This is a worrying development.........

[lyonhibs]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/21/friends-rental-service

A "rent-a-friend" service?? Really??

Are people really that "rushed" (aka bone idle) and had their face to face social skills so brutally numbed by the internet/Facebook-style phenomenons that there is actually a demand for a "by the hour" rent a friend service.

There's 218,000 folk on their USA/Canada database - sheesh. :bitchy:

[bighairyfaeleith]

:faf: thats quality

[CB_NO3]

I would be happy for someone to take me out for £40. Woman only but.

[RyeSloan]

It's not really worrying though is it...

"218,000 rentafriends against 2,000 no-mates – probably say more about what people will do for money in today's economic climate than how lonely people are in our dysfunctional society. An LA Times reporter rang up three random rentafriends and found that none had been contacted by anyone."

So although it made a slightly interesting newspaper story the fact is there is little demand for the service and it's hardly as if renting someone to 'be your friend' is an entirely new idea is it!!