<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title>Twanna @ FUNKY BROWN CHICK - Latest Comments in Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.disqus.com/</link><description></description><atom:link href="https://funkybrownchick.disqus.com/kind_kisses_friends_with_benefits/latest.rss" rel="self"></atom:link><language>en</language><lastBuildDate>Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:16:27 -0000</lastBuildDate><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205362</link><description>&lt;p&gt;I sooo didn't know that stuff about your relationships. Your life / secrets grow juicier every day.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Twanna A Hines funkybrownchick</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:16:27 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205361</link><description>&lt;p&gt;Too lazy to read all the replies, but to answer your question: of course!  I'm still friends with all of my former GFs except the two I actually cheated on multiple times.  In hindsight 50% of the GFs were mere FBs, as neither of us saw the other as a future life partner.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">errorboy</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:01:05 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205360</link><description>&lt;p&gt;Oooooh, you totally sound like you're speaking from experience. :)&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Twanna A Hines funkybrownchick</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:31:22 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205359</link><description>&lt;p&gt;Yes, it's very possible to revert back to platonic friendship after doing the dance of joy - I've done it several times myself. I think the secret is that a) you really have to be real friends to begin with and b) both parties have to be of the same mindset. By that I mean, both have to be non-clingers, and fairly care free. Otherwise, it's a crash and burn situation. Bigtime.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Wilson</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:28:50 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205358</link><description>&lt;p&gt;it really does'nt take much to understand just how deep the funk is..... if you have been around the block as much as I have..... you start to filter the cheese kinda&lt;br&gt;early in life...... or as one so much better than once stated..... " Free your mind..."&lt;br&gt;and the rest will follow.....&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;lamesabassman..... listen to the music and it will show you the way home....&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">lamesabassman</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:03:11 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205357</link><description>&lt;p&gt;when one mixes sex and love..... things could happen..... but when you mix sex&lt;br&gt;with love and friendship.... where will be losses one both sides.... &lt;br&gt;you can't surf on still water.... you need waves.... &lt;br&gt;and when the lights go down low.... that vision in the mirror will stare you down&lt;br&gt;and could you live with that....&lt;br&gt;no harm in having fun... just realize your limitations..... then your possibilities are&lt;br&gt;endless......&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;lamesabassman...... sex, it's not just for dinner....&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">lamesabassman</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:50:11 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205356</link><description>&lt;p&gt;@ lamesabassman: On the phone with my friend Maggie the other day, she mentioned, "I never understand any that lamesabassman's comments on your blog!"&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ dkzone: Bingo! That's def the key. As I mentioned, BOTH parties have to totally understand that it means nothing more. LOVE the car rental analogy, by the way. :)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ mahoganydymond: Totally understandable. If one wants more (and it sounds like you did), it's good to pull back from it.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Twanna A Hines funkybrownchick</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:53:28 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205355</link><description>&lt;p&gt;Oh my this is my situation... Me and my ex broke up about 5 months ago. We still have sex from time to time.  I am able to be his friend, yet I feel we are more than that. So I told him if he wants to act like just friends.. Stop trying to have sex with me. He knows I am weak when it comes to having sex with him. OOOOOOOOoo it is so good. So in order for us to maintain just a friendship we don't see each other anymore. . LOL&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">mahoganydymond</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:09:36 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205354</link><description>&lt;p&gt;Ah yes......&lt;br&gt;The logistics and feasability of Boinkbuddies.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Is it possible?  Sure. I think the thing that is necesary is a realization that an actual " romantic relationship" won't work. And both parties must see and understand this implicitly. The funny thing about this is, once the romantic pressure is off.... Then things become fun. You stop looking at the other persons every fault, like your going to be with them for the long haul. Look at it this way. When you go to buy a car, you analyze every dent, scratch, oil drop, carpet or upholstry stain. When you rent a car, who cares....its all about the fun for the weekend.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I will say this. I have loved my boinkbuddies. But I also realized that I wasn't the best person for them. and the moment I saw that it hurt them that we couldn't be more....we had our consolation shag and moved on. Doesn't mean that i didn't love them in some capacity, but that i wanted something more for them than being my boinkbuddy.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">dkzone</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:23:13 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205353</link><description>&lt;p&gt;sometimes ...... when we part as lovers.... we leave the best  .... and take the rest..&lt;br&gt; to be friends, in which, we were until things got 2 real 2 be taken lightly is going to take so much trust, that your middle name is gonna be Citibank.... and the &lt;br&gt;FDIC will not bank on you...&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;lamesabassman..... roll the dice.....&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">lamesabassman</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:52:54 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205352</link><description>&lt;p&gt;Brenz: Ahhh! Okay. Got it. :)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lee Coles: I've not friends w/ my exes. Mostly, that's because I don't live in the same city that they do and we've just fallen out of touch.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Twanna A Hines funkybrownchick</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:25:16 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205351</link><description>&lt;p&gt;I'm friends w/ every woman I've ever dated with whom I'm still in touch to any degree. Sex (or the stoppage thereof) is no deal breaker for me.