Inrecentyears,theso-called“accompany-playing”(陪玩)industryhasexplodedinpopularity,wherestrangerspayotherstoplayvideogames,chat,orsimplykeepthemcompanyonline.Assomeonewhoenjoysgamingandisoftenonline,I’vebeenaskedmorethanonce:“Whydon’tyoudoit?It’seasymoney.”Myanswerisalwaysthesame:becausethecostisfarhigherthanthepricetagsuggests.
First,thereisthematterofauthenticity.Whenyouarepaidtoaccompanysomeone,therelationshipistransactionalbydesign.Everylaugh,everycompliment,every“goodgame”becomesacommodity.IplaygamesbecauseIlovethesharedexcitementofaclosematch,thespontaneousbanterwithfriends,andthefreedomtologoffwhenI’mtired.ThemomentIattachapricetomypresence,Iwouldstartcalculatingmytimeindollarsperhour—andthatwouldpoisontheveryjoythatmakesgamingworthwhile.
Second,thereistheemotionallabor.Manyclientswhoseekaccompany-playingarelonely,anxious,orseekingvalidation.Theydon’tjustwantateammate;theywantatherapist,afriend,aromanticstand-in.Iamnottrainedforthat,andpretendingtobeallthingstoastrangerformoneywouldbedishonesttothemandexhaustingtome.Irefusetosellafalsesenseofintimacy.IfIcan’tgenuinelycareaboutsomeone’sday,Ishouldn’ttaketheirmoneywhilefakingit.
Third,thereistheboundaryproblem.Onlineaccompany-playingoftenblurslines—requestsforpersonalphotos,late-nightcalls,or“special”arrangementscreepin.Iwouldratherkeepmyonlineworldcleanandsafe,whereIchoosemycompanybasedonsharedinterests,notpaymentterms.
Finally,Ivaluemyfreetimetoomuch.WhenI’mnotworking,Iwantmytimetobetrulymine—unstructured,unproductive,andguilt-free.IfIturnedmyhobbyintoasidehustle,Iwouldnevertrulyrest.Everyidlehourwouldfeellikeamissedearningopportunity,andthatisaslipperyslopetoburnout.
So,no,Idon’tofferaccompany-playingservices.NotbecauseI’maboveit,butbecauseIrespectthegame,thepeopleIplaywith,andmyselftoomuchtoturnfriendshipintoatransaction.Somethingsarebetterleftunpaid—andmypresenceisoneofthem.