[codingmess]

You don't need to barter 1:1 every time. Of course you can track of what people owe you, roughly.

Maybe specific bartering gets more important with bigger societies, when it is not possible to keep track in one's brain anymore.

[learnstats2]

I think it's a stretch to call this barter, and I don't think this is even what (most) people do in the absence of currency.

People do things for people they are unlikely to see ever again, just because it's a nice thing to do.

You can't squeeze that into the definition of barter, at all.

[codingmess]

Just because people barter or keep scores, it doesn't mean they can't do other things, like be nice or give gifts occasionally.

Honestly, to cut the discussion short: do you have kids? I have two kids. Maybe I am doing something wrong, but they are really not all that naturally generous and giving to each other. Must be the toxic capitalist environment they grew up in? How can I activate their socialist genes and make them want to share all their toys with each other?