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Lee Coles</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:24:59 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205350</link><description>&lt;p&gt;No, I mean I've pulled off the friendship after the cessation of the affair/relationship/whathaveyou.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">BMcGeeWhiz</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:45:53 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205349</link><description>&lt;p&gt;Hey Peggy B!! :) You slipped one in while I was typing the other comments. And, yes, I totally agree with you. The friendship has to be better than the sex!&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Twanna A Hines funkybrownchick</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:23:17 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205348</link><description>&lt;p&gt;@ sharri-ann: If you realized it wasn't working, I think it's good you cut the ties.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ Alicia: Hmmm ... Cooling off period, you say? I think that's true for a lot of relationships. For example, exes come to mind. You can't really go from dating to just friends without a little buffer there too.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ tiffany: Yeah, it totally amazes me that guys don't get that. The whole FRIENDS with benefits stuff only works when both parties truly want nothing more than a friendship. If one wants more, it's irresponsible and reckless for the other party to keep the sex stuff up. And, I feel you on the scratching. I had a boytoy in Chicago who was 100% completely inappropriate for so many reasons. We were just friends, and we never dated but the sex was good. (Shit, now my exboys in Chicago are reading this thinking, "Is she talking about ME?" Depends. I have more than 1 exboy there. :)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ Haute in LA: Thanks!! :) Yeah, isn't Tiffany great?!?! :) And, you're so right about the communication. Both parties have to totally be on the same page. It's like J Brotherlove said, sometimes it's hard to find "someone who knows what they want AND can communicate it." Ahhh, I miss my Chicago boys.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ lamesabassman: Enjoy your vacation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ j. brotherlove: The dating world is FILLED with knuckleheads and I'm totally gobsmacked by the amount of tomfoolery out there. (Ah, yeah, I did it. I strung three of my favorite words together in one sentence.) Hang in there my friend! You're too perfect of a person to go unnoticed for too long!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ dahliadelight: Are you kidding me?!?! Wow! I'm impressed. I mean, yeah, obviously I'm pro-Friends with Bs. Love it. Done it a bunch of times. Think it's healthy. Yada yada yada. But you went from "live ins to husband to ex’s to friends to friends with benefits and then back to friends." THAT takes a lot of maturity and understanding. I'm impressed.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ Baba Doodlius: Oops. Hadn't realized I said it! And, yeah, oddly enough, it seems workplace filters allow the word fuck, but you can't say thr33some.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ Christopher: I love it that you said, "Like any friendship or kinship, you still have to deal with the other person honestly, with respect and clear communication." Absolutely love it. And, by the way, you asked, "What is to say that a friendship is any less intimate than a romantic or sexual relationship, or that it requires any less investment or work?" Of the male friends I've slept with in the past, I know most of them better than their current or exgirlfriends. Some men find it easier to "let the walls down" with a FWB than they do with their partners.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ Brenz: I used to pull it off all the time. :) It was really comforting because it offered all the intimacies of a sexual relationship without the complications of partnering with someone who's not boyfriend material.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ Wonderlove: Ditto!! Couldn't agree more. Random, I know, but, did anyone remember that scene in the movie Ghost where Patrick Swayze's character won't tell Demi Moore's character that he loves her? She'd say, "I love you." And, he answered, "Ditto." I would sooooo not tolerate that from a dude.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ Cat: Wow! Y'all are GREAT with the comments today!! :) You mention, "I’ve found that some men (though this can go for women as well) just aren’t up for the effort it takes to be in a real friendship." So very true indeed.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ Eileen: Good point about the "needs" stuff. Like Tiffany said, sometimes you have an itch that needs to be scratched? What better person to do that than a good friend? :)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;@ Fat Lady: Oh gawd, does this mean everything's over? The Fat Lady is singing!! :) You're the last one to leave a comment!!! Wait. Shit. I'm commenting after you. So, maybe it's never TRULY over until the skinny bitch shuts up. ;) Okay, moving right along ... #1. I agree ... and I have a few thoughts about what makes a man fall in love. More on that soon. Maybe Manly Monday. #2. I freely admit that I get emotionally attached to men I've really sexually attracted to. That's why I divide the world into GOOD men that I befriend and HOT men I date. That's not to say that I don't have attractive male friends or that the hot guys are all assholes. I'm just saying, in general, if I really really really like looking at a guy AND I feel a connection AND we're sleeping together, that's a relationship, not FWB. Hence, when I meet the hot, emotionally-connected, sexually attractive dudes, I don't sleep with them unless it's clear that we're in an exclusive relationship. Unfortunately, they often bail when they realize I'm not giving up the goods and/or I bail when it becomes clear that they don't wanna commit to me. Those of you who read this blog during the "Boy #2" debacle in summer 06 know what I'm talking about. I really liked him. Painful. Frustrating. And, annoying. But, I digress ... #3. Ooooh, you're so right. This gets to heart of my discussion with Biffo!! #4. Okay, here's the part where I disagree. :) Sometimes it's not about hoping the dude will “come around.” Sometimes it's just about cumming. Sometimes sex is just sex. I can't remember who said it, but someone commented about my thr33some saying: "When you're hungry, eat. When you're horny, fuck." Love what you said about, "In most of the cases, I knew him really well as a friend and saw how he related to women and that’s what let me know he just wasn’t the one for me." I'd say that's the case for 90% of my FWB. I've seen how they treat the women they date, and I wouldn't put up with it. Thanks for the great comment.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Twanna A Hines funkybrownchick</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:20:05 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205347</link><description>&lt;p&gt;Yes...as long as the friendship is *better* than the actual act of sex.