The New Dating Scene -- Sugar Daddy Anyone?

Finding love should be easy. But it's not.

It's crazy hard. So hard, in fact, that a great many people are flocking to Sugar Daddy dating sites for companionship. And business is booming.

Dating sites such as www.seekingarrangement.com, www.whatsyourprice.com, www.sugardaddyforme.com and dozens just like them are taking advantage of the newest trend in dating: money for companionship. In the old days he would be called a John and she would be a hooker.

So, what's changed?

Evidently if you package these kinds of activities as a "dating" site you're in. Social media is a huge boost for connections, and apparently the Internet is filled with people who are either too tired, too busy or too lazy to find companionship/sex on their own.

Don't have enough money to take that dream vacation? No worries. If you're young, attractive and willing, go to Miss Travel (www.misstravel.com) and find yourself a "sponsor" to pay your way. Compromise (that's what we're calling it these days) is expected, of course.

Miss Travel is doing big business. With over 615,000 members worldwide and over half a million trips booked, there is no denying that it is filling a need. It was initially launched as a dating site over two years ago, the first in the "travel dating space," according to founder Brandon Wade, the relationship guru behind the sugar daddy search sites www.SeekingArrangement.com and WhatsYourPrice.com.

The Seeking Arrangement website boasts an astonishing clientele of over 4.5 million sugar babies, sugar daddies and sugar mommas, and is active in 139 countries. It offers eight sugar babies for one sugar daddy.

They provide "no strings" (if you buy that I've got a Florida sinkhole I'd love to sell you) attached matches, thereby redefining the expectations of a perfect relationship. They even provide a mobile friendly app so that you can find an "arrangement" anywhere, anytime and on any device (how convenient), and they refer to their matches as ideal relationships because they are honest, upfront and with someone who will cater to your needs (good luck with that).

I'm no prude, not by a long shot. But disguising sex for money with a slick and enticing website is still pay for play.

Have men lost all hope of finding a suitable mate the old fashion way?

Have women lost all sense of self-worth, character and boundaries?

Is no one looking for love anymore?

And when does dating become prostitution?

These websites do not encourage independence in women. Nor do they give them a sense of self-empowerment. What they offer is an opportunity to exchange what they have for cash, gifts, pampering, and travel.

While I admire the entrepreneurial spirit of capitalizing on the need for sex and companionship and filling that need with fancy schmancy websites and the world wide web, it is still, very simply: money for service.

The lines are blurred, and truth be told, as long as it's between consenting adults, no children or animals involved, and no one gets hurt, I don't really care.

The fact is, I'm in favor of legalizing prostitution. I've never believed that the law can stand between what a man/woman wants to pay for pleasure. Legalize it, regulate it, and tax it! Bam! That would put a nice dent in the city's coffers.

But when you are exchanging a service for money, please DON'T call that dating. Call it a business transaction or perhaps a gentleman's agreement (and I use the term loosely).

Dating is when two people meet for the purpose of finding love and not just getting laid. People seek commonality, respect, loyalty and companionship. Its hard work, and it can be heartbreaking. But if you get lucky, you hit the jackpot, and it won't cost you a European vacation, or a set of Louis Vuitton luggage.

The only price you will pay is with your heart. Just as it should be.

I, for one, am not yet ready to abandon the old ways of finding love and companionship. Nor can I accept a pay for play coupling as a bonafide relationship.

Please tell me I'm not the last one standing.

Earlier on Huff/Post50: