Leave the singles alone to enjoy the festivities

I REFER to the report “I am not for rent, says guy behind viral posting” ( The Star, Jan 27).

The demand for these girlfriends or boyfriends for hire is due to the fact that during family gatherings on Chinese New Year, being single is seen especially by the older generation as abnormal particularly if one has attained a certain age and is financially well-off.

The pressure to get married increases further as one reaches the ideal marriageable age range, which is normally late 20s or early 30s.

The age-old practice of “shaming” a person living a single life during Chinese New Year is simply wrong because being pressured to marry could result in a host of problems if things do not work out.

Divorce is a painful process especially if there are young children involved. It could also be an ugly process if one party tries to inflict as much suffering as possible on the other party instead of amicably trying to work things out. The process can also drag on due to problems in settling alimony and child custody and maintenance.

There are some people who prefer to be single and their choice must be respected.

Hiring girlfriends or boyfriends to “show off ” will only work to a certain extent. Single people must have the right to tell their well-meaning inquisitors that they are not ready for marriage and that should be the end of it.

Marriage between a man and woman must only take place when all things are set in place regardless of what anyone else says. If one plans to get married at an advanced age, so be it.

People should get married when they are mentally, emotionally and financially prepared for it. That goes to having children too.