Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Make mine a double.

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Rent a friend

Encouraging peptalks
  (+1, -2)
(+1, -2)
  [vote for,
against]

Just lighthearted friendship and peptalks over the phone or via e-mail (charged per minute). Not sex, not therapy. Nor is it a confessionary, so caveats should be put forward. 1. No sex 2. If it involves abuse refer to professionals 3. Make it clear that if they confess to a crime they will be reported. Other than that confidentiality should be guaranteed.

Perfect really, you pay for a warm encouraging pep-talk, and that's it! You don't have to listen to your rental-friends whining, he/she is there to listen to you whine about your trivialities...a stupid boss... an annoying anecdote.... or ponder what to buy the girlfriend... "does this dress suit me?"... going for a job interview and need to blabber away nervously.... RENT A FRIEND!

traffic, Nov 13 2008

IMDB: Rent-A-Friend (Netherlands, 2000) http://www.imdb.com...0201888/plotsummary
[jutta, Nov 13 2008]

wordmunger: Rent a platonic friend http://wordmunger.com/?p=829
File under: satire [jutta, Nov 13 2008]

Rent-A-Friend for $50..$100 http://www.healthyr...m/Rent-A-Friend.asp
"I'm sorry to hear about your husband's fatal overdose. It seems very acceptable to me to experience anger about that, and anger is an early stage in the grief process, anyway. " [jutta, Nov 13 2008]

Rent-A-Friend for $10/monthly. http://www.rentafriend.com/
"Maybe you are interested in having a friend - you can write to and ask for an opinion or advice about whatever ??" [jutta, Nov 13 2008]

Rent-A-Friend USA http://www.rentafriendusa.com/
"About Me: A quick answer would be I am a Great Man in all-social graces. This is what I have been told by scads of people." [jutta, Nov 13 2008]

Troy Dunn's business ideas for young millionaires http://www.cnbc.com/id/24861888
Suggested cost: $25/visit. Provide companionship to seniors in nursing homes. [jutta, Nov 13 2008]

Harlequin Romance novel: Rent-A-Friend http://www.fictiond...-friend~42514~b.htm
"Sarina took the safe route and hired a friend from an agency. When she met her rented pal—a tall, gorgeous guy—Sarina had no complaints!" [jutta, Nov 13 2008]

Baked & Thriving in Japan http://www.guardian...fessional-stand-ins
Lonely Japanese find solace in 'rent a friend' agencies. Best man, relative, or even spouse available at a price. Social changes fuel boom in professional stand-ins. [ignorantimmigrant, Dec 04 2009]

[link]






       Sounds like therapy, only better.
wagster, Nov 13 2008
  

       Nursing home residents could make money doing this, though they may not be able to relate.
leinypoo13, Nov 13 2008
  

       I have friends that I haven't used yet.
po, Nov 13 2008
  

       You should be able to take them back and get a refund then.
hippo, Nov 13 2008
  

       welcome to the halfbakery
(are you for rent?)
xandram, Nov 13 2008
  

       Good summary! See links for various rent-a-friends in fiction and reality - I think this counts as fairly well-trodden territory.
jutta, Nov 13 2008
  

       Thanks for the links Jutta. Who would have thought?
traffic, Nov 17 2008
  
      
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