[randomdata]

I said nothing of money?

Although, of course, what you say about money is true. In fact, I can see from my not deleted HN history that I wrote that money is just an IOU only three days ago. I guess there is some value in being able to look back on my work! But is it value enough?

Human nature is to be transactional. If I offer you my time to write a comment for you, I am going to expect something in return. That in return could be nothing more than the smile you give me when you read it. It doesn't have to be some elaborate, grandiose thing, but there has to be some kind of payment or one will quickly sour to the ordeal.

If I were to write for you now, what would you give me in return? I suspect nothing because there is nothing of value I could offer you with my writing. Conversely, I offer you nothing. Will you write something for me? I expect not. Why would you?

[Eisenstein]

Do you find this attitude makes your life more pleasant, or does it make it that when people at a social event find out you are on the way to join them, they sigh silently and look at the ground and make a wish that you would have gotten over your reductive, sophomoric, and joyless 'everything is a transaction' philosophy because it makes you tedious?

[johnnyanmac]

>does it make it that when people at a social event find out you are on the way to join them, they sigh silently and look at the ground

you're not making the best case yourself. You'd be the person coming that the host would spend half the party trying to separate from certain others becuase you'll just get into a huge fight over a bike shed and ruin the night for every.

A person on the internet deletes their comments. It's not that deep.

[sterlind]

even if human nature is transactional, I like having a weekly tab at the bar more than putting nickels into toilet paper dispensers.