“I Don’t Want This, But Give Me All You Got”

It seems to me that many of the issues that arise on bunz have to do with people wanting something for their junk.*

It strikes me as an infantile attitude for people to say, “I don’t want this item, but you should give me a lot for it.”

I don’t believe that it follows a) that because something has a frank monetary value (eg gift cards) that the owner needs to ask for that cost in trade, or b) that items should necessarily be traded for other items that have a similar sunk cost

Maybe another way to think about it is this: you bought an expensive thing and spent your cash in that instance of buying. Why does it follow that that instance of buying is relevant to the future value of that item for someone else?

Yes, I understand that another person may have to spend a similar amount of money to get that item if they went to a store.

But why are you trying to be that store? Is money available to everyone in the same quantity? Would you feel good if you found you were perpetuating the stratification that exists everywhere else? Why would you assume someone else has the same power as you do?

I’m suggesting that buns be a little more critical towards their notions of value and equity. What kind of person do you want to be, in bunz and in life?

I wouldn’t ask anyone to take emotions out of the equation, because money and work and access colour our entire lives.

But please be conscientious about these things and work to cope effectively with grabby impulses. We all have them (and that is okay!), but please leave the baby behaviour to actual developing children.

*not based on any particular trading experience *brought to you by my bored sick leave brain, after reading other people’s complaints