not a bribe

[faxof]

I'm not sure if this is the right place but it's as close as i can get.

What do you call something that you give or send to someone - seemingly for no apparent reason - but really it's a sweetener so you can get something back from them sometime in the future?

I.e. they will be obliged to give you something because you gave them something before.

 

[BocaBurger]

I think one can be svelte and ugly.



BocaBurger
<===========================||////////////////|0
The pen is mightier than the sword, but the sword hurts more!

 

[SantaMufasa]

Boca, you are absolutely correct.

Svelte: SLENDER, LITHE, SLEEK

As an example (with no intent of disrespect or malice), if you can mentally identify a Hollywood celebrity with initials S.B. that you agree is "svelte and homely", then I believe we have proved the point.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)

http://www.dasages.com

Do you use Oracle and live or work in Utah, USA?
Then click here to join Utah Oracle Users Group on Tek-Tips.

 

[BocaBurger]

Sam Browne isn't svelte

I wonder what the first person to eat an oyster or mussel was thinking before popping it into his/ her mouth. I am also glad this person never saw a horseshoe crab.





BocaBurger
<===========================||////////////////|0
The pen is mightier than the sword, but the sword hurts more!

 

[Jasonic]

Surely the answer to the question

What do you call something that you give or send to someone - seemingly for no apparent reason - but really it's a sweetener so you can get something back from them sometime in the future?

Is friendship?

Jason Thomas
AssetCenter Consultant
Jason Thomas Consultancy Limited
[rolf]

 

[tsdragon]

The act of doing what you described is sometimes known as "priming the pump."


Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[SantaMufasa]

Didn't William Shakespeare resolve this issue several hundred years ago?

Bill, what do you call a flower that has soft, velvety petals like a rose, thorns like a rose, an aroma like a rose, but you don't want to call it a rose?

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)

http://www.dasages.com

Do you use Oracle and live or work in Utah, USA?
Then click here to join Utah Oracle Users Group on Tek-Tips.

 

[ESquared]

selfish altruism

-------------------------------------
Peace is not the absence of an external activity called conflict. It is the presence of an internal activity called unity.
- Erik E

 

[craigsboyd]

selfish altruism

Now there's a nice little contradiction.

http://www.sweetpotatosoftware.com

 

[AnotherHiggins]

->selfish altruism

I'm going to steal that one.

[tt]_____
[blue]-John[/blue]
[/tt][red]"If you're flammable and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit."[/red]
-Mitch Hedberg

Help us help you. Please read FAQ181-2886 before posting.

 

[faxof]

well i'm sorry guys and girls and others. (that was for tracy)

now i'd just like to clear a few things up, i still think my title is correct, this really isn't a bribe.

to clear things up for thadeus, only one party has any knowledge of what's going on, the only thing the receivng party thinks is "ooh, how nice, faxof sent me a gift!".

maybe if i tell you what the actual situation is it could shed some light on things. here goes. . .

i had a meeting with some microsoft developers on how my department should continue it's development in microsoft infopath. after the meating they gave me two copies of a reference book. i was very happy; kept one book in my department library and sent the other book to my sister department. i didn't have to give them the other book as they didn't know i received them. i gave the other department the spare book for no other reason than to hopefully receive some support, help or some tabgible return at a later date.

so you see it can't be a bribe as the other party are unawares, it can't be a gift becasue it's altruistic (although i dont believe true altruism really exists (but that's a story for another thread)).

so far i quite like investment with some sort of modifier...

thanks for the help so far

faxof

 

[ESquared]

Do you mean,

it can't be a gift becasue it's not altruistic?

 

[faxof]

yes, you're quite right, i meant "not altruistic". therefore, instead of "although i don't" it should read "in any case, i don't

 

[SantaMufasa]

Faxof,

I believe your hesitance to use the term "bribe" may stem from its virtually universal negative connotation. You simply gave a "gift" to your sister department a) hoping that they would treat you "nicely" in the future and b) without their cognizance of your motives. That certainly seems innocuous, not resembling the typical "downtown, smoke-filled back room"-style bribe.

Nevertheless, compare your "gift" scenario with a revisit to Webster's clear, concise definition:

bribe1 : money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust
2 : something that serves to induce or influence

Note that to qualify as a "bribe", there is no mention that the recipient must acknowledge the intent or motive of the "gift". So, apply the test:

1) Did you make the gift "to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust [or in a position to render you service]?" and/or
2) Did you give the gift "to induce or influence"?

From your description of the scenario, my sense is that the answer is "yes" on both counts [no legal pun intended]. But, to the issue of whether your scenario breaks legal, ethical, or company-policy guidelines: I doubt there is a legal problem; I don't see an ethical problem; and I doubt your company's employee handbook proscribes the behaviour either.

In the final analysis, I believe it comes down to are you losing sleep over the issue. If so, then you must decide how to deal with it.

I live by the axiom, "If you have to ask yourself, 'Is it wrong?', then it probably is (for you)." [...And in all honestly, there have been multiple times in my life when I have consciously chosen the "wrong" thing.]


Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)

http://www.dasages.com

Do you use Oracle and live or work in Utah, USA?
Then click here to join Utah Oracle Users Group on Tek-Tips.

 

[ESquared]

I don't think he's losing sleep over it, he just wants to know what to call it.

 

[Sheco]

How far is too far?

This link tells a story of a guy that has been the giver and recipient of some pretty amazing gifts, and these were investigated ... but it was found that no laws were broken.

 

[tsdragon]

From Webster's Thesaurus:
bribe

Synonyms: fix, sop

Related Words: incentive, incitement, motivation, spur, stimulation, stimulus; boost, goad, inducement; allurement, bait, enticement, lure, temptation; flattery, persuasion; decoy, snare, trap

I think sop or inducement might work here.


Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[DPlank]

SantaMufasa

S.B == Sandra Bullock?

Dave

"Probably the only Test Analyst on Tek-Tips"

Take a look at Forum1393 & sign up if you'd like

 

[AnotherHiggins]

No, no. SB has to be Sandra Bernhard. Svelt, not attractive. At least, not on this planet.

And oh how she bugs me.

[tt]_____
[blue]-John[/blue]
[/tt][red]"If you're flammable and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit."[/red]
-Mitch Hedberg

Help us help you. Please read FAQ181-2886 before posting.

 

[SantaMufasa]

John, if our shared assessment were not so Politically Incorrect and such MCP behaviour, I'd give you a star.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)

http://www.dasages.com

Do you use Oracle and live or work in Utah, USA?
Then click here to join Utah Oracle Users Group on Tek-Tips.

 

[ESquared]

But you have to admit she plays a pretty neato insane person, as in Hudson Hawk, a totally cool movie.

What's MCP? The first thing that came to mind was the movie Tron. Hehe.