[flitzofolov]

This seems to me like commodification of affection, or an attempt to "disrupt" the deathly loneliness of late-stage capitalism.

[floatrock]

Or perhaps it's a response to the (admittedly not unfounded) pervasive cynicism where everything is seen as the "commodification of x or an attempt to disrupt the deathly loneliness of y".

You know, maybe humans just trying to figure out what being human was supposed to be before suits and patagonia vests got in the way. /shrug

[stcredzero]

an attempt to "disrupt" the deathly loneliness of late-stage capitalism

Much has been written about the potential isolation and alienation under the Soviet system, which to me qualifies as late stage socialism.