Comments on: Lunch with Pip (dining out in the gift economy) http://cultureby.com/2009/09/lunch-with-pip-dining-out-in-the-gift-economy.html This Blog Sits At the Intersection of Anthropology and Economics Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:43:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bob McBarton http://cultureby.com/2009/09/lunch-with-pip-dining-out-in-the-gift-economy.html/comment-page-1#comment-287 Bob McBarton Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:53:37 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=41#comment-287 Great piece Grant--hope to see you again soon. Bob McBarton Great piece Grant–hope to see you again soon.
Bob McBarton

]]> By: Robin Upton http://cultureby.com/2009/09/lunch-with-pip-dining-out-in-the-gift-economy.html/comment-page-1#comment-286 Robin Upton Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:34:54 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=41#comment-286 Pip's generosity contradicts the assumptions of modern economics, but makes perfect sense on another level. Food sharing is the quintessential act of altruism, and an essential survival strategy in times of irregular food supply. Am I being too fanciful to suggest that something of that resonates with his guests, encouraging them to give of their time and energy? The modern 'western' culture is actually the exception, not the rule, in promoting accumulation of stuff as a sensible strategy; life for most of human history _was_ relationships. Pip’s generosity contradicts the assumptions of modern economics, but makes perfect sense on another level. Food sharing is the quintessential act of altruism, and an essential survival strategy in times of irregular food supply. Am I being too fanciful to suggest that something of that resonates with his guests, encouraging them to give of their time and energy? The modern ‘western’ culture is actually the exception, not the rule, in promoting accumulation of stuff as a sensible strategy; life for most of human history _was_ relationships.

]]> By: L.L. Wynn http://cultureby.com/2009/09/lunch-with-pip-dining-out-in-the-gift-economy.html/comment-page-1#comment-285 L.L. Wynn Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:37:56 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=41#comment-285 And speaking of tithing time, all of those people who meet at Pip's lunches probably don't need a free lunch. They're giving their time, their wit, their ideas and their conversation for an hour (plus the time it takes to commute to midtown). All of us busy people know how hard it sometimes can be to find an hour for lunch, and I would almost always rather pay for my own lunch than have to get a free lunch and eat with boring people. I don't know how much lunch costs, but I imagine that money is the least of the investments made at these lunches. The much bigger contribution that Pip makes (not that I know him, but I guess) is sharing his connections and his gift for social-linking with his friends. And speaking of tithing time, all of those people who meet at Pip’s lunches probably don’t need a free lunch. They’re giving their time, their wit, their ideas and their conversation for an hour (plus the time it takes to commute to midtown). All of us busy people know how hard it sometimes can be to find an hour for lunch, and I would almost always rather pay for my own lunch than have to get a free lunch and eat with boring people. I don’t know how much lunch costs, but I imagine that money is the least of the investments made at these lunches. The much bigger contribution that Pip makes (not that I know him, but I guess) is sharing his connections and his gift for social-linking with his friends.

]]> By: Martin Calle http://cultureby.com/2009/09/lunch-with-pip-dining-out-in-the-gift-economy.html/comment-page-1#comment-284 Martin Calle Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:53:35 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=41#comment-284 Hi Grant, So if I was a copywriter I'd sum up Pip's gestures in a tagline, "Paying it forward." Good man. Never got an invite to Pip's lunch though and I'm certain I count as an "idea intermediary." Love Indian too! Thanks! Martin Calle Hi Grant,
So if I was a copywriter I’d sum up Pip’s gestures in a tagline, “Paying it forward.” Good man. Never got an invite to Pip’s lunch though and I’m certain I count as an “idea intermediary.” Love Indian too! Thanks!
Martin Calle

]]> By: Rick Liebling http://cultureby.com/2009/09/lunch-with-pip-dining-out-in-the-gift-economy.html/comment-page-1#comment-283 Rick Liebling Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:00:43 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=41#comment-283 I (unfortunately) don't know Pip, but my hunch is that he gets great pleasure and satisfaction from these lunches in and of themselves, even if nothing ever comes from them. Some people like to gamble in Vegas, others prefer expensive ski or golf holidays. Those are fine, no judgements being made here - I'm just betting that Pip's idea of a great time is an informal lunch with interesting pepole and that's where he chooses to spend his time/money. That down the road there may be an additional benefit probably plays a very small role in his thinking. I (unfortunately) don’t know Pip, but my hunch is that he gets great pleasure and satisfaction from these lunches in and of themselves, even if nothing ever comes from them. Some people like to gamble in Vegas, others prefer expensive ski or golf holidays. Those are fine, no judgements being made here – I’m just betting that Pip’s idea of a great time is an informal lunch with interesting pepole and that’s where he chooses to spend his time/money.

