EXCERPT FROM: "From the Arcade to the Girlfriend Experience"

I clicked on a stream of a rather cute girl, doing her cute girl thing, while trying to evade Jason- and when he’d get too close, she’d squeal “don’t do it! I’m a good girl!” and isn’t that adorable? Admittedly this was entertaining, and I certainly got a look at the game… when something kind of funny happened. Someone tipped her $10- for what, I wasn’t quite sure- and she enthusiastically squealed “ten dolla holla,” and then reminded viewers that for $20 she’d write their name on a post-it note and put it on her wall. If you subscribe to her channel, your name even pops up on the screen! And would you believe, in the same stream, someone tipped her $100?

Tits. I was certain it had something to do with tits, but as time ticked by and more money came in, there wasn’t a single mention of tits nor ass. Not one. I had to investigate.

So why are people throwing money at a girl for playing video games on the internet? If you go to her website, she says:

YouTube allows me to combine all of my passions: people, gaming, and making videos. But I believe I’m different from most YouTubers out there. I have been given a platform and I want to use that platform to change people’s lives for the better. I want people to know that whenever they click on one of my videos, that they’ll laugh, they’ll feel encouraged, and they’ll feel like part of a family. I want to inspire people.

And suddenly we take the giant leap from “video game streamer” to cult leader.

Lets closely examine the language she uses. She starts by stating that this is a passion, which is a stab at claiming authenticity. To further drive this to the point of absurdity, she says she’s “different from most YouTubers out there,” despite being pretty much exactly the same. This type of claim is not unlike the cool girl who has “esoteric qualities that made her special and unique, while those other girls are basic and shallow.”

But not only will One_Shot_Gurl let you watch her play video games, she’ll also change your life for the better! By watching her play video games! You’ll laugh, and feel encouraged, and feel like you’re part of a family.

Feel like you’re part of a fucking family.

What she doesn’t need to mention- it’s as self-evident as a vagina- is that she’s really selling lonely men the girlfriend experience.

The girlfriend experience is a uniquely male desire; there is no female equivalent, or boyfriend experience, as most women are able to garner beta-male orbiters to effectively serve that purpose (or gay men for the fat ones). Think of the girlfriend experience as the x-factor that separates a good stripper from a bad stripper- it isn’t her body, or her dancing skill- it’s if she can make you believe the fantasy is real. That her flirtation with you is genuine, her desire matches your own, and the fleeting moments you spend with her are different and special.

It’s a lot easier to sell sex than it is to sell a fantasy, and while One_Shot_Gurl is keeping her clothes on she’s selling you the fantasy of friendship, family, and the idea of having an adorable gamer girlfriend who makes you feel special for $10 $20 (you want your name on a post-it note stuck to her wall, right?).

When asked during her show why she likes being a streamer, she said it’s because she can “set her own hours.” After all, this is her job. And while she isn’t a stripper or a prostitute, she’s selling the same fundamentals, only dishonestly.

For the record, One_Shot_Gurl does seem quite genuine and really very nice, and I felt a slight tinge of guilt writing this post being critical of her… that maybe I’m wrong, and maybe her streaming really does come from a place of sincerity and passion and maybe, just maybe, that stripper really did want a piece of old “Bad” Billy.

FULL BLOG: From the Arcade to the Girlfriend Experience