Paying Back and Paying Forward: Passing energy around keeps society thriving

     The novel “Pay it Forward” gave a name to ideas which existed within philosophy for many years. The concept of paying it forward existed but, without the specific phrase, it was difficult to express quickly. The words, and concept, of paying something back had already been an inherent part of commerce and other aspects of life.

Paying it back

     Paying it back is an easy concept because it has been in use for so long. Paying it back is giving back to the one(s) who gave you some equivalent thing. It is possible to “pay back” multiple people (such as a work group). Someone loans you money when you need it, you pay it back when you have it available. Someone babysits for you when an emergency meeting comes up unexpectedly — you babysit for them when they have a need and you are able to do it.

     Paying it back does not require it be in the same form. Someone loans you money when you need it, you notice an opening for a job position that your friend might qualify for and you relay the information to them. There are different needs that a person may need within the course of their life and each of them could end up being something to pay “back” or “forward”. Some categories are:

• money/finances

• time

• favors

• information

• support

• social reputation

• loyalty

• attention or recognition

• protection or advocacy

• revenge

Paying it forward

     Paying it forward means it is not in response — it is done because you can and because it is a positive interaction and generative of benefits to the other(s) and (indirectly) to your own well-being.

     “Paying it forward” is centered around the concept that none of us can truly live alone — we all need something from others and others have needs that we can supply. It can be in any of the above categories (except revenge which, by definition, is in response). It might be economical (money), it might be societal interaction, it might be material goods, it might be access to job openings.

Phases of life

     My aunt used to talk about people being more able to pay something forward or back in different ways depending on the period of life one is in. Stereotypically, when a person is young, they have lots of energy and possibly some time but less likely money — then they can do those time-consuming tasks such as going door-to-door for a good new candidate for a local campaign. Later, as one “settles in” to a career or family, the time tends to disappear (exactly where, I never quite figured out) but there is still some energy and a bit more money. If fortunate in life, as the energy and time dwindle, one hopes there are greater financial resources to help. Time, energy, and money seem to form a triangle of balance in life which shifts in time and situation.

     One aspect of paying back is in the situation of generations. If we are fortunate (and too many unfortunate situations exist), then we are raised by our parents, grandparents, or guardians. We, in turn, pay back our parents by paying forward in the form of taking care of our children. Depending on the social culture, there may also be some direct caring of our parents in their later years.

     But what if our parents are no longer around? What if we cannot have, or do not want, children? People still have the opportunity to pay it back/forward via volunteering in a daycare or a senior center or some other positive aspect of our social environment.

     For most people, no ledger exists for “debts” where the interactions are written down. It is a regular part of the cycle of life, and needs, and participating only by receiving without engaging in the corresponding “payment” forward will starve society and yourself.

Society thrives best when many unplanned interactions of energy are returned and given.

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Magic numbers: Society and what is "normal"

I was involved in a thread once upon a time and got trolled (expected if you talk about anything of significance -- and sometimes even if you are just talking about the weather). This was a thread talking about one of society's "magic numbers".

These are part of a group of numbers which we use based on statistical information. As Mark Twain once said (he said that the British Prime Minister Disraeli said it first): "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

For example, in current society a number called the Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to determine whether you are overweight, underweight, or in a "good range". This number is a ratio of height to weight and provides reasonable results for 80 to 85% of the population. For the other 15% to 20% of the population, the number just doesn't work well. If you are an athlete (or work out a lot and have more muscle) it doesn't work well. If you are a total couch potato with almost no muscle it will actually give you a better result than you "deserve". If you truly do have "thick bones" you will be at a disadvantage. This doesn't matter that much except if people are basing other things on that number -- insurance companies and computerized social services for example.

Why do we use this "magic number"? It is quick. It is easy. It is cheap compared to other, more accurate methods of body fat percentage calculations. However, even if one used a more accurate measure than that of the BMI, it would STILL not be accurate for everyone because there is no "one body shape fits all". For some, to hit that "ideal", one part of their body would have to be UNDER-weight in order for the average to be correct.

There are other "magic numbers" used. The "age of consent" is a magic number which, in more technical society, indicates that a child has become an adult. They are able to sign contracts, do things without permission from parents or guardians, get married and so forth. This magic number ranges from 13 in Japan to 21 in Bahrain. In some non-technical societies, it depends on the age when menarche sets in for women and "rites of passage" for men.

Many people get the direction of "age of consent" backwards -- thinking that a higher age of consent protects the child more from society. In reality, the family, church, or government usually have many options to do what they want with children at the age they think is right. The "age of consent" is what gives people the right to control, for themselves, decisions that affect their lives.