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Peggy b.</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:51:57 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205346</link><description>&lt;p&gt;Here are the obstacles.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;1. Men can have no strings attached sex with anyone they are not in love with and not get emotionally involved. (Who knows what it is that makes them fall in love)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;2. Women can potentially fall in love with (or at least become very emotionally attached to) any man who they both get along with and are sexually attracted to.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;3. A man will continue to fuck a woman who makes sex available to them and can fail to see how there's any emotional connection.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;4. A woman will continue to pretend that the sex is NSA as long as she has hope that the man will "come around" and realize he's actually madly in love with her.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;All that said, it can still work out for friends to have sex and to maintain the friendship after they've decided not to have sex anymore.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Generally, though, I think it mostly depends on the woman's ability to not become emotionally involved.  And just like understanding of what makes men fall in love is elusive, so is understanding of what makes a woman not fall for a man she enjoys both sexually and socially.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I've been there a few times. Have had male friends with whom I had a sexual relationship and then let go of the sex and just remained friends.  In all of those cases, there was something about the man that made me know that a romantic relationship with him would never work. In most of the cases, I knew him really well as a friend and saw how he related to women and that's what let me know he just wasn't the one for me.  In at least one situation it was someone who  I'd been romantically involved with, it didn't work, but the sex was good enough that we decided to be friends with benefits.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;So, I think that's the secret - the woman involved has to know enough about the man to know that there's no hope of him being "THE one."&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Fat Lady</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:50:17 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205345</link><description>&lt;p&gt;Re: friends with former fuck buddies, I've done it as well, twice with casual guys and once with my ex, whom I dated seriously for a year. I think it's not just mature adulthood and good communication, but managing needs and keeping emotions in check.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Eileen</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:49:54 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205344</link><description>&lt;p&gt;I think it's possible, but rare as all hell. I concur with everyone else that both parties need to be clear, honest, and open with each other. And they have to be on the same page about how they're defining the term "friend". I've found that some men (though this can go for women as well) just aren't up for the effort it takes to be in a real friendship.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cat</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:10:25 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205343</link><description>&lt;p&gt;I think so, but both parties have to be emotionally mature.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Wonderlove</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:05:05 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205342</link><description>&lt;p&gt;I've pulled it off (no pun present), but it ain't easy.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">BMcGeeWhiz</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:11:26 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205341</link><description>&lt;p&gt;Yes, it is possible, but it seems rare.  I think a lot of us men think that an FWB situation allows you to throw out all rules of relationship, which makes FWB not worth it for men.  You  are still engaging in relationship, just one with perameters.  Like any friendship or kinship, you still have to deal with the other person honestly, with respect and clear communication.  Sometimes men tend not to want to infuse too much of this into their actual romantic partnerships, and that's why we'd like to think that FWB is so much easier.  What is to say that a friendship is any less intimate than a romantic or sexual relationship, or that it requires any less investment or work?  I've managed to keep a few of my ex-lover's as friends, and it's mainly because of the desire to maintain a bond with someone special despite the fact that we didn't work romantically or sexually.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Christopher</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:36:26 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205340</link><description>&lt;p&gt;Maybe it can be done, but I doubt it's common.  Doin' the ol' wocka-wocka just seems to make things different for most people.  Actually, I shouldn't even be offering an opinion on this, as it's completely beyond my realm of experience.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;By the by, it sure didn't take you long to forego the "anti-workplace-language-filter" thing:  "...um, fuck, I should give him a fake name..."  My, FBC, you sure have a dirty mouth!&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Baba Doodlius</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:58:52 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205339</link><description>&lt;p&gt;Wooops typo =  It can work but both must be mature adults. Both have to understand catch and release techniques. Easier too if no one falls in love and monogamous and those looking for “mr/mrs right" may not do this well.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">dahliadelight</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:37:40 -0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Re: Kind Kisses: Friends with Benefits</title><link>http://funkybrownchick.com/2008/07/23/kind-kisses-friends-with-benefits/#comment-7205338</link><description>&lt;p&gt;Yes you can move friends to friends with benefits and back out again. With good communication and being honest up front it's easier.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In fact lets go a step further - how about from live ins to husband to ex's to friends to friends with benefits and then back to friends - did that.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It can work but both must be mature adults.  Both have to understand catch and release techniques.  Easier too if no one falls in love and monogamous looking for "mr/mrs right may not do this well.&lt;/p&gt;</description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">dahliadelight</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:35:59 -0000</pubDate></item></channel></rss>