[Nyr]

This is pathetic and you should feel ashamed for trying to exploit individuals with such needs for profit.

As others have pointed out, those seeking that kind of companion already have free alternatives available, in Reddit and other places.

[whitepoplar]

Please don't be nasty. If you disagree with OP's idea, that's great. Just don't call OP or the idea pathetic. There's nothing wrong with the idea of getting paid for one's work. Let the market decide--it's ultimately smarter than you (or me).

[mullen]

Sometimes a bad idea is just called a bad idea.

Sometimes a terrible idea is just called a terrible idea.

and sometimes a pathetic idea is just called a pathetic idea.

[crimsonalucard]

The idea was in no way pathetic, terrible, or bad.

[hoborama]

You think he should build it for free? How is he supposed to pay his bills or eat while he's making it? Profit is not necessarily a dirty word.

[Nyr]

I don't think that he should build that, period. It is an abomination of an idea.

Just like the "professional huggers" which he mentions. You can't purchase human affection.

[earlyriser]

I think it's fine to call this an abomination. I wouldn't be on Ask HN if I didn't want honest opinions.

However, the very spirit of being a hacker is to solve problems with less than optimal solutions, like duck tape. Human affection is the optimal solution, but people who use services provided by professional huggers know that they're buying an interaction that is positive to them, not a feeling in the other person.

[earlyriser]

Exactly. Profit is necessary to facilitate resources (time in this case).

I'm all for people meeting these needs in organic and free ways, that would the ideal. But it's something like good food, ideally, we should have time to prepare a good meal (real friends or new reddit strangers), but there's not always like this. So you can feel this need with some industrial food (the are services using AI to solve depression), or going to a restaurant with someone proud of their craft (my idea of service).