diff --git a/db/seeds/dev.rb b/db/seeds/dev.rb
index ac0cc8cf0..0c9d4bbae 100644
--- a/db/seeds/dev.rb
+++ b/db/seeds/dev.rb
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ user2 = User.build( :email => "korth@tom.joindiaspora.com",
 user2.save
 user2.person.save!
 user2.seed_aspects
-# friending users
+# connecting users
 aspect = user.aspects.create(:name => "other dudes") 
 aspect2 = user2.aspects.create(:name => "presidents")
 
-friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
 user.aspects.create(:name => "Presidents")
diff --git a/db/seeds/tom.rb b/db/seeds/tom.rb
index 6290da594..69f8c8102 100644
--- a/db/seeds/tom.rb
+++ b/db/seeds/tom.rb
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@ user2 = User.build( :email => "korth@tom.joindiaspora.com",
 user2.save!
 user2.seed_aspects
 user2.person.save!
-# friending users
+# connecting users
 aspect = user.aspects.create(:name => "other dudes") 
 aspect2 = user2.aspects.create(:name => "presidents")
 
-friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
 user.aspects.create(:name => "Presidents")
diff --git a/spec/controllers/aspects_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/aspects_controller_spec.rb
index 607410fca..78cfc1d92 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/aspects_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/aspects_controller_spec.rb
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ describe AspectsController do
     @aspect1                    = @user.aspects.create(:name => "another aspect")
     @user2                      = make_user
     @aspect2                    = @user2.aspects.create(:name => "party people")
-    friend_users(@user, @aspect, @user2, @aspect2)
+    connect_users(@user, @aspect, @user2, @aspect2)
     @contact                    = @user.contact_for(@user2.person)
     sign_in :user, @user
     request.env["HTTP_REFERER"] = 'http://' + request.host
diff --git a/spec/controllers/comments_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/comments_controller_spec.rb
index a6d95a536..26a825b40 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/comments_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/comments_controller_spec.rb
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ describe CommentsController do
 
     context "on a post from a friend" do
       before do
-        friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+        connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
         @post = user2.post :status_message, :message => 'GIANTS', :to => aspect2.id
       end
       it 'comments' do
diff --git a/spec/controllers/people_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/people_controller_spec.rb
index efa8d38e3..3bda1130d 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/people_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/people_controller_spec.rb
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ describe PeopleController do
 
     it 'shows a friend' do
       user2 = make_user
-      friend_users(user, aspect, user2, user2.aspects.create(:name => 'Neuroscience'))
+      connect_users(user, aspect, user2, user2.aspects.create(:name => 'Neuroscience'))
       get :index
       assigns[:people].should include user2.person
       response.should be_success
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ describe PeopleController do
     
     it "renders the show page of a friend" do
       user2 = make_user
-      friend_users(user, aspect, user2, user2.aspects.create(:name => 'Neuroscience'))
+      connect_users(user, aspect, user2, user2.aspects.create(:name => 'Neuroscience'))
       get :show, :id => user2.person.id
       response.should be_success
     end
diff --git a/spec/controllers/photos_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/photos_controller_spec.rb
index 8d310f826..58bd342bd 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/photos_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/photos_controller_spec.rb
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ describe PhotosController do
   let!(:photo2){ user2.post(:photo, :user_file => image, :to => aspect2.id)}
 
   before do
-    friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+    connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
     sign_in :user, user
     @controller.stub!(:current_user).and_return(user)
   end
diff --git a/spec/controllers/publics_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/publics_controller_spec.rb
index d3efbb17b..ebbb10ee1 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/publics_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/publics_controller_spec.rb
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ describe PublicsController do
         pending
         message = user2.build_post(:status_message, :message => "hi")
 
-        friend_users(user, aspect1, user2, aspect2)
+        connect_users(user, aspect1, user2, aspect2)
 
         user.reload
         user.visible_post_ids.include?(message.id).should be false
diff --git a/spec/controllers/status_message_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/status_message_controller_spec.rb
index 38415ad3c..f0ec07d28 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/status_message_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/status_message_controller_spec.rb
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ describe StatusMessagesController do
   let!(:aspect2) { user2.aspects.create(:name => "WIN!!") }
 
   before do
-    friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+    connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
     request.env["HTTP_REFERER"] = ""
     sign_in :user, user
     @controller.stub!(:current_user).and_return(user)
diff --git a/spec/helper_methods.rb b/spec/helper_methods.rb
index 6bedafbd1..cd3718d7e 100644
--- a/spec/helper_methods.rb
+++ b/spec/helper_methods.rb
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ module HelperMethods
     User::QUEUE
   end
 
