Check out RJ in the New York Times! Hehe..

It Takes Two
Pamela LiCalzi O'Connell

Published: March 11, 2004
New York Times

Internet dating may have gone mainstream, but interesting sites are still popping up at the fringes. Take loveinwar.com, which tries to match the politically minded, or www.elimidating.com, which offers a gamelike experience that mimics reality TV. Then there is theradate.com, which uses mental-health professionals as matchmakers.

For men who can't find a match even at these dating sites, a new option has emerged: imaginary girlfriends. For a fee, men can sign up at imaginarygirlfriends.com or www.yourimaginarygirlfriend.com to receive letters, e-mail and phone calls from women pretending to be their sweethearts. Such sites are aimed at single men looking for romance without commitment, or those wanting to prove to their friends or family - or ex-girlfriend - that they have a new love interest.

Imaginarygirlfriends.com was inspired by similar listings on eBay, said Ron James, the site's founder, who also runs niche dating sites like thuglove.com, aimed at urban singles. In late January, eBay pulled the plug on those listings, arguing that some seemed to be fronts for selling sexual services. Information at Mr. James's site makes clear that real-life meetings are not included in the package, and that "anyone who has difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy should not use this service."

So far about 130,000 people have visited the site, Mr. James said. But apparently there is more interest from women who want to be hired as faux girlfriends than from men seeking imaginary flames. Fourteen men have signed up for the service, which costs $45 for two months; 50 women have applied to be girlfriends.

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