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I'm lousy at the maker thing. But I try to select gifts that the recipients will find useful. Even if it's still an act of consumption, it might as well be one
by cstross 14y ago
I'm lousy at the maker thing.
But I try to select gifts that the recipients will find useful. Even if it's still an act of consumption, it might as well be one that meets a need -- a better carving knife or a nice pen, rather than a solar-powered hand-waving queen or a novelty toy.
Or, failing that, food and drink.
Yes, it's necessary to pay attention in order to figure out what the recipient perceives a need for. But having a close enough social relationship to be able to do that is, in my view, a necessary prerequisite for gift-giving.
NB: I think the take-away from Monbiot's article, for HN readers, is this: try to make something that people need, not just something they want (for 5 minutes).
- homosaur 14y agoThis buying strategy generally is supporting more sustainable jobs also. Doing things like buying less degradable products and shopping locally really does make a big difference over the long term. Food and drink is also good (way better if it's not a national chain) because that money will almost always be spent locally. Not only is it a healthy form of nationalism that benefits your economy, but purchasing local goods that were manufactured in your home country also results in far less destruction and waste of resources.