The single status is often looked upon with disdain by both men and women. It's no wonder that people are afraid to acknowledge it and end up resorting to different methods to ensure they get rid of the tag of 'singledom'.
In fact, according to a daily in China, some men even hire a real-life fake girlfriend for an occasion. This demand increases especially before the Chinese New Year, where men would rather fake being in a relationship to their family than admit being 'single'. While a site that allows you to create a profile of your 'fake girlfriend' has been around for a while, the latest entrant on this front is a new texting service on the net where you sign up to have your 'girlfriend' send you fake SMSes.
As per the instructions listed on site, all you need to do is save the fake girlfriend number on your phone under a fictitious name. Then, when you're out with the woman you are interested in, just text that number. They will then send you "a random girlfriend-esque message".
As per the instructions listed on site, all you need to do is save the fake girlfriend number on your phone under a fictitious name. Then, when you're out with the woman you are interested in, just text that number. They will then send you "a random girlfriend-esque message".
Nobody wants to be lonely
Actor Rahul Dev says, "Men are scared of being rejected. That's the reason they would subscribe to such a service. Nobody wants to be told they aren't good enough, so they will pretend to be 'wanted' by the opposite sex in front of their buddies. Jealousy can make you do strange stuff."
Mehar Bhasin, a former model and grooming expert, adds, "This concept takes jealousy to the next level. It's like the man is trying to appear 'uber cool' to his girlfriend by showing off that he's much in demand, and she's lucky to have him. In China and Japan, break-up experts are being hired to tell the partner that the relationship is off. Personally, I wouldn't try to make my partner jealous by going that far."
Actor Rahul Dev says, "Men are scared of being rejected. That's the reason they would subscribe to such a service. Nobody wants to be told they aren't good enough, so they will pretend to be 'wanted' by the opposite sex in front of their buddies. Jealousy can make you do strange stuff."
Mehar Bhasin, a former model and grooming expert, adds, "This concept takes jealousy to the next level. It's like the man is trying to appear 'uber cool' to his girlfriend by showing off that he's much in demand, and she's lucky to have him. In China and Japan, break-up experts are being hired to tell the partner that the relationship is off. Personally, I wouldn't try to make my partner jealous by going that far."
"It's all about the ego," Dr Kurien S Thomas, clinical psychologist, says. "Some guys may opt for this as it gives them an ego boost and a false sense of security. It takes away the emotional stress that they go through because of peer pressure for not being able to find a girl who appreciates them for who they are."
Clinical psychologist Dr Seema Hingorrany adds, "I had a patient who came to me and told me he tried something similar to win over his girlfriend. He was sure she had feelings for him but she was reluctant to admit it. So he got a guy friend to pose as a secret admirer. Luckily for him, things worked in his favour." However, Seema warns that it's advisable not to use this frequently. While it may make you appear attractive in the eyes of the opposite sex initially, it could work against you in the long run.
