Discussion Hire a friend

[ArtsyDrawer]

For quite some time now I've been lonely.
In the words of one of history's greatest actors, "I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone, it's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel all alone."

Many of us here are in such a place right now. Not many of us pondered the idea of a platonic prostitute - a prostitute that you don't hire (?) for sex, but for companionship.

I've spent some time yesterday googling things like "friend prostitute", "prostitute friend", "friend for hire", and stumbled on an interesting site: a service that offers to actually hire a person to be your friend for a while. A date of sorts. The wage is hourly.

This showed me three things I am not the first to ponder the idea of a platonic prostitute of sorts.
Second, the world is tumbling into a shit hole. I may be somewhere near the first row, but the rest of the world is getting there.
Third, the site is quite popular. I've played a little with the search thing, and almost every time I found at least one "hireable friend". There is market saturation to the point this is a legitimate business module.
Allegedly, a good chunk of these people waive the pay as they acquire a friend.

Would you hire a friend?
Not something I thought I'd see myself typing.

The site is rentafriend.com by the way. I'm not associated with it in any form, just found it neat I can order a friend prostitute of sorts.

 

[stellabelle]

I personally would not hire a friend. It just seems unnecessary to me. But if it works for other people, more power to them.

 

[JustAboutDone]

Would you be able to talk to your rented friend about ctb? And feel comfortable doing so. Even when you have irl friends you can't talk to them about that sort of thing as they look at you in sheer horror and then harp on about all the wonderful things life has to hold for you etc.

Edit: after a rest I come back to write a bit more..

I don't see anything wrong with hiring a friend. If it means that someone gets to go out and do something that they wouldn't get to do otherwise then I actually think it's quite a nice idea. For example, if you want someone to go to the cinema with or try out a new restaurant with.

So as long as you can keep your ctb to yourself it's all good... just like real life :-)

 

[ArtsyDrawer]

Would you be able to talk to your rented friend about ctb? And feel comfortable doing so. Even when you have irl friends you can't talk to them about that sort of thing as they look at you in sheer horror and then harp on about all the wonderful things life has to hold for you etc

Heh, yeah, I'm wondering that myself.
Worried they might call the white coats on me.

 

[Angst Filled Fuck Up]

I wouldn't do it because I don't like the idea of not having a friend based on my own personal merits/appeal. Having to pay for validation in any form rubs me the wrong way. But for those not hung up on that, I can be rented via SS for a discounted hourly rate. I will be your PM buddy and sounding board and I won't even call the cops on you. I'm kidding of course (there's no discount).

 

[kkatt]

Loads of guys hire escorts for company. Most of them want at least a fumble too but IME they almost all want a chat and some company that will listen to them and not judge or criticise. But she is not a friend.
A friend is someone you can rely on and confide in. So many rich people struggle to find real relationships and friends because the money attracts the wrong people for the wrong reasons. A friend is made only with some effort. Even if it's just giving the time to get to know an online contact better. Remember, your new friend will not come knocking at your door,looking for you.

 

[JustAboutDone]

I wouldn't do it because I don't like the idea of not having a friend based on my own personal merits/appeal. Having to pay for validation in any form rubs me the wrong way. But for those not hung up on that, I can be rented via SS for a discounted hourly rate. I will be your PM buddy and ctb sounding board and I won't even call the cops on you. I'm kidding of course (there's no discount).

Hmmmmm. You wouldn't even share a cinnamon bun thing the other morning. I'm picturing me trying to talk to you and you with your head in a bag of dunking donuts going,"uh what" at regular intervals

How do you plead?

 

[Angst Filled Fuck Up]

Hmmmmm. You wouldn't even share a cinnamon bun thing the other morning. I'm picturing me trying to talk to you and you with your head in a bag of dunking donuts going,"uh what" at regular intervals

How do you plead?

Guilty, and also a little freaked out. It's like you can see inside my life.

