.rb b/app/controllers/tags_controller.rb
index 22dbbe286..c3d1e7df1 100644
--- a/app/controllers/tags_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/tags_controller.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 #   the COPYRIGHT file.
 
 class TagsController < ApplicationController
-  skip_before_filter :count_requests
   skip_before_filter :set_invites
   skip_before_filter :which_action_and_user
   skip_before_filter :set_grammatical_gender
diff --git a/app/controllers/users_controller.rb b/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
index a76ccabbf..6f04621ea 100644
--- a/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
@@ -106,10 +106,8 @@ class UsersController < ApplicationController
     end
 
     if @step == 3
-      @requests = Request.where(:recipient_id => @person.id).includes(:sender => :profile).all
       @friends = service ? service.finder(:local => true) : []
       @friends ||= []
-      @friends.delete_if{|f| @requests.any?{ |r| r.sender_id == f.person.id} }
     end
 
 
diff --git a/app/models/contact.rb b/app/models/contact.rb
index cfab568a7..f6eb06fe9 100644
--- a/app/models/contact.rb
+++ b/app/models/contact.rb
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ class Contact < ActiveRecord::Base
   end
 
   def generate_request
-    Request.new(:sender => self.user.person,
-                :recipient => self.person,
-                :aspect => aspects.first)
+    Request.diaspora_initialize(:from => self.user.person,
+                :to => self.person,
+                :into => aspects.first)
   end
 
   def receive_post(post)
diff --git a/app/models/notifications/started_sharing.rb b/app/models/notifications/started_sharing.rb
index e97d69c70..85c3dd5a4 100644
--- a/app/models/notifications/started_sharing.rb
+++ b/app/models/notifications/started_sharing.rb
@@ -5,4 +5,15 @@ class Notifications::StartedSharing < Notification
   def translation_key
     'started_sharing'
   end
+
+  def email_the_user(target, actor)
+    super(target.sender, actor)
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def self.make_notification(recipient, target, actor, notification_type)
+    super(recipient, target.sender, actor, notification_type)
+  end
+
 end
diff --git a/app/models/person.rb b/app/models/person.rb
index 6c4f6eb1a..87fc82aff 100644
--- a/app/models/person.rb
+++ b/app/models/person.rb
@@ -72,9 +72,8 @@ class Person < ActiveRecord::Base
     sql, tokens = self.search_query_string(query)
     Person.searchable.where(sql, *tokens).joins(
       "LEFT OUTER JOIN `contacts` ON `contacts`.user_id = #{user.id} AND `contacts`.person_id = `people`.id"
-    ).joins("LEFT OUTER JOIN `requests` ON `requests`.recipient_id = #{user.person.id} AND `requests`.sender_id = `people`.id"
     ).includes(:profile
-    ).order("contacts.user_id DESC", "requests.recipient_id DESC", "profiles.last_name ASC", "profiles.first_name ASC")
+    ).order("contacts.user_id DESC", "profiles.last_name ASC", "profiles.first_name ASC")
   end
 
 
diff --git a/app/models/request.rb b/app/models/request.rb
index b2c610d52..39c1b1ad0 100644
--- a/app/models/request.rb
+++ b/app/models/request.rb
@@ -2,29 +2,26 @@
 #   licensed under the Affero General Public License version 3 or later.  See
 #   the COPYRIGHT file.
 
-class Request < ActiveRecord::Base
-  require File.join(Rails.root, 'lib/diaspora/webhooks')
-  require File.join(Rails.root, 'lib/postzord/dispatch')
-
-  include Diaspora::Webhooks
+class Request
   include ROXML
+  include Diaspora::Webhooks
+  include ActiveModel::Validations
+
+  attr_accessor :sender, :recipient, :aspect
 
   xml_accessor :sender_handle
   xml_accessor :recipient_handle
 
-  belongs_to :sender, :class_name => 'Person'
-  belongs_to :recipient, :class_name => 'Person'
-  belongs_to :aspect
-
-  validates_uniqueness_of :sender_id, :scope => :recipient_id
   validates_presence_of :sender, :recipient
   validate :not_already_connected
   validate :not_friending_yourself
 
   def self.diaspora_initialize(opts = {})
-    self.new(:sender => opts[:from],
-             :recipient   => opts[:to],
-             :aspect => opts[:into])
+    req = self.new
+    req.sender = opts[:from]
+    req.recipient = opts[:to]
+    req.aspect = opts[:into]
+    req
   end
 
   def reverse_for accepting_user
@@ -63,7 +60,6 @@ class Request < ActiveRecord::Base
   def receive(user, person)
     Rails.logger.info("event=receive payload_type=request sender=#{self.sender} to=#{self.recipient}")
     user.contacts.create(:person_id => person.id)
-    self.save
     self
   end
 
diff --git a/app/views/aspects/index.html.haml b/app/views/aspects/index.html.haml
index 0fc41d645..0709c208b 100644
--- a/app/views/aspects/index.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/aspects/index.html.haml
@@ -22,11 +22,6 @@
       .description
         = link_to current_user.diaspora_handle, person_path(current_user.person)
 
