I don't know if it's just laziness wahmed. Some people might in fact have a hard time making friends because they are shy or something like that, but at the same time I don't feel that paying for company is the solution.
I was thinking the exact same thing! This person must be like the guy on the "Most Interesting Man in the World" commercials for Dos Equis.
Ah, rent a friend... Where do I sign up? Being paid $50 an hour would be awesome and I love that someone pay me to go to the movies or just have some drinks, sounds like and awesome job.
Well, that is expensive. I will not use that service, I'll just surf the net and do nothing. But if someones wants me to be their friend, I'll do it.
I'll bite. I'm going to go sign up to that site and see what happens. I'm plenty social and I am a good listener. What is worst that can happen? I end up in someone's freezer trussed up like a Christmas turkey?
I'm late for this party. $50 usd an hour sound unrealistic. But for that kind of money, and if I really needed the money, I'd do it. Easy money. You just need to put on a fake smile and be nice, and pretend to be interested. That's about it really.
People buy friends all the time, but not in the way the thread describes. People need others to help them with their business, train them in a skill, among other things. Often these professional relationships lead to friendship. Besides professional relationships, you can make friends by just going to a local family restaurant and tipping the waiters and waitresses. They become your friends, but only because your nice to them. However, most friends aren't free. You have to make a sacrifice.
I find the prospect very interesting. It sounds so unreasonable, and doesn't make any sense that people would rent any friends. It just seems like a waste of money, but I suppose to each their own. Also that yearly salary is probably impossible because it would be necessary that there are enough consumers looking to rent friends. Which there are not enough people looking to rent friends.
No matter how legitimate this service is or isn't, I certainly won't be paying all that money to hang around with somebody so they can pretend to be my friend. In fact, I'd rather just chill out by myself, I'd also spend the money on myself aswell.
Ever heard that some people get so lonely that they decided to call any number so they can talk to someone? They know they are calling a stranger but do it anyway because they want to speak to someone. I think renting a friend if you are that lonely but aren't willing to have a friend you'll see every day would be a good solution to your problem. Even for a little while.