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AIBU?

Rent a Friend

18 replies

ConsciousCoconut · 10/06/2017 10:53

Just seen there's a website in the US called Rent A Friend - it pretty much does what it says and allows you to pay to spend sometime with a like-minded person that lives close by to you.

Good or bad idea? And the AIBU part is - would it be a bad idea to set something like this up in larger UK cities where people can often find it difficult to meet people?

At first I thought the idea was total tack, but then I realised that some people find it exceptionally hard to meet people in big cities (Birmingham, London, Manchester)

OP posts:

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Calyrical · 10/06/2017 10:53

You'd be paying to spend time with someone, then?

ProudBadMum · 10/06/2017 10:55

Oh I couldn't pay someone to enjoy my company! I couldn't afford the asking price

Seriously though I couldn't do it. It's like friendship prostitution. I find it weird

Offherhead · 10/06/2017 11:09

It'd be my only chance of having a real live person who isn't my husband or kids or shop assistant to talk to. Only exaggerating by not mentiining the odd "hi" at the school or trivialities in a queue.

hellokittymania · 10/06/2017 11:12

I would do it!

In California I think, there is a rent a walker or something. I forget what it's called. But you pay somebody and walk with them and they are a friend and a guide to the area.

OneCabbageTree · 10/06/2017 11:22

I don't see how it could leave you feeling good about yourself if you are paying for a friend?

I know that could be said for sex workers also, but then at least you are doing the act IYSWIM?

Composteleana · 10/06/2017 11:22

I used Meetup in the past, when I was living in the US and didn't know many people, and when back in the UK joined a group called 'social circle' as, although I was back with my uk friends, they all had children and anyway only really wanted to get together for drinks or the occasional meal which was lovely but I sometimes feel like doing other stuff like going to see a play or visiting a National Trust property.

Anyway, life got really busy so I only ended up going to a couple of things for the uk one, but in US I found meetup to be brilliant and met some good friends I'm still in touch with. I think I'd rather go that way than the 'rent a friend' route, I can't see how it would feel like friendship if you knew you were having to pay? Are you paying the 'friend' is it paying the website/company to be introduced to like minded people - kind of like internet dating but for friends?

Italiangreyhound · 10/06/2017 11:25

A terrible idea. If you want to help lonely people ser up an agency that puts people I. touch with other people are genuinely looking for friendship too.

Oysterbabe · 10/06/2017 11:28

This would only work if it included sex.

HateSummer · 10/06/2017 11:32

I don't think someone without friends would sign up to something so blatantly aimed at people without friends. It would have to be marketed in a different way.

MiladyThesaurus · 10/06/2017 11:36

I don't see how it could work because you could never really become friends under those circumstances. Would you want to still be paying your 'best friend' to be friends with you 20 years down the line.

It might work as a rent an acquaintance so you have some company for a particular purpose thing (maybe to go for a walk with you in an unfamiliar place or something) but you couldn't rent a friend.

GhostsToMonsoon · 10/06/2017 12:08

If you just wanted a one-off acquaintance, say to see a play, it might work. But other than that it would be better if no money were involved - just opportunities for like-minded people to meet. If someone has to be paid to spend time with you then they aren't a friend.

WheresTheEvidence · 10/06/2017 12:25

Why not check out meet up. I've joined 1 group in my local area and made several supportive friends who I wouldn't have met beforehand. There's things to do as a group but I now have several good friends who I can call for a chat or meet up for a drink/dinner.

Offherhead · 10/06/2017 15:02

Checked out a few things. Most are people selling stuff or after things I am not. I envy those the ability to make new friends as older adults. I do not have anything like the time people expect as a friend commitment.

Braywatch · 10/06/2017 16:41

I think it could work for a one-off event that you didn't want to go to alone, say a party where you only knew the host and didn't want a date. I think it'd be weird for every day friendship.

ConsciousCoconut · 10/06/2017 17:40

It's a weird one - as I said, initially it really didn't sit well with me, but then when I thought about it may work - it is definitely paying for someone to do something with you, rather than paying for friendship.

I quite like the meetup site - that looks really neat and has probably already filled the gap in the market.

OP posts:

lessworriedaboutthecat · 10/06/2017 17:42

that is very sad. How lonely must you be to essentially buy friends.

Kokusai · 10/06/2017 17:43

A lot of people use personal training sessions and beauty therapy sessions as quasi friendship.

We pay for other people's time/skills with sports coaching, cleaning, handy man services etc - why not with 'friendship'/company?

Kokusai · 10/06/2017 17:44

that is very sad. How lonely must you be to essentially buy friends

Have you not seen the shit tonne of threads on MN where people say they have no RL friends? It os sad but can be very understandable if you are isolated, have life difficulties, money worries, have moved about etc.

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