-  - if @notification_count > 0 || @request_count > 0
-    #new_requests
-      - if @request_count > 0
-        %h4
-          = new_request_link(@request_count)
   %h4.section.invite_friends
     != t('bookmarklet.explanation', :link => link_to(t('bookmarklet.explanation_link_text'), bookmarklet))
   - if @invites > 0
diff --git a/app/views/users/getting_started/_step_3.html.haml b/app/views/users/getting_started/_step_3.html.haml
index 83edbc25c..232ef0ef5 100644
--- a/app/views/users/getting_started/_step_3.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/users/getting_started/_step_3.html.haml
@@ -11,10 +11,6 @@
   %br
 
 #people_stream.stream
-  - for pending_req in @requests
-    - person = pending_req.sender
-
-    = render :partial => 'people/person', :locals => {:request => pending_req, :person => person, :contact => nil}
   - for friend in @friends
     = render :partial => 'people/person', :locals => {:request => friend.request, :person => friend.person, :contact => friend.contact}
 
diff --git a/db/migrate/20110330230206_pm_foreign_keys.rb b/db/migrate/20110330230206_pm_foreign_keys.rb
index 98fcd3a1d..7430cb9c0 100644
--- a/db/migrate/20110330230206_pm_foreign_keys.rb
+++ b/db/migrate/20110330230206_pm_foreign_keys.rb
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ SQL
     remove_foreign_key :conversation_visibilities, :people
 
     remove_foreign_key :messages, :conversations
-    remove_foreign_key :messages, :people, :column => :author_id
+    remove_foreign_key :messages, :column => :author_id
 
-    remove_foreign_key :conversations, :people, :column => :author_id
+    remove_foreign_key :conversations, :column => :author_id
   end
 end
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index db74ad98e..9bc78e22d 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #
 # It's strongly recommended to check this file into your version control system.
 
-ActiveRecord::Schema.define(:version => 20110405171412) do
+ActiveRecord::Schema.define(:version => 20110406202932) do
 
   create_table "aspect_memberships", :force => true do |t|
     t.integer  "aspect_id",  :null => false
@@ -275,20 +275,6 @@ ActiveRecord::Schema.define(:version => 20110405171412) do
   add_index "profiles", ["mongo_id"], :name => "index_profiles_on_mongo_id"
   add_index "profiles", ["person_id"], :name => "index_profiles_on_person_id"
 
-  create_table "requests", :force => true do |t|
-    t.integer  "sender_id",    :null => false
-    t.integer  "recipient_id", :null => false
-    t.integer  "aspect_id"
-    t.datetime "created_at"
-    t.datetime "updated_at"
-    t.string   "mongo_id"
-  end
-
-  add_index "requests", ["mongo_id"], :name => "index_requests_on_mongo_id"
-  add_index "requests", ["recipient_id"], :name => "index_requests_on_recipient_id"
-  add_index "requests", ["sender_id", "recipient_id"], :name => "index_requests_on_sender_id_and_recipient_id", :unique => true
-  add_index "requests", ["sender_id"], :name => "index_requests_on_sender_id"
-
   create_table "service_users", :force => true do |t|
     t.string   "uid",           :null => false
     t.string   "name",          :null => false
@@ -413,9 +399,6 @@ ActiveRecord::Schema.define(:version => 20110405171412) do
 
   add_foreign_key "profiles", "people", :name => "profiles_person_id_fk", :dependent => :delete
 
