#kafeleopold

[kafeleopold]

Our bread is baked in house daily. Fresh and amazing! Featuring: fig dinner rolls . . . . . #freshbread #dcbake #dcbakery #dcdining #dcdinner #dcreataurants #dcfoodie #dcfood #dcfresh #dcbreakfast #dcbread #bakeddaily #dc #kafeleopold (at Kafe Leopold)

[gwanth1002]

Key Concepts:  Generalized Reciprocity and Pure Gifts

 Early this week, I was overwhelmed with the workload I had on my shoulders and my 8AM class that morning. One of my friends texted me and said that we should take a study break and grab my life’s necessity of coffee, on her. The coffee featured in the picture is from Kafe Leopold which is needless to say very different from the usual coffee I make for myself in my dorm. My friend buying me this gift is an example of generalized reciprocity because there is little to no thought of what my friend would receive in exchange for this gesture.  She was fulfilling the aspects of the definition by completing an exchange involving the least conscious sense of interest in material gain or thought of what might be received in return. It can be said that subconsciously my friend bought me a coffee in consideration that in the future I would do the same. This would mark the gesture as one of generalized reciprocity; however, from an altruistic pure gift perspective, my friend would have given me the coffee with no expectations of reciprocity or self gain.

A pure gift is something given with no expectation or thought of a return. It is difficult to access if any gift is ever truly altruistic or a pure gift. Some argue that such a gift is impossible because individuals always gain something from giving no matter to what extent. For example, the good feeling of making someone feel better can be said to mark the gift as one for generalized reciprocity. In regards to the gift of coffee given to me, I would say that it would be generalized reciprocity with the expectation of anything in return only amounting to the smallest subconscious degree.