@FunCartel_ I'm not rude, I'm stating a fact that you didnt provide any constructive feedback. You are rude for calling me rude
@Mike102 You can say it all you want but it doesn’t make it true Mike. Told that to my kids when they were three. If you don’t like what is said in an untagged post then don’t respond.
@TheFunCartel you did tagged me ?
If I’m not in a relationship and I need cuddles and affection, I have no qualms about paying for it
At the pro level, I do not think charging for cuddling is exploiting loneliness for profit. It can be very exhausting work and they should not be expected to sacrifice their time for free if they are the ones providing a service to someone. I could see that topic being debated when it comes to those running the site as they are making money from the service the pros provide, though I personally do not feel like they are exploiting anyone either.
@CharlieBear I agree. Exploitation usually involves some form of coercion or involuntary action. Hiring a pro is anything but that and you have the choice to walk away.
@CharlieBear well said
@CharlieBear yeah I mean someone has to pay for the website domain, use of the service providers, etc and introduction of clients, etc. plus the forums are a microcosm albeit skewed because this is the internet but can be fun as long as things don’t go off the rails and fairly moderated lol
I opted out of this thread yesterday somewhere around 5:58. But popped back in to say i think that in these conversations about ethics, labor, economics the conversations always tend to eliminate humanity from the conversation in order to explain premise. Whenever humanity becomes a second thought something is very wrong.
It's difficult to find a balance in anything in this world as it is, but humanity should always stay in the forefront of conversation.
@ReltvlyCanshes 💯 Just some on here think any thought of that is “pearl clutching”. But you hit the nail on the head—there is a balance and it is often hard to attain.
@FunCartel_ it is difficult to find the balance, i for one am not willing to give up many of my comforts and indulgences; but i will not justify something as right just because i like something. I have to remember that i can't solve all the evils of the world and if anyone decides to refuse to be exploited i will not be the one convincing them they should continue.
Charging for anything is by definition a form of capitalism
Well, no, not really. Capitalism is about private ownership of capital, and allowing prices to be determined by supply & demand. I.E. sellers decide what prices they want to sell at, and buyers decide what prices they want to buy at. Ideally, the two sides agree on prices that make both happy.
Socialism, communism, etc, involve government or other parties deciding what the prices are going to be. I remember the stores in East Berlin vividly - the shopkeepers charged for their goods, they just weren't allowed to choose how much they charged. As a result, many had bare shelves until a delivery showed up. Then everything sold out quickly and back to bare shelves.
@Jubal I didn’t say it was, I said it was a “form of” and a person selling their time cuddling is a form of capitalism. There are different forms of capitalism. Socialism and communism are distorted forms of capitalism depending on the economist you speak with.
Socialism and communism are distorted forms of capitalism.
Huh. You're the first person in my life who's ever said that to me. Interesting point of view.
I would be very interested in your definition of capitalism, socialism, and communism ...
It’s called state capitalism and The Economist ran a large article on it 2012 and others have written on it. The USSR had a form of it and today’s China is the leading example of it. No one has had a true Communist system of government that controlled all facets. At any rate many have argued as did Engels in the 19th century that state capitalism is where capitalism is eventually headed.
I would add that most of the 12 largest holders of oil in the world are in countries with state controlled oil companies (the US being the exception). Looking at everything in ossified terms of capitalism, socialism and communism is a fallacy if you are really looking at what happens around the globe. The US engages in facets of state capitalism through subsidies, anti-trust laws, and other practices. Likewise, countries people perceive as “communist” or “socialist” engage in a myriad practices of what we would recognize as capitalism.
Fascism is where there is private ownership but the government has absolute control.
In true socialism the government owns the business or industry in addition to absolute control.
@Alan2018 So true, but true forms of either of those are extremely rare. I have a business acquaintance that owns his own house and factory in China because the land owner never had their land seized because their family’s business was deemed essential decades ago to the People’s Republic.
As a woman, I appreciate having my gifts appreciated and paid for. I believe it’s definitely a sign of the times. Men don’t respect women anymore. And of course that’s a generalization and doesn’t mean you ( unless it applies). I love that I found a space where I can give freely and pay my bills.
@ThetaKitty
Men don’t respect women anymore.
I think you're referring to chivalry. Yes, there's still a handful of us out here. That attitude has been wrongly attacked as being demeaning to women, but it's not.
@gingerroot Oh absolutely, I had just already pointed out how cruel and horrific it is, weird is just another insult to add to the pile because the whole system itself is honestly ridiculous 😂 Like seriously, you've genuinely got to be weird to think paying for survival with blood so a few rich old white men at the top can get more profit is a good and correct system 🤷🏼
@Runawaycuddles
...a few rich old white men at the top can get more profit...
Since it's just a few of them, specifically, which "old white men"? And at the top of which company/agency? Please be specific, no generalities.
I suppose we can't include Brian Thompson now.
I heard about that. Very sad. But, no, as CEO of UnitedHealthcare, I'd say we could still include him.
However, Kim Keck, CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, doesn't fit into one of the demographics that Runawaycuddles mentioned, so we can't include her, obviously.
It shouldn't be hard for people to admit that it's a glaring sign of decay and dysfunction in our society, but here we are.
Thanks for raising the subject.
Also, I must say, it is amusing to watch those who vote to leave women less safe, desperately trying to argue with women on a cuddles for pay website, as if their pronounced inability and disinterest in genuinely hearing and humanizing and holding space for others, isn't precisely why they're on this website to begin with. No stigma, just the obvious connection being pointed out.
Generations of lost men. We've got lots of industries for that.
@Mike102 Great post! It’s hard not to reflect on how these dynamics often intersect with deeper societal structures that have long influenced the way we view intimacy, care, and dependency. The idea of assigning value—monetary or otherwise—to something as inherently human as emotional support speaks to a much larger conversation about the frameworks we’ve inherited. Your perspective really highlights how crucial it is to question these patterns and consider what we’re building for the future.
@aTallCuddleBug Brilliantly said.
amusing to watch those who vote to leave women less safe, desperately trying to argue with women on a cuddles for pay website, as if their obsessive wrongheadedness and inability and disinterest in genuinely hearing and humanizing and holding space for others, isn't precisely why they're on this website to begin with. No stigma, just the obvious connection being pointed out.
those who vote to leave women less safe...
That's horrible!
I adore women. I've dated a few, cuddled a few, been married to one, have lots of female cousins, a couple aunts, my daughter, etc etc.
Although, admittedly, I've always had a special place in my heart for moms. It's the most important job in the world. (We wouldn't be here without them!)
But I can't imagine anyone voting to make women less safe. I'd like to give those you-know-whats a piece of my mind!
laughs in dying alone