-  add_foreign_key "requests", "people", :name => "requests_recipient_id_fk", :column => "recipient_id", :dependent => :delete
-  add_foreign_key "requests", "people", :name => "requests_sender_id_fk", :column => "sender_id", :dependent => :delete
-
   add_foreign_key "services", "users", :name => "services_user_id_fk", :dependent => :delete
 
 end
diff --git a/features/manages_contact_requests.feature b/features/manages_contact_requests.feature
deleted file mode 100644
index 3a35d62fe..000000000
--- a/features/manages_contact_requests.feature
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
-Feature: managing contact requests
-
-  Background: 
-    Given I am signed in
-    And I have an aspect called "Family"
-    And I have one follower
-    
-  Scenario: seeing contact request notifications
-    When I am on the home page
-    Then I should see "All Aspects" in the header
-    When I follow "All Aspects"
-    Then I should see "new request!"
-    
-  @javascript
-  Scenario: viewing a requests profile
-    When I am on the manage aspects page
-    When I click on the contact request
-    And I wait for "the requestors profile" to load
-    Then I should be on the requestors profile
-    And I should see "wants to share with you"
-
-  @javascript
-  Scenario: accepting a contact request
-    When I am on the home page
-    And I follow "new request!"
-    Then I should see 0 contacts in "Family"
-
-    When I drag the contact request to the "Family" aspect
-    And I wait for the ajax to finish
-    Then I should see 1 contact in "Family"
-
-  @javascript @wip
-  Scenario: ignoring a contact request
-    When I am on the aspects manage page
-    Then I should see 1 contact request
-    When I click "X" on the contact request
-    And I wait for the ajax to finish
-    Then I should see 0 contact requests
diff --git a/spec/controllers/post_visibilities_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/post_visibilities_controller_spec.rb
index 5760f7203..6a082da8a 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/post_visibilities_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/post_visibilities_controller_spec.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ describe PostVisibilitiesController do
     a2 = bob.aspects.create(:name => "two")
     bob.contacts.create(:person => alice.person, :aspects => [a2])
    
-    @status = bob.post(:status_message, :text => "hello", :public => true, :to => a2)
+    @status = bob.post(:status_message, :text => "hello", :to => a2)
     @vis = @status.post_visibilities.first
   end
 
diff --git a/spec/models/contact_spec.rb b/spec/models/contact_spec.rb
index f2829765f..3297075c2 100644
--- a/spec/models/contact_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/contact_spec.rb
@@ -131,10 +131,6 @@ describe Contact do
         Postzord::Dispatch.should_receive(:new).and_return(m)
         @contact.dispatch_request
       end
-      it 'persists no request' do
-        @contact.dispatch_request
-        Request.where(:sender_id => @user.person.id, :recipient_id => @person.id).should be_empty
-      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/models/notification_spec.rb b/spec/models/notification_spec.rb
index 57f23cbc4..856db7e9a 100644
--- a/spec/models/notification_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/notification_spec.rb
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ describe Notification do
       before do
         @request = Request.diaspora_initialize(:from => @user.person, :to => @user2.person, :into => @aspect)
       end
+
       it 'calls Notification.create if the object has a notification_type' do
         Notification.should_receive(:make_notification).once
         Notification.notify(@user, @request, @person)
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ describe Notification do
 
       it 'creates the notification already read' do
         n = Notification.notify(@user, @request, @person)
-        n.unread?.should be_false
+        n.should_not be_unread
       end
 
       it 'sockets to the recipient' do
diff --git a/spec/models/request_spec.rb b/spec/models/request_spec.rb
index da060e561..9793fbd2b 100644
--- a/spec/models/request_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/request_spec.rb
@@ -6,86 +6,85 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe Request do
   before do
-    @user    = alice
-    @user2   = eve
-    @person  = Factory :person
-    @aspect  = @user.aspects.first
-    @aspect2 = @user2.aspects.first
+    @aspect = alice.aspects.first
   end
 
   describe 'validations' do
     before do
-      @request = Request.diaspora_initialize(:from => @user.person, :to => @user2.person, :into => @aspect)
+      @request = Request.diaspora_initialize(:from => alice.person, :to => eve.person, :into => @aspect)
     end
+
     it 'is valid' do
-      @request.sender.should == @user.person
-      @request.recipient.should   == @user2.person
+      @request.sender.should == alice.person
+      @request.recipient.should   == eve.person
       @request.aspect.should == @aspect
       @request.should be_valid
     end
+
     it 'is from a person' do
       @request.sender = nil
       @request.should_not be_valid
     end
+
     it 'is to a person' do
       @request.recipient = nil
       @request.should_not be_valid
     end
+
     it 'is not necessarily into an aspect' do
       @request.aspect = nil
       @request.should be_valid
     end
+
     it 'is not from an existing friend' do
-      Contact.create(:user => @user2, :person => @user.person, :aspects => [@aspect2])
+      Contact.create(:user => eve, :person => alice.person, :aspects => [eve.aspects.first])
       @request.should_not be_valid
     end
-    it 'is not a duplicate of an existing pending request' do
-      @request.save
-      duplicate_request = Request.diaspora_initialize(:from => @user.person, :to => @user2.person, :into => @aspect)
-      duplicate_request.should_not be_valid
-    end
+
     it 'is not to yourself' do
-      @request = Request.diaspora_initialize(:from => @user.person, :to => @user.person, :into => @aspect)
+      @request = Request.diaspora_initialize(:from => alice.person, :to => alice.person, :into => @aspect)
       @request.should_not be_valid
     end
   end
 
   describe '#notification_type' do
     it 'returns request_accepted' do
-      request = Request.diaspora_initialize(:from => @user.person, :to => @user2.person, :into => @aspect)
-      @user.contacts.create(:person_id => @person.id)
+      person = Factory :person
 
