When money interferes in a relationship, it changes the dynamic. Social norms and market rules come into conflict. For example, imagine a couple on a date, and when the man takes the woman home, he says, “I spent $100 on you today.” Suddenly, a romantic relationship shifts into a market transaction. Messages like “Next time, it’s your turn to pay” and “I did this for you today” appear. The benefits of social norms differ from those of market rules. Both are necessary, but the relationship is affected by when, how, and to whom they are applied. A person who fails to strike a balance between these two aspects risks damaging relationships and harming communities. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
We cannot drink water while being immersed in it for survival. Without assistance from the air, it is impossible to drink water. Water is a vital substance for humans, but its intake is only possible when air acts as a medium. What I possess and how I utilize it are very different matters. The same goes for relationships. What brings happiness in a relationship is more important than how close the relationship is. For humans, many situations are pointless if values exist in only one state. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”