That down the road there may be an additional benefit probably plays a very small role in his thinking.

]]> By: Grant McCracken http://cultureby.com/2009/09/lunch-with-pip-dining-out-in-the-gift-economy.html/comment-page-1#comment-282 Grant McCracken Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:19:53 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=41#comment-282 Lloyd, wonderful, thanks for the invitation, would be great to see you again. Best, Grant Lloyd, wonderful, thanks for the invitation, would be great to see you
again. Best, Grant

]]> By: Marc http://cultureby.com/2009/09/lunch-with-pip-dining-out-in-the-gift-economy.html/comment-page-1#comment-281 Marc Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:54:22 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=41#comment-281 **sigh** and then Ning decided it could find it after all... false alarm. =p **sigh** and then Ning decided it could find it after all… false alarm.
=p

]]> By: Marc http://cultureby.com/2009/09/lunch-with-pip-dining-out-in-the-gift-economy.html/comment-page-1#comment-280 Marc Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:50:16 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=41#comment-280 Hi Grant My search on Ning returned: "We couldn't find anything that matches "chief culture officer". Why not search for something else?" I'm some way through Transformations btw... an amazing read that I'm taking slowly (it's so dense with smart insight that my tiny brain needs time to process). =) Marc Hi Grant

My search on Ning returned:
“We couldn’t find anything that matches “chief culture officer”. Why not search for something else?”

I’m some way through Transformations btw… an amazing read that I’m taking slowly (it’s so dense with smart insight that my tiny brain needs time to process).

=) Marc

]]> By: Lloyd http://cultureby.com/2009/09/lunch-with-pip-dining-out-in-the-gift-economy.html/comment-page-1#comment-279 Lloyd Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:46:06 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=41#comment-279 Grant, I hope that next time you're in London you can make it along to the Tuttle Club at the Institute of Contemporary Arts on a Friday morning. Sounds like we have something in common with these folk, but without the exclusivity of a lunch invitation - I say "it's not for everybody, but it is for anybody (who wants to come)" <a href="http://tuttleclub.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/tuttle-club-annual-report-2009/" rel="nofollow">http://tuttleclub.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/tuttle-club-annual-report-2009/</a> Grant, I hope that next time you’re in London you can make it along to the Tuttle Club at the Institute of Contemporary Arts on a Friday morning. Sounds like we have something in common with these folk, but without the exclusivity of a lunch invitation – I say “it’s not for everybody, but it is for anybody (who wants to come)”

http://tuttleclub.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/tuttle-club-annual-report-2009/

]]> By: steve crandall http://cultureby.com/2009/09/lunch-with-pip-dining-out-in-the-gift-economy.html/comment-page-1#comment-278 steve crandall Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:55:25 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=41#comment-278 Pip is a wonderful guy - I've learned much from watching him and am proud to call him a friend. I have my own take on the gift economy. Many years ago when I became non-religious, I started thinking about pieces of religion that I should build into my life. The concept of the tithe appealed to me, but tithing time rather than money (money seems lame as it greatly favors the wealthy). Since grad school i set aside 11 hours a week (I tithe my waking hours) to projects with friends. If there isn't anything going on I read. It is my goal in life to be poorly read. What is remarkable are the threads and wonderful friendships that have developed from this. My formal education was very narrow, but through friendships I've done more than a few things that still astound me. Hopefully my friends get as much out of this tithe as I do. I can't imagine how they can, but I hope they do. Pip is a wonderful guy – I’ve learned much from watching him and am proud to call him a friend.

I have my own take on the gift economy. Many years ago when I became non-religious, I started thinking about pieces of religion that I should build into my life. The concept of the tithe appealed to me, but tithing time rather than money (money seems lame as it greatly favors the wealthy). Since grad school i set aside 11 hours a week (I tithe my waking hours) to projects with friends. If there isn’t anything going on I read. It is my goal in life to be poorly read.

What is remarkable are the threads and wonderful friendships that have developed from this. My formal education was very narrow, but through friendships I’ve done more than a few things that still astound me. Hopefully my friends get as much out of this tithe as I do. I can’t imagine how they can, but I hope they do.

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