14 DAY TRIAL // Just a few days ago, a fairly peculiar item, if we may be so bold as to use this word, was put up for sale on eBay. The item in question was 22-year-old Georgia Horrocks' imaginary friend, Bernard.
Now, before you go ransacking eBay looking for the listing, you should know that the e-commerce company pulled the plug on this auction shortly after Georgia announced to the world that she was selling Bernard.
Not at all surprisingly, eBay argued that it had no choice but cancel the sale because auctioning off imaginary friends went against its policy not to offer customers intangible items such as ghosts, spirits, and souls.
Still, this does not change the fact that 22-year-old Georgia Horrocks' attempt to sell her imaginary friend on eBay makes for one heck of an entertaining story.
Introducing Bernard, Georgia's imaginary friend
It is understood that, when listing Bernard on eBay, the Londoner described him as a reliable companion ready and willing to chase away people's boredom and offer them valuable pieces of advice on all sorts of topics.
The 22-year-old even shared a photo showing her enjoying a late dinner with the imaginary friend, which you can find next to this article. Judging by this photo, it appears that Bernard is also well-educated enough to use a fork and a knife when eating.
“Is life just a bit average? A bit mundane? Or perhaps your friends have let you down. Maybe you struggle to make friends, to meet new people, to put yourself out there – into that daunting social scene that is tainted with the threat of rejection.”
“If this sounds like you, I have the solution: Bernard – my kind, loyal, charismatic Imaginary Friend that will never leave you... unless you are ready,” the 22-year-old woman described her imaginary friend on eBay.
Why would anyone auction off an imaginary friend?
For starters, it need be said that Georgia Horrocks isn't the first person to try to get rid of an imaginary friend by selling them. On the contrary, it was in 2007 that some guy sold his imaginary friend for a whopping $2,750 (roughly €2,152).
According to Oddity Central, the 22-year-old woman did not decide to auction off Bernard all on her own. On the contrary, it was her psychiatrist who suggested that she do so. Apparently, Georgia and Bernard had to part ways so that the woman could declutter her mind.
“I have recently come to the decision that it is time to sell my imaginary friend Bernard who was created during a time of emotional instability. My psychiatrist recommended that I say goodbye to Bernard, and although I would like some financial compensation, it is more important that he finds a good home,” the 22-year-old explained on eBay.
By the looks of it, Georgia Horrocks was hoping to sell Bernard for about ₤200 (approximately €252 / $323). Since Bernard is, well, imaginary, one can only assume whoever might have ended up buying him wouldn't have had to pay any shipping fees.