These numbers are set for two principal reasons. One is to prevent abuse of others by pushing them into activities (such as marriage or other things) before they can really make good decisions for themselves. The other is to determine an "age of emotional and mental maturity" which is taken to be an indication that they can make good decisions.

This type of magic number is determined almost solely by societal norms. It is usually lower in agricultural societies and higher in societies that require a longer period of education and social adjustment. It is also higher in societies where familial, and religious, control of women is greater. But, as is true with the BMI, it is (at best) a statistical reflection. Some will not be ready at age 30 to properly make decisions for themselves. Some might be ready at a very young age. There have been no psychological studies and are unlikely to be such.

Even the "age of consent" is not for everything. There are separate "magic numbers" for voting, being drafted for war, being able to drive, being able to work full-time, for purchasing and using legal drugs, and so forth. In many instances, the society would like to prohibit the activity but do not have sufficient backing from the populace to do such. Therefore, they set an age which most of society agrees is appropriate.

In all of these areas (and more), the "magic number" is sometimes determined by a statistical averaging and sometimes determined by societal norms. It is rare that the number is backed up by thorough, and consistent, studies -- which is why it is "magic".

What other "magic numbers" are you aware of within society? Do you know of any that have a researched background reason? Others that do not have such a background?

Regulations create level playing fields for businesses

   It seems to be fairly "normal" for businesses to complain about, and fight, every new regulation that is proposed or enacted. This isn't unreasonable as it will be true that a new regulation will require different procedures (and probably additional paperwork). However, that is not the same as saying that regulations are bad for businesses -- but it can be a difficult balancing act within the global economy.

   Regulations are a way to tell businesses what practices are acceptable to the society in which they function. They fall into three general categories (actually, almost anything can be broken up into however many categories as are desired -- I am choosing three). These categories are economics, labor, and environment. There is also a fourth category which involves product regulations -- for the product quality and safety of the consumer but that does not directly apply to this blog.

   Economic regulations involve the way the products of a company become part of the general economy. This will involve taxes. Generally, businesses want to pay fewer taxes and the general population wants them to pay more taxes. It will also involve tariffs -- both import and export. Tariffs are special taxes that are involved with the movement of products and money across country borders. This is a part of the balancing act.

   Let us say that Country A, as part of the standards for their society, requires all businesses to ensure that any water used by the business to be cleaned to drinking standards before being released back to the environment. This requirement (or regulation) adds 5% to the cost of doing business in Country A. Country B does NOT have such a requirement and, thus, businesses can produce the same product for 5% less. This puts businesses in Country A at a price disadvantage. A tariff on products imported from country B gives the businesses a more equal competitive situation. (Note that the tariff does not help the environment in country B.)

   Regulations may also be in the category of labor use. Minimum wage laws (or "living wage" laws whenever they start being enacted) say that people cannot officially be employed without a certain level of pay. Restrictions on number of hours worked per day, or week, directly affect the number of people employed. "Child Labor laws" restrict the age of workers and the number of hours per day that they can work at what ages. Mandatory sick days allowed (paid or unpaid) create a situation where workers are not compelled to work even when sick (this also benefits the general population when the food industry is involved). Vacation days, holidays, and other types of paid, or unpaid, absences help the overall health of the people who work for a business.

   Environmental regulations are basically a matter of how businesses are allowed to affect the environment. Usually a person thinks of manufacturing companies for this. However, the requirement that a business have, and maintain, a parking garage would also be an example of an environmental regulation as it reduces the amount of land that cannot be used for vegetation. Another non-manufacturing law might be a requirement to turn off 70% of the lighting during non-working hours.

   Of course, environmental regulations apply more directly to manufacturing businesses. It is similar to teaching a child to "clean up their own mess". A business would, naturally, prefer other people to take care of their messes. Note that not having environmental regulations does NOT decrease the cost to clean up -- it moves it from the business to the general public. In fact, it probably costs less for the mess to be cleaned up at the site of creation of the mess than after it has dispersed and damaged other parts of the environment.

   It would be completely possible for a business to do everything well on their own initiative. They can treat their people well, be good to the environment, and be a good neighbor within their communities. There are many small businesses that strive hard to do such and other, larger, businesses that recognize that there are inherent benefits (lower turnover of staff, better public image, etc.) to do such. However, businesses that do NOT behave well can have financial advantages over their competitors -- and this does not help society as a whole.

   Regulations provide a framework that is acceptable to the local society that allows businesses to compete without having uneven costs of providing services.