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title: "“Big spoon or little spoon?” she asks the man, who is in his mid-50s.…"
date: 2015-11-14
source: facebook
type: Archer T. Ships shared a link.
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# “Big spoon or little spoon?” she asks the man, who is in his mid-50s.…

*November 14, 2015 · Facebook*

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[http://priceonomics.com/inside-the-world-of-for-profit-snuggling/](http://priceonomics.com/inside-the-world-of-for-profit-snuggling/){target="_blank"}
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"Big spoon or little spoon?" she asks the man, who is in his mid-50s. Instead, he opts for a more ambitious position. Hess leads him into an outer space-themed back room, and the two crawl into bed. Beneath an aurora borealis ceiling, they intertwine into a complex human pretzel and lay still.\
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After an hour, the man rises, emits a delighted sigh, and pays Hess \$60.\
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"That was wonderful," he says. "I'll see you next week."\
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Hess is the owner of Cuddle Up To Me, one of America's growing number of "professional cuddling" businesses. Here, clients pay top dollar for the privilege of platonic, non-sexual human touch. Though "cuddling" is not scientifically recognized as a form of therapy, Hess contends that Americans will soon "see the light." She claims to have helped clients --- mostly middle-aged men --- battle their innermost demons. Yet, it is an industry rattled by skeptics who call it a front for prostitution.\
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What is it like to be a professional cuddler? Who are the men and women running these businesses? And ultimately, what does the industry's existence say about America?\"
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