Myschievia practices what we like to call a 'gift economy,' where a constant exchange of gifts and favors without the interface of normal commerce creates more direct and meaningful social interactions. This sort of interaction creates a temporary autonomous zone, refreshingly devoid of regular incentive or obligation to buy and/or exchange things.

So, what does this mean in practice?

Come bearing gifts. Help a stranger out. Don't barter, that makes people feel obligated to re-pay. Pay it forward and give for no good reason at all. An environment where everyone does this is full of unexpected surprises and excitement. So,

1. No vending.
2. Don't barter.
3. Give like you've got nothing to lose (even if it's your last beer).

Got it? Good!

An Economy of Gifts

AN INTERVIEW WITH LARRY HARVEY

Darryl Van Rhey: You have described Burning Man as a gift economy, but isn’t this an oxymoron? Gifts are things we give away, but doesn’t being economical mean that we retain what is valuable? Isn’t there always a balance sheet? In any economy, don’t we always get something for what we give?

Larry Harvey: In some way, I suppose we do. I do think you are absolutely right to say that gifts are things we give away without an expectation of return. If we do expect something back in exchange, even if it’s counting on an expression of gratitude, we ruin the gift. I think we’ve all experienced this: gifts that come with a hidden cost. Isn’t it galling when someone gives you something and then continually reminds you of it?

DVR: You mean like parents who tell kids about the sacrifices they have made?

LH: Precisely. They want credit for selflessness. You begin to wish they’d just present you with a bill. It’s as if the gift buys them a claim on your soul. It’s not fair dealing. I’ll go even further than this. A true gift never really belongs to the person who gives it. Think about a perfect gift you’ve given. When you thought of giving it to someone didn’t you first feel that’s her or that’s him? Didn’t it feel as if it was already part of the person you were giving it to, that it was just passing through you? Likewise, think about your own gifts, your talents. Any creative person knows that they don’t really own their gifts. We say that these kinds of gifts are God-given, inherent in what we are. We really didn’t do anything to deserve them. There isn’t any deal involved. The true value of gifts is unconditional. They just flow out of us.

Still curious? The rest of this interview can be found here.