Faking it

Jezebel has an interesting post about the allure -- or lack thereof -- surrounding a stint as a fake girlfriend.

The post's inspiration? A Craig's List item from a gay guy whose visiting parents want to see his girlfriend.

So the fake girlfriend scenario isn't confined to romantic comedies, as Jezebel wisely notes.

The setup sounds like a pretty sweet deal. But I wouldn't do it.

It reminds me of the retrospectively awkward dynamic surrounding my sixth-grade dances. Your friends would collect money, and then pay a member of the opposite sex to dance with you.

You got a fake boyfriend/girlfriend for three minutes. While a Boyz II Men song played in the background.

I couldn't ask for a better romantic groundwork.