by nreece on 10/23/25, 8:31 AM with 96 comments
by dgrin91 on 10/23/25, 9:01 AM
by nabla9 on 10/23/25, 9:21 AM
The number of lonely male tech workers who engage in parasocial relationships online is not insignificant. Twenty years ago, I never would have believed that people would pay money just for some written or verbal acknowledgment from someone on the internet. Attractive female whom men "support" for an illusory relationship can milk thousands from some people.
Getting security clearances after background check shows payments of this type is probably difficult.
by hbarka on 10/23/25, 9:08 AM
by nreece on 10/23/25, 8:31 AM
by sixhobbits on 10/23/25, 9:13 AM
...
"Preparing my report," Lawrence says. "Doesn't do me any good to make observations if I don't send them out."
"Quite right," Margaret says thoughtfully.
This is an excellent time to stoke the chapel's pathetic iron stove. He puts in a few scoops of precious coal, his worksheet, and the page from the one-time pad that he has just used to do the encryption. "Should warm up now," he says.
"Oh, lovely," Margaret says, "I'm all shivery."
Lawrence recognizes this as his cue to initiate a rescue operation. About fifteen seconds later, he is up there in the hammock with Margaret. To the great surprise of neither one of them, the quarters are awkward and tight. There is some flopping around which ends with Lawrence on his back and Margaret on top of him, her thigh between his.
She is shocked to discover that he has an erection. Ashamed, apparently, that she did not anticipate his need. "You poor dear!" she exclaims. "Of course! How could I have been so dense! You must have been so lonely here." She kisses his cheek, which is nice since he is too stunned to move. "A brave warrior deserves all the support we civilians can possibly give him," she says, reaching down with one hand to open his fly.
Then she pulls the grey wool over her head and burrows to a new position. Lawrence Pritchard Waterhouse is stunned by what happens next. He gazes up at the ceiling of the chapel through half-closed eyes and thanks God for having sent him what is obviously a German spy and an angel of mercy rolled into one adorable package.
When it's finished, he opens his eyes again and takes a deep breath of cold Atlantic air. He is seeing everything around him with newfound clarity. Clearly, Margaret is going to do wonders for his productivity on the cryptological front--if he can only keep her coming back.
by fxtentacle on 10/23/25, 9:14 AM
by fullofbees on 10/23/25, 9:43 AM
by rapsey on 10/23/25, 9:02 AM
On a serious note. The Chinese will go to great lengths to steal tech that they want. I have heard some interesting stories regarding fake cell towers and phone tapping next to factories and not for some crazy important tech either. Just something the Chinese did not yet know how to do and wanted to compete without spending years of R&D.
by trippyballs on 10/23/25, 9:07 AM
by stevenwilkin on 10/23/25, 9:40 AM
by defrost on 10/23/25, 9:31 AM
The Peter Thiel's of SV are presumed immune from sexpionage by The Times?
by MrThoughtful on 10/23/25, 9:32 AM
When I look at instances in my social circle, it seems like it doesn't really work. The relationships typically seem to suffer from a lack of mutual interests. The woman's beauty quickly dwindles as time passes. And the woman feels like she is missing out on a "real life" because all she does is be at the side of the man, instead of building her own career. The attraction of the man seems to dwindle quickly too. I know a few such couples, where the man told me that their sex life is dead, even though he wished it were different.
What that tells me is that to work on your attractiveness, working on your career is not the way to go.
by freefaler on 10/23/25, 9:57 AM
by qwery on 10/23/25, 9:53 AM
This article jumps right in the deep end, quoting a Silicon Valley insider:
> I’m getting an enormous number of very sophisticated LinkedIn requests from the same type of attractive young Chinese woman,
Now on the first read you might think "is that it?" -- is this seriously what the article is about? But the same insider also said:
> It really seems to have ramped up recently.
So yeah, like I said.
by atleastoptimal on 10/23/25, 9:53 AM
by bjourne on 10/23/25, 9:13 AM
by wosined on 10/23/25, 9:35 AM
by nakamoto_damacy on 10/23/25, 9:09 AM
by alganet on 10/23/25, 8:39 AM
Same with friendships, all sorts of things. Someone that's super into the same things as you and appears to help you and encourage you like a friend you never had? That's not a friend, guarantee you.