public static Tuple initializeFollow(int idFollower, int idFollowed, Connection cnxn) {
		//make sure we have aceptable inputs
		if (idFollower >= 1 && idFollowed >= 1 && cnxn != null) {
			Statement stmnt;
			ResultSet rs;
			String query = "";
			
			try {
				//first see if follower is already following or attempting to follow the proposed followed user
				stmnt = cnxn.createStatement();
				query = "SELECT confirmed FROM Follows WHERE user_id_follower = '" + idFollower + "' AND user_id_followed = '" + idFollowed + "'";
				rs = stmnt.executeQuery(query);
				
				//if the query returned a result, there is already a follow relation of follower --> followed
				if (rs.next()) {
					//see if it's been approved or not
					if (rs.getBoolean("confirmed")) {
						//already following
						return new Tuple(true, "You are already following this user");
					} else {
						//follow request already sent but not yet confirmed
						return new Tuple(true, "You have a pending request to follow this user");
					}
				} else {
					//add a follow request
					try {
						stmnt = cnxn.createStatement();
						query = "INSERT INTO Follows(user_id_follower, user_id_followed, confirmed) Values ('"+ idFollower + "', '" + idFollowed + "','0')"; 
						stmnt.execute(query);
						return new Tuple(true, "Follow request sent");
					} catch (SQLException ex){
						return new Tuple(false, ex.getMessage());
					}
				}
			} catch (SQLException ex) {
				
				return new Tuple(false, ex.getMessage());
			}
		} else {
			return new Tuple(false, "Invalid inputs");
		}
	}