Collect-from-low-to-benefit-high schemes (#47; Topic K)

The question-and-answer column in yesterday's Washington Post had a letter writer asking the etiquette of housewarming gifts: (1) may a housewarming partygiver-cum-houseowner invite mere acquaintances?, and (2) when the same partygiver buys a new house, is it ok to have another housewarming party and invite the same crowd over? The answer: just give a party; don't mention the occasion -- this is designed to discourage owners who "flip" (buy and sell in rapid order). While the answer is unlikely to please our letter writer, whose main aim is to collect gifts, it is indeed the practice in China. In China, house ownership percentage is low -- one who owns a house is one who has arrived. Why show off? I have never heard of housewarming parties when I was in China. And why ask the less fortunate to fork over cash? To my way of thinking, holding housewarming parties is an example of collect-from-low-to-benefit-high schemes, of which Americans are fond. Another example is office collections. I remember an episode, when I was working. One time, a colleague's husband came to town; she invited several of her associates to meet him after work, at a restaurant across the street. I went, shook his hand, had a glass of orange juice, and departed. The next day, we were presented with a check of $150, which came to $15 per head. The secretary who came to collect from me complained, because a glass of orange juice was also what she had consumed -- and she was assessed the same $15!
Posted at 9:31 pm, Sunday, January 22, 2006