Your friend is correct.

However, there's a little more to it then that. First of all, you don't need a paper towel. Just fill the bottom of glass or cup with about a half inch of lukewarm water and pop the seeds in (btw- a good seed should be plump and brown) Then set them in a dark space. They can take up to a week for the taproot to emerge, usually not any longer. once that happens make about a half inch indentation in your soil, pop the seed in, water, and keep the soil moist under relatively low light.

This is the method I've used for years and it has been extremely reliable.