“Okay, so, I think we can all agree that being single and being invested in finding a fulfilling, long-term, monogamous romantic relationship in today’s current dating environment is an effort in futility. Especially for people in their thirties and forties. Men—and no offense, Tommy—are plagued by FOMO, fear of missing out. Fear of missing out on the supermodel-playmate sex fiend who loves to cook, clean, and do laundry while working a high-paying job and waxing like a porn star. This is what men in their thirties want and expect.”
“If I may,” Tommy cut in, not sounding exactly perturbed, but something like it, “and women want a billionaire bodybuilder who can read their mind in the bedroom, is domineering and possessive—but not too domineering and possessive—and has tattoos—but not too many tattoos—and is in touch with his feelings—but not too in touch with his feelings.”
I had to laugh at that. “Okay, okay. Fair enough. Not all women feel that way. Some women just want a good guy, an adult, someone with a job who treats his woman like a person, not a servant. Who cares about her well-being. A guy they can snuggle with on Sunday mornings. But I concede that media depictions of the ideal for both men and women have gotten out of hand. People seem to want Instagram relationships on both sides, I get that. So, the article I’m proposing would give women—our readers—viable alternatives to the abysmal state of trying to find a romantic partner.”
“Go on,” Daniella prompted, skeptical but no longer bored.
“One part would discuss the viability of using paid services—other people—to fill the voids created when not in a romantic relationship, and what would that look like. Can we—legally, ethically, morally—replace another person with multiple paid services, and how much would that cost? Both financially and emotionally. Professional cuddlers and massage for touch. Professional dry humpers for thrilling touch. Escorts for dinner dates, life coaches for affirmation, personal trainers for activity and movement, meditation salons for—”
“What about sex?” Tommy asked, and I knew just by the sound of his voice that he liked where I was going with this, but had reservations. “Prostitution? Are we really going to go there?”
“I was just getting to that, actually. Prostitution—let me be clear here, the exchange of money for sex acts—is illegal in all but one state in the US. And, aside from its legality, most research shows that, in the US, it contributes to the exploitation of the powerless. And even aside from the exploitation issue—which should be enough—it enforces objectification and malevolent attitudes, placing people in the box of object rather than person. And that has far-reaching consequences to the rest of society.”
“Do you think that’s because it’s illegal?” Daniella asked. “What does the research show about countries where it is legal, where transactions occur in a safe environment and are regulated, taxed, etc.?”
“Listen, we could do a whole series on the ethics of prostitution and how it’s handled across the world, but that’s not what this article is about. So, for the purposes of this article, it’s not a viable option. Plus, it feels too prosaic. I want to focus on creative alternatives. As an example, meditation salons that provide guided orgasm therapy are legal, and are not based on the subjugation of one—weaker—person for the benefit of another—stronger—person.”
There was a short silence, broken suddenly by Tommy’s confused, “What?”
“Oh. I know what you’re talking about,” Daniella jumped in. “Those places where men are paired with women, but the men don’t get paid, and they bring the women to orgasm with their fingers. They call it a type of guided meditation.”
“Yes.” I was sitting on the edge of my seat, excited that I might have won her over. “It’s called OM.”
“Is this real?” Tommy asked, his tone incredulous. “Are you making this up?”
“No. I’m not. This is real. And it’s legal. Because neither party is getting paid. It’s instructional, where both the men and women pay the instructor in order to learn how to do it.”
“Holy crap,” he exclaimed, then with an introspective mutter added, “How did I not know about this?”
“What’s that place called, the meditation salon, the one that does the instruction?” The sound of Daniella typing on her keyboard was just audible.
“Single Sense is the name of the company. I’ve been researching them all morning.” I doodled a series of nervous and excited triangles on the notepad in front of me.
“Yes. Here’s their site.” Daniella cleared her throat. “It reads, ‘Orgasm Meditation is a 15-minute, partnered consciousness practice where a stroker strokes the clitoris of a strokee with no goal other than to feel sensation. The practice combines the power and attention of meditation with the deeply human, deeply felt, and connected experience of orgasm.’”
“So you propose fulfilling the single person’s desire to orgasm with orgasm meditation?” Tommy asked.
“Yes. Exactly. But this would be at least a two-part series. As I said, one part of the series would focus on replacing a single person’s need for a romantic relationship with paid services instead—cuddlers, life coaches, other positive-focused services, etc. as we’ve just discussed. The other part would focus on replacing romantic relationships with robots, and that’s where we tie in the technology angle.”
“Oh no, this isn’t going to be about those sex dolls, is it? Those things creep me out. With their cold, dead, lifeless eyes.” I could almost hear Tommy shivering in disgust on the other side of the line.
“No. Not at all. Actually, I have a lead on an AI scientist working with the University of Chicago, and his entire research platform is geared toward solving this problem. Meaning, he is hoping to create companion robots—artificial intelligence—that can address all the same items and issues I’ve just mentioned: touch, affirmation, physical activity, and so forth.”
“So, a sex robot?” Daniella asked.
“No. Not a sex robot. Although I imagine it would be capable of that activity. Just like two people in a romantic relationship can’t be boiled down to ‘sex partners,’ these robots couldn’t and shouldn’t be called ‘sex robots.’” I was vaguely surprised by using Matt’s words from Friday, but they were apt. “They provide companionship first and foremost, tailored to each individual person’s—” or type of person, I thought bitterly, “—preferences and needs.”
“And he’s legit? He’s not some quack?” Was that reluctant excitement I heard in Daniella’s voice? I knew she trusted my judgment, but hearing her almost approval had my heart beating faster.
“Oh, he’s very legit. He has a grant from the federal government for his research. His companion robots—which he calls Compassion AI—could potentially serve multiple purposes, not just romantic. They could ultimately become childcare workers, foster parents, elderly companions, and so forth. This guy is a scientist first and foremost, but he seems to want to solve the problem of loneliness in our world. I believe his aims are altruistic.”
“He wants to solve loneliness . . .” she repeated thoughtfully. “Solving Loneliness. That’s the name of this series. That’s how we’ll spin it.”
YES!