Temporary Holiday Boyfriends: WTF?

You know love is dead when people start advertising for temporary boyfriends or girlfriends on Craigslist. What's next? Temporary toddlers so your parents can quit worrying about your unused eggs?

Surprisingly, or maybe unsurprisingly, some singles are looking for temporary relationships for the holiday season. Apparently, it's fine to be single all year long, but when Christmas, Hanukkah or whatever your holiday jam is rolls around, you best be coupled up, sister. And since you can find pretty much everything else on Craigslist, you might as well find a short-term fella to bring home to mom and dad, so you can pretend that your life is complete. Yes, in case you didn't get the memo, your life isn't complete until you've coupled off.

It was two girls who first brought attention to this procuring of holiday significant others with their ad "Two Girls, One Season. Wanted: Holidates — w4m — 26." Pointing out facts like "Holidays are the worst time to be single and some of us are just over it," the ladies make holiday "love" look easy and baggage-free. Kind of.

Although the Craigslist ad was taken down, these ladies will not be defeated. They have since started a Tumblr page, which chronicles some guys' hilarious responses to their ad. You should check it out. And gentlemen, hurry. The girls say: "Our first holiday party is December 11th, so we'd like to make a selection soon. There is still time to apply, if any late bromances recently bloomed and stumbled across our page. So go to Target, purchase a set of matching sweaters, and send us your emails soon! We're like two Cinderellas and bi**hes have curfew, son." You heard the word.

Gals are not alone in this questionable holiday endeavor. A 28-year-old guy from San Francisco recently placed an ad saying that he too wants a holiday girlfriend. And here in NYC, there's a woman looking to pay a hot guy to be her date and make her "look good" at a holiday party where her ex-fiancé will be in attendance. (Ed.: Forgive my naivete, but three questions: 1. Wouldn't paying for a date eventually make you look/feel bad, even if the ex-fiancé never finds out? 2. Why even go to this party at all? 3. Why are people so CRAZY?!)

While the others aren't offering anything in exchange for their temporary and fake relationships (except their dignity), this woman is willing to pay for the "service." How this isn't any different from hiring an escort is beyond me. And let's say you hire one of these faux partners, and your family just loves them? What kind of awkwardness ensues then? Lastly, and most importantly: What the hell is wrong with being single during the holiday season? Ugh. People.

Would you ever hire a temporary holiday significant other? Why do you think those people are doing it?