did a couple of things to the request page

app/controllers/requests_controller.rb

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class RequestsController < ApplicationController
   
   def create
     url = diaspora_url(params[:request][:destination_url])
-    @request = current_user.send_friend_request_to(url) unless url.include?('@')
+    @request = current_user.send_friend_request_to(url) unless url.include?('@')|| url == ''
     if @request
       flash[:notice] = "a friend request was sent to #{@request.destination_url}"
       redirect_to requests_url

app/views/requests/_form.haml

@@ -5,6 +5,5 @@
     = f.label :destination_url
     = f.text_field :destination_url
 
-
   %p
     = f.submit

app/views/requests/_new_request.haml

@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
   = f.error_messages
 
   %p
+    enter a diaspora url, diaspora username, or random email address:  
     = f.label :destination_url
     = f.text_field :destination_url
-
   %p
     = f.submit