-      request.notification_type(@user, @person).should == Notifications::StartedSharing
+      request = Request.diaspora_initialize(:from => alice.person, :to => eve.person, :into => @aspect)
+      alice.contacts.create(:person_id => person.id)
+
+      request.notification_type(alice, person).should == Notifications::StartedSharing
     end
   end
 
   describe '#subscribers' do
     it 'returns an array with to field on a request' do
-      request = Request.diaspora_initialize(:from => @user.person, :to => @user2.person, :into => @aspect)
-      request.subscribers(@user).should =~ [@user2.person]
+      request = Request.diaspora_initialize(:from => alice.person, :to => eve.person, :into => @aspect)
+      request.subscribers(alice).should =~ [eve.person]
     end
   end
 
   describe '#receive' do
     it 'creates a contact' do
-      request = Request.diaspora_initialize(:from => @user.person, :to => @user2.person, :into => @aspect)
-      @user2.contacts.should_receive(:create).with(hash_including(:person_id => @user.person.id))
-      request.receive(@user2, @user.person)
+      request = Request.diaspora_initialize(:from => alice.person, :to => eve.person, :into => @aspect)
+      eve.contacts.should_receive(:create).with(hash_including(:person_id => alice.person.id))
+      request.receive(eve, alice.person)
     end
   end
 
   context 'xml' do
     before do
-      @request = Request.new(:sender => @user.person, :recipient => @user2.person, :aspect => @aspect)
+      @request = Request.diaspora_initialize(:from => alice.person, :to => eve.person, :into => @aspect)
       @xml = @request.to_xml.to_s
     end
 
     describe 'serialization' do
       it 'produces valid xml' do
-        @xml.should include @user.person.diaspora_handle
-        @xml.should include @user2.person.diaspora_handle
-        @xml.should_not include @user.person.exported_key
-        @xml.should_not include @user.person.profile.first_name
+        @xml.should include alice.person.diaspora_handle
+        @xml.should include eve.person.diaspora_handle
+        @xml.should_not include alice.person.exported_key
+        @xml.should_not include alice.person.profile.first_name
       end
     end
 
@@ -93,8 +92,8 @@ describe Request do
       it 'produces a request object' do
         marshalled = Request.from_xml @xml
 
-        marshalled.sender.should == @user.person
-        marshalled.recipient.should == @user2.person
+        marshalled.sender.should == alice.person
+        marshalled.recipient.should == eve.person
         marshalled.aspect.should be_nil
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/models/user/connecting_spec.rb b/spec/models/user/connecting_spec.rb
index 78c259901..0f60989e9 100644
--- a/spec/models/user/connecting_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/user/connecting_spec.rb
@@ -18,13 +18,11 @@ describe Diaspora::UserModules::Connecting do
 
   context 'contact requesting' do
     describe  '#receive_contact_request' do
-      before do
-        @r = Request.diaspora_initialize(:to => alice.person, :from => person)
-      end
-
       it 'creates a contact' do
+        r = Request.diaspora_initialize(:to => alice.person, :from => person)
+
         lambda {
-          received_req = @r.receive(alice, person_one)
+          received_req = r.receive(alice, person_one)
         }.should change(Contact, :count).by(1)
       end
     end
@@ -55,14 +53,6 @@ describe Diaspora::UserModules::Connecting do
     end
 
     context 'received a contact request' do
-      before do
-        Request.diaspora_initialize(:from => person, :to => alice.person).save
-        Request.diaspora_initialize(:from => person_one, :to => alice.person).save
-
-        @received_request = Request.where(:sender_id => person.id, :recipient_id => alice.person.id).first
-        @received_request2 = Request.where(:sender_id => person_one.id, :recipient_id => alice.person.id).first
-      end
-
       it 'should ignore a contact request from yourself' do
         request_from_myself = Request.diaspora_initialize(:to => alice.person, :from => alice.person)
         reversed_request = request_from_myself.reverse_for(alice)