Originally published at: https://boingboing.net/2018/09/28/trying-out-chinas-girlfriend.html
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So it’s an escort service.
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So it’s Uber, but for compulsory heterosexuality.
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Hey, I’m for rent at $50 bucks an hour. Any takers?
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You know, I’ve wondered from time to time if Escort Services really do just have customers who want accompaniment to a social event, and what % of their business that makes up. Because I definitely have seen escorts before at events, which at the time I clocked as definitely-not-hired-as-prostitutes.
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How are you at cleaning grout?
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What does the “level” mean? And why doesn’t the app provide the character class?
I suppose there’s something to be said for women getting paid for their emotional labour, and this woman is frank that money is all she really cares about. Still, this particular gig economy is a sad commentary on the inequality and lack of meaningful connection in modern society, and not just Chinese society – sooner or later this will be normal in the U.S., too.
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When I was single, I noticed that when a guy appeared in public with a very attractive woman, he became more desirable to other women. This could have some almost-tangible value in that area.
On a related issue, I’ve thought about renting puppies to single men to take out in public.
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My understanding is that happens a lot more than you might think, although its still probably mostly sex. Lonely guys who want some form of companionship or an actual date, maybe not even physically capable of sex.
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There’s no doubt that it helps with social proof, but according to this woman she frequently spends time with her clients playing board games at home or playing video games remotely with them.
When I dogsit for my friends and take the doggos for their walks more women approach me to strike up a random chat than under other circumstances. I don’t expect it to lead to anything more and I chat with the male pet owners just as often, but the presence of the dogs makes life more pleasant and relaxed for everyone.
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Wow, and I thought I’d had awkward dates.
One thing I wondered that the interviewer never mentioned is whether it’s a service strictly for heterosexual pairings? I would think that if it’s profitable for straight pairings, then it would be for LGBTQ pairings as well, and I can’t imagine that market goes untapped.
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Here’s an excellent movie about people rental.
Oh and a show… the first episode can be skipped (sucks!!!)
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I wonder if there’s a rent-to-own option like those stores that specialize in ripping off working-class people who can’t afford to buy appliances outright.
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I’m sure for many people that’s the false promise underlying these services, with the apps doing little to disillusion them.
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Especially the “lay-away” option.
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Yes, that happens. There are also escorts who only engage in fetish activity, no sex. They might get paid $200 for someone to lick their feet for an hour or so. Sex work is a wonderfully varied social phenomenon.
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Been done in Japan too: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2017/11/paying-for-fake-friends-and-family/545060/
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ROG…uh, no.
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