I get that commerce has allowed humans to cooperate very effectively. It has also allowed us to work together over vast distances and personal differences.
However, I am often reminded that there is a dark side to commerce. In some human connections, it can feel that all you are to the other person is of commercial value. These kinds of people aren’t interested in you beyond the process of ‘give me your money’.
I guess it just feels a little distasteful and also against the general cooperative attitude that lies behind getting humans to work so effectively together.
I sent a friendly Happy New Year email to one of my connections last weekend. They didn’t reply at all, and this Sunday I got an email from them about all the business offerings they have over the next few months.
I guess I just feel like that is all I am to that person. And I don’t love it. They are in the business of making money, and our human connection is seemingly meaningless to them.
I care about this person, but them treating me as a customer first and foremost muddies the water a lot.
Perhaps that is why it is a good idea to separate business and friendships (or family). There can be an underlying current of cold, carelessness, and shadiness to a connection when those boundaries are blurred.