Generalized Reciprocity
As I sit here thinking of exactly what to write about, connecting last week’s readings with my everyday encounters, I can’t help but notice that consumption and exchange in our society is nearly inescapable. Immediately I recall a snapchat I took earlier this week while with my study group of 2 years. One of the above images is of my friend Cece holding a box of girl scout cookies I brought for the group to share. Almost every week for the past few years, we’ve gathered to study and in that time, have learned one anothers’ coffee orders, preferred 2am study snacks, and other small pick-me-ups to help one another get through the long, late hours in the library.
It’s not expected, nor are these small gifts ever requested. Over time, it has become common practice to just do these small things for one another with the understanding that there is no inequality in the group. There’s no leader, nor do we respect one individual more than any others because of the frequency of the ‘gifts’ they bring to study-time. The trust and mutuality we share means that no one is gifting with the intention of something personal to gain. They are simply a physical by-product of our social interaction, respect, and interpersonal relationship.
Modes of Consumption? Modes of Exchange.
Consumption and Exchange struck me again as I endured the devastatingly long line of GW package services. The number of boxes that go through that department on a daily basis shocks me. The way we consume goods is always changing, and in a society that embraces capitalism and consumeristic tendencies, we are always searching for the most innovative, and efficient ways of conducting exchange and consumption.
Just a quick look at the number of amazon boxes in package services is an indicator of our reliance on the internet and long distance platforms of purchasing goods. As students living in a city we have almost endless options for consumption, yet we still so heavily rely on our privileged ability to click-order something from thousands of miles away and have it brought literally to our feet.
