A Smiling Stranger

Can money buy respect, or just company?

While in Vegas this weekend, I happened across an interesting phenomena. High rollers, or those who casinos feel may pose a significant opportunity for gain are offered personal hosts. These individuals are charged with the handling of all odds and ends for hi profile clientele, they purchase tickets, arrange transport, handle unexpected events and most of all act the part of a pleasent and gracious host.

Of the two I met, both were exemplary people, both pleasent and kind. Alone this would of course pose no concern. What made me wonder was this. If the hosts are paid employees, and if their job is to insure that guests spend their time having fun and spending more than just time, are their warm and fuzzy exteriors reality or just personas adopted to preform a job.

It would appear that there is really no way to tell. The fact that the truly kind and generous may take this outward appearance literally at face value is bothersome. While such hosts may and quite likely are in fact admirable human beings, the mere existence of that shadow of a doubt created by their paid nicehood brings a slight spoil to the broth.

Are they really good friends or are they simply putting on a show?