About
“Buying GF” is an ironic expression indicating an interest in purchasing a girlfriend within the MMORPGRunescape for in-game currency.
Origin
In many online games, players advertise their willingness to purchase in-game items in trade channels or populated areas. According to a post in the /r/OutOfTheLoop[1] subreddit, players in the game Runescape often had in-game girlfriends which many speculated were actually men masquerading as women to scam users for gold and items. The “buying gf” expression was subsequently invented as a joke to mock the online relationships.
Spread
On April 24th, 2013, Redditor derione1 submitted a cropped Runescape screenshot featuring an armored avatar with the expression “Buying gf” over his head to the /r/gaming[4] subreddit, where it received upwards of 2,200 votes (93% upvoted) and 1,300 comments (shown below). On May 21st, the screenshot was reposted on FunnyJunk.[3]
On August 22nd, 2014, YouTuber Joe Redfurr uploaded a Runescapemontage parody video titled “Buying GF 1M” (shown below, left). On October 24th, Body Building Forums[5] member 7thbrah reposted the screenshot on the site’s misc board. On May 25th, 2015, YouTuber ToddTalks uploaded a video titled “Buying GF,” featuring footage of himself in public wearing a T-shirt with the expression printed on the front (shown below, right).
On July 28th, Redditor PencilErection posted a photograph of a person cosplaying the armored avatar from the “buying gf” screenshot to the /r/gaming[2] subreddit (shown below). In the first 48 hours, the post gained over 4,800 votes (88% upvoted) and 510 comments.
Search Interest
External References
[1]Reddit – Where did buying gf start?
[3]FunnyJunk – Good Ole runescape
[4]Reddit – The good old days of Runescape
[5]Body Building Forums – If You Played Runescape This Pic Will Make You Smile