-  def friend_users(user1, aspect1, user2, aspect2)
+  def connect_users(user1, aspect1, user2, aspect2)
     request = user1.send_friend_request_to(user2.person, aspect1)
 
     user1.reload
diff --git a/spec/lib/diaspora/exporter_spec.rb b/spec/lib/diaspora/exporter_spec.rb
index 85ee28a6c..b8ee527da 100644
--- a/spec/lib/diaspora/exporter_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/diaspora/exporter_spec.rb
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ describe Diaspora::Exporter do
   context '<contacts/>' do
 
     before do
-      friend_users(user1, aspect1, user3, aspect3)
+      connect_users(user1, aspect1, user3, aspect3)
       user1.add_person_to_aspect(user3.person.id, aspect.id)
       user1.reload
     end
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ describe Diaspora::Exporter do
   context '<people/>' do
     let(:people_xml) {exported.xpath('//people').to_s}
     before do
-      friend_users(user1, aspect1, user3, aspect3)
+      connect_users(user1, aspect1, user3, aspect3)
       user1.reload
     end
     it 'should include persons id' do
diff --git a/spec/lib/diaspora/parser_spec.rb b/spec/lib/diaspora/parser_spec.rb
index 96971b036..9ed0e9bd2 100644
--- a/spec/lib/diaspora/parser_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/diaspora/parser_spec.rb
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ describe Diaspora::Parser do
     end
 
     it 'should accept retractions' do
-      friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+      connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
       message = user2.post(:status_message, :message => "cats", :to => aspect2.id)
       retraction = Retraction.for(message)
       xml = retraction.to_diaspora_xml
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ describe Diaspora::Parser do
     end
 
     it 'should process retraction for a person' do
-      friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+      connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
       retraction = Retraction.for(user2)
       retraction_xml = retraction.to_diaspora_xml
 
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ describe Diaspora::Parser do
     end
 
     it 'should marshal a profile for a person' do
-      friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+      connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
       #Create person
       person = user2.person
       id = person.id
diff --git a/spec/misc_spec.rb b/spec/misc_spec.rb
index 9a6a5b3d4..0e790000f 100644
--- a/spec/misc_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/misc_spec.rb
@@ -44,13 +44,13 @@ describe 'making sure the spec runner works' do
     end
   end
 
-   describe '#friend_users' do
+   describe '#connect_users' do
     before do
       @user1 = make_user
       @aspect1 = @user1.aspects.create(:name => "losers")
       @user2 = make_user
       @aspect2 = @user2.aspects.create(:name => "bruisers")
-      friend_users(@user1, @aspect1, @user2, @aspect2)
+      connect_users(@user1, @aspect1, @user2, @aspect2)
     end
 
     it 'makes the first user friends with the second' do
diff --git a/spec/models/aspect_spec.rb b/spec/models/aspect_spec.rb
index 31c6379c2..adb61bc0e 100644
--- a/spec/models/aspect_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/aspect_spec.rb
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ describe Aspect do
     it 'should add post to aspect via receive method' do
       aspect  = user.aspects.create(:name => 'losers')
       aspect2 = user2.aspects.create(:name => 'winners')
-      friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+      connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
 
       message = user2.post(:status_message, :message => "Hey Dude", :to => aspect2.id)
 
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ describe Aspect do
     it 'should retract the post from the aspects as well' do
       aspect  = user.aspects.create(:name => 'losers')
       aspect2 = user2.aspects.create(:name => 'winners')
-      friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+      connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
 
       message = user2.post(:status_message, :message => "Hey Dude", :to => aspect2.id)
 
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ describe Aspect do
   context "aspect management" do
     let(:contact){user.contact_for(user2.person)}
     before do
-      friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+      connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
       aspect.reload
       user.reload
     end
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ describe Aspect do
       end
 
       it 'should not delete other peoples posts' do
-        friend_users(user, aspect, user3, aspect3)
+        connect_users(user, aspect, user3, aspect3)
         user.delete_person_from_aspect(user3.person.id, aspect.id)
         aspect.reload
         aspect.posts.should == [@message]
diff --git a/spec/models/comment_spec.rb b/spec/models/comment_spec.rb
index 204b35dcc..bd16bef2e 100644
--- a/spec/models/comment_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/comment_spec.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ describe Comment do
   let(:user2)   {make_user}
   let(:aspect2) {user2.aspects.create(:name => "Lame-faces")}
 
-  let!(:friending) { friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2) }
+  let!(:friending) { connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2) }
 
   it 'validates that the handle belongs to the person' do
     user_status = user.post(:status_message, :message => "hello", :to => aspect.id)
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ describe Comment do
     it 'should serialize the handle and not the sender' do
       commenter = make_user
       commenter_aspect = commenter.aspects.create(:name => "bruisers")
-      friend_users(user, aspect, commenter, commenter_aspect)
+      connect_users(user, aspect, commenter, commenter_aspect)
       post = user.post :status_message, :message => "hello", :to => aspect.id
       comment = commenter.comment "Fool!", :on => post
       comment.person.should_not == user.person
diff --git a/spec/models/photo_spec.rb b/spec/models/photo_spec.rb
index 95057758e..9eb7aa999 100644
--- a/spec/models/photo_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/photo_spec.rb
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ describe Photo do
       #security hax
       user2 = Factory.create(:user)
       aspect2 = user2.aspects.create(:name => "foobars")
-      friend_users(@user, @aspect, user2, aspect2)
+      connect_users(@user, @aspect, user2, aspect2)
 
       url = @photo.url
       thumb_url = @photo.url :thumb_medium
diff --git a/spec/models/user/attack_vectors_spec.rb b/spec/models/user/attack_vectors_spec.rb
index 97b7d53a0..cbe68b599 100644
--- a/spec/models/user/attack_vectors_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/user/attack_vectors_spec.rb
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ describe "attack vectors" do
   end
 
   it 'does not let a user attach to posts previously in the db unless its received from the author' do
-    friend_users(user, aspect, user3, aspect3)
+    connect_users(user, aspect, user3, aspect3)
 
     original_message = user2.post :status_message, :message => 'store this!', :to => aspect2.id
 
