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submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by FundMECFSResearch@lemmy.blahaj.zone to c/til@lemmy.world

From wikipedia:

Contrary to popular conception, there is no evidence that societies relied only on barter before using money for trade.[73] Instead, non-monetary societies operated primarily along the principles of gift economics, and in more complex economies, on debt.[74][75][76] When barter occurred, it was usually between strangers or would-be enemies.[77]

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[-] monkeyman512@lemmy.world 36 points 3 months ago

Makes sense. In a small community everyone knows each other and can rely on trust/reputation to keep things fair.

[-] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 53 points 3 months ago

Back in the late 60s and early 70s the banks in Ireland went on strike to protest some laws. They thought that they'd cripple the economy and people would demand they reopen. Instead, people used cash for most transactions and if they needed to write a check they'd go down to the pub and the pub owner would vouch for their credit. The banks eventually gave up because their tantrum didn't work.

Another example was when the British pulled out of Hong Kong. People who were paid with checks from a British bank would just endorse the check to someone else, who'd endorse it to someone else, who'd endorse it to someone else. The checks were rarely cashed, they just kept circulating.

[-] dactylotheca@suppo.fi 22 points 3 months ago

if they needed to write a check they'd go down to the pub and the pub owner would vouch for their credit

Well that was an unexpectedly hilarious turn

[-] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 18 points 3 months ago

It's Irish AF. They recently relaxed drunk driving laws because rural elderly were just sitting at home drinking, which is apparently less healthy than sitting in a pub drinking.

[-] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 16 points 3 months ago

It is healthy to get out and socialize but I’m not sure elderly drunk driving is the answer

[-] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

Yeah I think that calls for public transit. But what do I know I’m an American who’s pissed because I’m in the process of leaving the land of a dollar beer from a vending machine

[-] dylanmorgan@slrpnk.net 3 points 3 months ago

That is cool as hell.

[-] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 5 points 3 months ago

Yeah. If bartering occured, it was probably between peoples who didn't have a connection with each other.

[-] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 3 months ago

it's not even really a small community thing, it's just about general culture and people's ability to feel safe.
If you're not lacking for anything then why wouldn't you help others out?

[-] chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

There’s a difference between helping others out and working an unpaid job for others. When you help someone it’s on your terms. You can always walk away if they ask you to do something you don’t want to do.

Normally if you have a job then you’re paid to do things you might otherwise not want to do. I like the example of an artist. If you’re an artist then maybe you’ll be happy to paint someone’s portrait for and even give it to them as a gift. However you’re unlikely to want to sit there all day creating character art for someone else’s video game project (a lot of meticulous, tedious, and/or uninteresting work).

this post was submitted on 02 Aug 2024
296 points (97.7% liked)

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