4 ms·

This person is a robot or something. They're missing the most important component of value of a gift -- that the value of something is higher when it's a gift f

This person is a robot or something. They're missing the most important component of value of a gift -- that the value of something is higher when it's a gift from a loved one. If I have a wireless charging dock or a rhyming dictionary or an umbrella that I really love, I love it 2x more if it was a gift from my wife and 10x more if it was a gift from my kids.

freeone3000 6y ago
Right, and that's touched on through the value of increasing social cohesion... But if the gift was a rubber chicken instead of a wireless charging dock, it falls into one of those "that's very nice!" categories.
- im3w1l 6y ago
  I think it's not just increasing social cohesion either. It's also that we like owning things with a story. It becomes a Christmas souvenir basically.
deleted 6y ago
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WarOnPrivacy 6y ago
> the value of something is higher when it's a gift from a loved one. There's pitfalls with this too. A loved one bought me a genealogy DNA kit - because I do tons of genealogy. But I also do IT security for a living. DNA databases are a magnet for powerful bad actors and submitting my DNA to one would introduce new risk to me and my family members. This loved one lives in a world where this sort of risk is invisible to them. There's no simple way for me to explain it to them. Now this DNA kit just sits here, right along with my guilt.
- therealx 6y ago
  Ugh, I have almost the same issue. I think I'll regift it to someone who understands but doesnt care. Have you looked into the genetic squencing offered at education places/third party businesses? They are a little more expensive (starting at $500, I think.)
  - WarOnPrivacy 6y ago
    > Have you looked into the genetic squencing offered at education places/third party businesses? They are a little more expensive (starting at $500, I think.) For genealogical purposes? I haven't considered it. A bigger picture is I'm not sold on the usefulness of DNA testing in general. Comparison testing shows a lot inconsistency. Most of the lines are fairly well filled out anyway; the big exception is one great-grandfather I'm stuck at. I figure some new records will come to light one day.
    - therealx 6y ago
      Oh, no, sorry, I'm only interested in testing for health reasons. It would indeed be fairly useless for genology except I guess to get a real picture of your overall heritage.
      - deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]

freeone3000 6y ago

Right, and that's touched on through the value of increasing social cohesion... But if the gift was a rubber chicken instead of a wireless charging dock, it falls into one of those "that's very nice!" categories.

im3w1l 6y ago
I think it's not just increasing social cohesion either. It's also that we like owning things with a story. It becomes a Christmas souvenir basically.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

WarOnPrivacy 6y ago

> the value of something is higher when it's a gift from a loved one. There's pitfalls with this too. A loved one bought me a genealogy DNA kit - because I do tons of genealogy. But I also do IT security for a living. DNA databases are a magnet for powerful bad actors and submitting my DNA to one would introduce new risk to me and my family members. This loved one lives in a world where this sort of risk is invisible to them. There's no simple way for me to explain it to them. Now this DNA kit just sits here, right along with my guilt.

therealx 6y ago
Ugh, I have almost the same issue. I think I'll regift it to someone who understands but doesnt care. Have you looked into the genetic squencing offered at education places/third party businesses? They are a little more expensive (starting at $500, I think.)
- WarOnPrivacy 6y ago
  > Have you looked into the genetic squencing offered at education places/third party businesses? They are a little more expensive (starting at $500, I think.) For genealogical purposes? I haven't considered it. A bigger picture is I'm not sold on the usefulness of DNA testing in general. Comparison testing shows a lot inconsistency. Most of the lines are fairly well filled out anyway; the big exception is one great-grandfather I'm stuck at. I figure some new records will come to light one day.
  - therealx 6y ago
    Oh, no, sorry, I'm only interested in testing for health reasons. It would indeed be fairly useless for genology except I guess to get a real picture of your overall heritage.
    - deleted 6y ago
      [deleted]