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Comment by rawbot | Hacker News Reader

> The comparisons some have made to infidelity or cheating seem misplaced: There's no real relationship here

Oh, but there is plenty of platonic relationships with camgirls, streamers and such. It can reach levels of delusion that you wouldn't believe.

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I don't know anyone on OnlyFans, but I know a few women who do "Just Chatting" Twitch streams and the psychological toll on them is huge. Having to give people constant attention, answer every question or at least acknowledge it, and provide a sort of faux-friendship in exchange for money is a really strange arrangement. Just yesterday a long-term supporter of one woman I know "confessed their love" to her, and will probably unsubscribe because she won't reciprocate.

Another interesting but sad fact is that a lot of those streamers have significant others, but they hide it from the audience because they believe they'll get more engagement.

Sure the same thing might happen in regular businesses, but the interactions are either shorter (eg cashier) or at least it's acknowledged as being entirely professional.

To be fair if they’re leading people on because it gets more engagement/money they really can’t expect it to be stress free. There’s always a choice to be made.

Yes, I completely agree. Most people know that it comes with the territory.

Why wouldn't the person reciprocate? I never would have imagined that emotional honesty exists in that type of relationship. Aren't people paying for the relationship?

Did you read the first paragraph? I’m talking about a Twitch streamer. People aren’t “paying for relationships”, they’re subscribing to get rid of ads and support the streamer, even though some expect a bit more.

The streamer won’t reciprocate because it is a random unknown person coming on a text chat claiming they’re in love with them. I don’t think this ever worked ever, but if you need further proof, she told me for a fact she won’t reciprocate.

For the models it is still only a business relationship, except in very rare cases. By the same token, prostitution can also be a meaningful personal relationship, as shown in the movie Pretty Woman.

as shown in the documentary Pretty Woman

I mean, a friend of mine was an escort, and certainly ended up in entanglements like that. At the end of the day you are two human beings. Whatever your professional situation, these things are inexorable.

As your sibling commented mentioned, even if they attempt to treat it as a business relationship, not all people can handle it. The mental toll of receiving affection and then basically fake reciprocating it is hard, and not everybody can take it.

> movie Pretty Woman.

You mean Pygmalion?

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