My condolences to their son. Full thread if you want to feel bad for their children: https://twitter.com/herong/status/1515846706394501123?s=21

  • Nakoichi [they/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    aside from the obvious dark implications

    Graeber actually writes a bit about this in Debt

    • PbSO4 [comrade/them]
      ·
      2 years ago

      I like his bit about how, even more absurd than the idea of putting a bill together for parental services rendered, is the idea of someone actually paying it. What does that relationship mean now? That child and parent are suddenly equals with no obligations to each other?

      • Nakoichi [they/them]
        ·
        2 years ago

        The question is: Does it really make sense to think of this as a debt? After all, a debt is by definition something that we could at least imagine paying back. It is strange enough to wish to be square with one's parents - it rather implies that one does not wish to think of them as parents any more. Would we really want to be square with all humanity ? What would that even mean? And is this desire really a fundamental feature of all human thought?

        Debt: The First 5000 Years

        The entire section on primordial debt is really great.

        • OgdenTO [he/him]
          ·
          2 years ago

          I just started this book -- I'm 2 chapters in, it's already great.

          • Nakoichi [they/them]
            ·
            2 years ago

            Oh yeah the opening really sucks you in. A good history book makes you feel like you're time traveling. He was such a good writer.

      • usernamesaredifficul [he/him]
        ·
        2 years ago

        that used to be a thing in the pre-feudal world (called the patriarchal mode of production) where children worked for their fathers on the land belonging to their father without pay.

        A child could ask for their inheritance while their parent was alive which was essentially telling your parent you wish they were dead and they should pay up the money due to you when they die. As with all cases of telling your dad to their face that you wish they were dead it was quite drastic and emotionally charged

        • PbSO4 [comrade/them]
          ·
          2 years ago

          That's even more interesting to me, flipping the situation on its head. Asking your parent to pay you in order to square your affairs.