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ describe "attack vectors" do
 
   context 'malicious friend attack vector' do
     before do
-      friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
-      friend_users(user, aspect, user3, aspect3)
+      connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+      connect_users(user, aspect, user3, aspect3)
     end
 
 
diff --git a/spec/models/user/friending_spec.rb b/spec/models/user/friending_spec.rb
index 6203e5f67..c33a3e7b0 100644
--- a/spec/models/user/friending_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/user/friending_spec.rb
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ describe Diaspora::UserModules::Friending do
     end
 
     it 'should not be able to friend request an existing friend' do
-      friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+      connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
       proc { user.send_friend_request_to(user2.person, aspect1) }.should raise_error /already friends/
     end
 
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ describe Diaspora::UserModules::Friending do
 
     describe 'unfriending' do
       before do
-        friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+        connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
       end
 
       it 'should unfriend the other user on the same seed' do
diff --git a/spec/models/user/invite_spec.rb b/spec/models/user/invite_spec.rb
index 256fe0b48..a8bc9154f 100644
--- a/spec/models/user/invite_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/user/invite_spec.rb
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ describe User do
 
 
     it 'throws if you try to add someone you"re friends with' do
-      friend_users(inviter, aspect, another_user, wrong_aspect)
+      connect_users(inviter, aspect, another_user, wrong_aspect)
       inviter.reload
       proc{inviter.invite_user(:email => another_user.email, :aspect_id => aspect.id)}.should raise_error /already friends/
     end
diff --git a/spec/models/user/posting_spec.rb b/spec/models/user/posting_spec.rb
index b69c745ad..5af4fa15a 100644
--- a/spec/models/user/posting_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/user/posting_spec.rb
@@ -105,9 +105,9 @@ describe User do
     let!(:post) { user.build_post :status_message, :message => "hey" }
 
     before do
-      friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
-      friend_users(user, aspect, user3, aspect3)
-      friend_users(user, aspect1, user4, aspect4)
+      connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+      connect_users(user, aspect, user3, aspect3)
+      connect_users(user, aspect1, user4, aspect4)
       user.add_person_to_aspect(user2.person.id, aspect1.id)
       user.reload
     end
diff --git a/spec/models/user/querying_spec.rb b/spec/models/user/querying_spec.rb
index 0f3cb0dcd..a436c1bfb 100644
--- a/spec/models/user/querying_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/user/querying_spec.rb
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ describe User do
         let!(:second_aspect) {user.aspects.create(:name => 'losers')}
 
         it "queries by aspect" do
-          friend_users(user, first_aspect, user2, user2.aspects.first)
+          connect_users(user, first_aspect, user2, user2.aspects.first)
           user.receive status_message1.to_diaspora_xml, user2.person
 
           user.visible_posts(:by_members_of => first_aspect).should =~ [status_message1]
@@ -93,8 +93,8 @@ describe User do
     let!(:user4) { Factory.create(:user_with_aspect)}
 
     before do
-      friend_users(user, first_aspect, user4, user4.aspects.first)
-      friend_users(user, second_aspect, user2, user2.aspects.first)
+      connect_users(user, first_aspect, user4, user4.aspects.first)
+      connect_users(user, second_aspect, user2, user2.aspects.first)
     end
 
     describe '#friends_not_in_aspect' do
diff --git a/spec/models/user/receive_spec.rb b/spec/models/user/receive_spec.rb
index e6af5765e..6bd70d56c 100644
--- a/spec/models/user/receive_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/user/receive_spec.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ describe User do
 
 
   before do
-    friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+    connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
   end
 
   it 'should stream only one message to the everyone aspect when a multi-aspected friend posts' do
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ describe User do
 
   describe 'comments' do
     before do
-      friend_users(user, aspect, user3, aspect3)
+      connect_users(user, aspect, user3, aspect3)
       @post = user.post :status_message, :message => "hello", :to => aspect.id
 
       user2.receive @post.to_diaspora_xml, user.person
diff --git a/spec/models/user_spec.rb b/spec/models/user_spec.rb
index 42c9c7460..e444ab64c 100644
--- a/spec/models/user_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/user_spec.rb
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ describe User do
     end
 
     it 'should not delete an aspect with friends' do
-      friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+      connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
       aspect.reload
       proc { user.drop_aspect(aspect) }.should raise_error /Aspect not empty/
       user.aspects.include?(aspect).should == true
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ describe User do
       end
 
       it 'should unfriend local people' do
-        friend_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
+        connect_users(user, aspect, user2, aspect2)
         lambda {user.destroy}.should change{user2.reload.friends.count}.by(-1)
       end
     end