 

[JustAboutDone]

Guilty, and also a little freaked out. It's like you can see inside my life.

:-) no, we just both like donuts

 

[kkatt]

Just saw this article and thought it might be of interest

http://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-2586-6-realities-working-as-friend-for-hire.html

 

[Onomotopoeia]

I have seen this site and trolled around on it. I'm not against it per se, I'm beyond isolated these days and the world is not built to do things alone. I have never signed up though it's a little pricey just to join and frankly while I do not have issue with the premise, the chances seem slim I would find someone I connect with and finding out I do not connect with someone after "hiring" them would be painful for us both.

There are some sites out there similar to dating sites, but for friends, however I have yet to find one with members in my area so my search continues.

 

[kkatt]

I have seen this site and trolled around on it. I'm not against it per se, I'm beyond isolated these days and the world is not built to do things alone. I have never signed up though it's a little pricey just to join and frankly while I do not have issue with the premise, the chances seem slim I would find someone I connect with and finding out I do not connect with someone after "hiring" them would be painful for us both.

There are some sites out there similar to dating sites, but for friends, however I have yet to find one with members in my area so my search continues.

The people from that site are acquaintances,not friends.
Why not get chatting to someone from this forum or in the chat room or Discorse group? Chatting online can be quite intimate using private areas,or is it physical contact you seek?
Finding a real friend should never require using money. Friends aren't brought.

 

[Onomotopoeia]

The people from that site are acquaintances,not friends.
Why not get chatting to someone from this forum or in the chat room or Discorse group? Chatting online can be quite intimate using private areas,or is it physical contact you seek?
Finding a real friend should never require using money. Friends aren't brought.

I agree friends are not bought. However most people meet people through people, school, work or other friends. When you do not have a friend and are a bit introverted it becomes difficult to meet others. There are plenty of people I talk to online, yet they are not friends. Not a dig at them but If nothing else I need to alleviate some boredom and the internet does not do that for me. So yes I guess you could say its physical contact I seek, although not contact at all, seriously do not touch me but i'd like to have someone to go do something with ;)

Thanks for suggestion though, made another thread actually about meeting people from here

 

[DeadlyLiving]

I like the idea of finding a friend on a website. It's like Tinder but just for making friends. But paying them? That would just feel weird to me, like it is a job for them to befriend me and friendships should come out of your heart because you genuinely like someone in my opinion. But to each their own I guess

 

[ArtsyDrawer]

I like the idea of finding a friend on a website. It's like Tinder but just for making friends. But paying them? That would just feel weird to me, like it is a job for them to befriend me and friendships should come out of your heart because you genuinely like someone in my opinion. But to each their own I guess

Yeah, true.
From what I understand, where I live, at least, most of the time they choose to drop the payment. Press some buttons and make the "date" free.
Not 100% sure on that one, though.
I'm guessing they won't if you're as weird as the people on that article from Cracked. lol

 

[Manaaja]

One time last year when I felt really lonely, I wrote down how there should be a brothel for lonely people. I could go there, and then the woman would hug me, brush my hair, and tell me everything will be fine.

I hate how modern society has sexualized all physical contact. If I saw a friend crying and asked if I can hug them, I would be charged with sexual assault.

But yes, I would hire a friend. I would gladly pay 10€ a week for someone to hang out with me. I would like to play tennis and video games together. :(

People would and will rather pay 1500€ for a designer dog that can't even talk and will die in 5 years, than befriend an actual human being for free.

 

[TooLate2582]

I do it all the time. If people didn't use me, I'd have no one in my life. Their friendship lasts as long as the task I'm completing for them then they're gone until they need me again.

 

[JustAboutDone]

People pay £10-15 an hour for someone to keep their dog company and take it for a walk so there's not much difference in paying a companion for a human. I often see advertisements offering various jobs doing this - company for house bound person etc

If they called it companion and not 'friend' it would be easier.