I just heard about the 800 dollar sex doll that is being sold. At first, I thought it was just some bizarre fetish thing, but then I heard some really disturbing things about it. The doll is not just a toy, but a functional partner with realistic features and multiple ‘modes’ – manual or automated.
I’m no god-fearing prude, but this is one of those situations I have a hard time wrapping my head around. Sex dolls have become more and more popular in recent years, but with prices increasing and features becoming more realistic, it feels like this particular one has taken it to a whole new level.
At first, the prospect of a sex doll that, for the price of a luxury car, can bring physical pleasure to its owner was kind of amusing. I’ve never been one to judge people for having different bedrooms preferences and I thought this was just another strange but ultimately harmless trend. But then I started hearing stories about people treating the doll more than just a partner but a real life person, even talking to it as if it was alive. That’s when it hit me – this was so much more than a toy.
For just 800 dollars, people are effectively buying an artificial companion. Obviously, no one needs to worry about the doll developing feelings and requiting love or anything, but its presence brings a level of realism that far exceeds any other type of pleasure-toy.
The idea of someone actually ‘hooking up’ with a doll just seemed wrong on so many levels. It may bring someone pleasure, but was it worth all the moral implications that went along with it? There are countless moral dilemmas attached to this issue, and I’m not sure I’m brave enough to try and unpack them all – it’s definitely a complex and tricky can of worms.
Still, as more people become aware of this kind of product, I can’t help but wonder if it’ll become a mainstream thing, like it has in Japan already. That would really be something to see. I mean, it’s amazing what technology can do these days, and while not everyone may be willing to pay 800 bucks for a synthetic partner, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was eventually accepted as a casual practice in the near future.
At the end of the day, it boils down to whether or not the sex dolls doll has the capacity to create meaningful connection or not– and whether or not it’s morally acceptable to engage in physical relationships with a synthetic partner. Maybe I’m too much of a puritan, but I can’t help but feel uncomfortable about the prospect of someone ‘bedding’ a sex doll. To me, it just seems strange and unnecessary, and I want no part of it.