Like my AWEARNESS colleague David Alm I, too, am of mixed feelings about the idea of selling one's virginity. On the one hand, "Natalie Dylan," the aspiring California grad student selling her virginity, has ultimate ownership of her experience. Who are we to tell her no? Still, the fact that wealthy businessmen are always and invariably the ones with the means to purchase such an experience from a person in financial want should give one pause. Over and over again, this wealthy businessman-young woman dynamic is at play in this complex sexual situation and it is frankly, to this blogger, more than a little bit creepy. This ultimate act of capitalism -- and it is, make no mistake about it -- raises questions about the commodification of sex that are certainly discussion-worthy.

In the case of Natalie Dylan -- a pseudonym, by the way -- the reason for her selling her virginity has evaporated. Graduate school tuition was the stated reason for selling a sexual relationship at the Moonlite BunnyRanch. The anonymous millionaire, however, who offered six figures for the "deflowering" forfeited his non-refundable deposit -- no pun intended. He may have gotten cold feet, or, as it has been hinted, he has reconciled with an ex-wife. Whatever the case, Natalie has free money.

Here's where things get confusing. Natalie Dylan still wants to go through with the sale and is looking for more offers. Why? Minus the percentage of that $250,000 deposit going to the house, Dylan has more than enough to walk away and fund her graduate studies. Dylan could take her cut, call it a day, and thank her lucky stars. Why is she still up to selling her virginity to a kind of creepy stranger since she has already achieved her financial goal without having to -- pun intended -- go through the motions? We emailed BunnyRanch proprietor Dennis Hoff who responded, "She has a book documentary and movie that needs an ending."

[Image: The Improper]