4 ms·
>I was always baffled by the idea that some people considered "gifts" to be the most important way to express love. I'm baffled that you're baffled. Gift-givin
by oarabbus_ 7y ago
>I was always baffled by the idea that some people considered "gifts" to be the most important way to express love.
I'm baffled that you're baffled. Gift-giving is common in every culture, country, and religion in the world.
- blacksmith_tb 7y agoThe function of gift-giving was an early topic of social anthropology, a classic treatment being Mauss' _Essai sur la Don_ [1]. It contains the (to me) stunning Inuit proverb "Gifts make slaves like whips make dogs" - gift-giving binds the recipient to the giver, it leaves them obligated. Which is not the rosy picture we have of it, but worth thinking about in this context (or any other). 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gift_(book) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gift_(book)