A guy once asked me, "Do you want me to spend money on you?" I asked him why. His answer was basically, "I just want to spend." I told him, "Only if I'm giving you something valuable. Otherwise, I'd rather you save your money, or spend it on someone else." That probably isn't the answer he expected. The internet has created a strange economy where attention itself has become something people pay for. Some people are lonely. Some are bored. Some simply want someone to notice them for a while. I understand that. But I don't think someone's loneliness should automatically become my business model. If someone pays me, I want there to be a real exchange. Maybe I helped them through a difficult week. Maybe we had a conversation that gave them clarity. Maybe they left feeling lighter than when they arrived. Maybe they genuinely enjoyed spending an hour talking, laughing, or sharing their thoughts. That's value. Paying someone just so they'll look at your messages for a few minutes? That isn't something I want to encourage. Not because there's anything wrong with paying for someone's time. We all do that in different ways. The problem is when money becomes a substitute for genuine human connection. If someone believes the only way to receive attention is to open their wallet, I don't want to reinforce that belief. Could I make more money by accepting it? Probably. Would it sit right with me? No. There will always be people willing to monetize attention alone. That's their choice, and I'm not here to judge them. But I have my own standard. If someone spends money on me, I want to be able to look them in the eye and honestly say, "You got something worthwhile from this." Because our interaction actually improved their day, their mindset, or their life in some small way. If I can't say that, then I haven't earned their money. And I'd rather walk away from easy money than build a business on someone's need for attention.