But this is useful in alerting us to how people think about gifts as h. The answer is almost too obvious: you give things back because it is all part of the system. If you don' t reciprocate, no social benefits, and you are out of the game i. You give something material for something immaterial: social alliances In many cultures you become a chief by giving many gift If you just keep the goods, you forfeit the social relationships i. In most gift exchanges, people come out even. If not, then we recognize it as exploitation j. Sometimes, there may be no material things i. In Washington DC. there are often favors introductions. and information that are exchanged 8. An example introduced by mauss of status through giving: The potlatch a. Takes place among the Indians of the north West Coast of North America Chiefs would competitively give things away like cars, sheets of copper, and blankets Sometimes they would even burn these good Outsiders were very fascinated, and appalled, by this practice iv. The Canadian government outlawed potlatches, saying that you ouldn't get more than a few people together for a give exchange v. Mauss and others found this wild frantic kind of gift giving puzzling i. For many pre-state societies, the system of chief ship often depends on this kind of aristocratic gift b. In many societies there are"big me i. They dont inherit their position They gain status buy their ability to muster people in the community for massive gift giving li1. It becomes competitive gift givingii. But this is useful in alerting us to how people think about gifts as special. h. The answer is almost too obvious: you give things back because it is all part of the system. If you don’t reciprocate, no social benefits, and you are out of the game. i. You give something material for something immaterial: social alliances. ii. In many cultures you become a chief by giving many gift. iii. If you just keep the goods, you forfeit the social relationships. i. In most gift exchanges, people come out even. If not, then we recognize it as exploitation j. Sometimes, there may be no material things. i. In Washington DC, there are often favors, introductions, and information that are exchanged. 8. An example introduced by Mauss of status through giving: The Potlatch a. Takes place among the Indians of the North West Coast of North America i. Chiefs would competitively give things away like cars, sheets of copper, and blankets ii. Sometimes they would even burn these good iii. Outsiders were very fascinated, and appalled, by this practice. iv. The Canadian government outlawed potlatches, saying that you couldn’t get more than a few people together for a give exchange. v. Mauss and others found this wild, frantic kind of gift giving puzzling. vi. For many pre-state societies, the system of chief ship often depends on this kind of aristocratic gift giving. b. In many societies there are “big men”. i. They don’t inherit their position. ii. They gain status buy their ability to muster people in the community for massive gift giving. iii. It becomes competitive gift giving