Is gifting a form of socialism or communism?

Apollonaris Zeus · Post by **Apollonaris Zeus** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:51 am

Are we communists or socialists and what is the fucking difference?

And on top of that making all the coin is a capitalistic Larry!

Is that the future of America, but socialists controlled by capitalists: the new world order?

Post by **Elderberry** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:57 am

Some say that a big benefit China has is that they are a Communist government with a Capitolist economy. The best of both worlds(?)--no red tape when business wants to get things done.

JK

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:02 am

Oh, it's still Capitalism. It's just that all the money trades hands just before and just after the event. You pay green cash for everything, and the percentage of what you are "gifted" to what you bought is very low.

A little bit of gifting is just good partying!

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:08 am

jkisha wrote:Some say that a big benefit China has is that they are a Communist government with a Capitolist economy. The best of both worlds(?)--no red tape when business wants to get things done.

JK

yeah, none of that "red tape" for those melamine salesmen........

for China in your reference, communist has not the power, as does totalitarian, in reference to government........

in true, end game communism, there is no centralized government, all work for the good of the masses, and, the masses work for the good of all......

Socialism, IIRC, is the step before communism, wherein there is government, and, it makes things "fair"........
Until the people are educated to help eachother all be equal........

This is my simple understanding........or opinion.......

issimo · Post by **issimo** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:09 am

BM is free expressive creative. (put your 'ism' where the sun can't find it)

You are trying to put a liquid in a round, square, triangular, whatever post-occurance sociological ideology the historians have taught you. Give up! It fills all the shapes, it fills none of them.

If anything, 'gifting' is stone age or earlier. One human makes another happy by doing it without motive and another accepts it without need.

It is what it is and you cannot pidgeonhole it with implied doctrine. BM is where people go to forget all the choices you offer on your poll.

Having said all that: it is mercurial... but mercury can be poison...

lurker · Post by **lurker** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:18 am

Gifting is it's own thing--it is not a give and take/abilities and needs situation.

It's a 'look what I can do' economy.

Perhaps the 'economic' part is a 'cast your bread upon the waters and it will come back sevenfold' economy.

It's an economy based in YOU having all YOU need and everything else being the fulfillment of desires.

Freed from survivalist motives, all interactions are on a 'what do I want to do' basis.

It's what happens when you get rid of all the other stupid 'isms' and make every individual free.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:34 am

Well, looks like the poll is running even-steven....

Capitalism: You pay for your ticket and get a commodity, i.e. the burn, or at the least a really noisy rustic camping trip

Bartering: I'll give you a drink if you recite to me a real crappy poem

Gifting: Hey! Nice costume, here's a little something for you

Communism? Socialism? Not sure bout those one's, get back to me after a few more drinks

Medieval Serfdom: I'm sure a few theme camps could qualify for this one.

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:41 am

Gifting is a celebration and does not fit any of those choices on your poll.

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:20 am

I need to find my cultural anthropology textbook.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:47 am

Actually it's universal reciprocity, normally a hardship economy.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 11:05 am

I flunked cultural anthropology... something about not showing up for classes nor doing the reading.

Gifting exists in all of those categories, and can be done for any number of reasons.

Heck, when I ordered a new headlight for my bicycle, I got a free razor and a sample of some aspirin. The motives there were pure capitalist-- try it and maybe you'll buy it! In a communist economy, you are getting rewarded for doing your share of the work. In socialism, it is the government caring for you-- and it is assumed you are paying into the government. Serfdom-- it is the serfs helping one another or the rulers trying to avoid a revolt. Those are all gross oversimplifications-- examples of all those motives can be found in all (real world) economies.

TPBM-- oops! Wrong thread!

Is gifting a form of socialism or communism?

What ism is BM?

Is gifting a form of socialism or communism?