Thoughts on what makes a gift, a gift?
Jul 16th 2007NiaLLLarkinUncategorized & gifting
I’ve done a lot of thinking and reading on the subject of gifts, gifting and gift economies this past 12 months. There is a huge amount of acadmic work published on the subject. Its one of those subjects that we all understand inherently but also find so fuzzy as to defy definition on closer examination. Lucy Kellaway in todays FT writes:
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There are two tests to mark out the generous gift. The first, it must hurt a bit. Second, you musn’t shout about it.
Lucy is always worth reading. She has a knack for distilling down complex sociological concepts that otherwise fill entire shelves of dusty academic libraries into no nonsense tasty little bit-sized portions. Sample more from Lucy here:
4 Comments »
James Corbett on 17 Jul 2007 at 8:53 am #
Nice find Niall and good definition. I thought it might be worth signing up for the 15 day free trial to read the full article but as it turns out it’s way too much hassle :-(
James Corbett on 17 Jul 2007 at 12:48 pm #
Niall, you might also be interested to check out this great new post by Tara Hunt, entitled ‘The Gift’ -
http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/07/15/the-gift/
niall.p.larkin on 17 Jul 2007 at 1:30 pm #
I’ll continue to blog any little gems I find on FT so!
niall.p.larkin on 17 Jul 2007 at 1:42 pm #
That’s a great link James. Highly recommended for anyone as a perfect ‘gateway’ article to recent advances in appreciation of our hard-wired gifting instinct, its basis in our subconscious awareness that gifting is a form of ‘enlightened selfishness’ which is essential Evolutionary Stable Strategy (ESS) and the sophisticated social processes mediated thru the ‘webs of obligation’ generated by gift exchange. I must collate some of my stuff! Wikipedia is also a good place to work from.