Synthetic women?

I'm fascinated with anthropology. We humans are a strange, complicated bunch. Check out this Nat Geo Taboo vid, part of an episode entitled Strange Love. To each, his or her own, but I feel sad for these individuals and I have to admit, a little weirded out. The reasons they give for preferring synthetic dolls over live women are the same reasons a lot of other people give for preferring live partners: intimacy, shared interests, etc. Of course we all have times where we need solitude as well, but finding that balance is one of the rewarding aspects of a healthy intimate relationship, isn't it? What is missing in their culture and lives that makes them avoid commitments to live people? Could this really be a way of dealing with a form of Asperger's syndrome? Are they simply unaware of the joys of interacting with other individuals? Apparently, this lifestyle works for them or so they say. What do you think?



If you get a chance, check out the rest of this Taboo episode here.