Hunting or foraging had psychological rewards, which aren't necessarily small or unjustifiable -- eg. feeling more capable and in control. The question is rather whether these gains can be obtained another way.
In the case of hunting, they can.
In the case of relationships with other sentient beings, I have so far seen nothing that looks like it produces equivalent effects.
Overall your post seems to be about what people value, rather than being addressed at the topic of the original post : what helps people be complete people -- what are the essential dimensions of human living.
A successful counterargument to the original post would demonstrate that relationships were not necessary, rather than not valued
(People's values are not a good guide to what's actually good for them. Lopsidedness prevails.)
In the case of relationships with other sentient beings, I have so far seen nothing that looks like it produces equivalent effects.
The point I was trying to make is that perhaps future technology will find something. Perhaps the catgirls will satisfy romantic/emotional needs as well, without the complications that human partners bring in to the equation.
Today's post, 20 January 2009 was originally published on 20 January 2009. A summary (taken from the LW wiki):
Discuss the post here (rather than in the comments to the original post).
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