Turning a Gift into a Commodity

The other way to destroy the relational bonds of gift giving is to turn a gift into a commodity. Let’s say it’s my birthday. Ten friends come over to my house, and we eat a good meal, and they all bring a thoughtful gift—books I’ve wanted or food or what-have-you. So I open my presents and I’m very happy. At the end of the night, just before they leave the house, one friend asks, “What did you think? Good birthday celebration?”

I lean back, survey the gifts that are spread across the table, and say, “Yeah, pretty good. I figure I can get about 350 bucks for all this stuff on eBay…