I would love to write a grasping, contradicting essay on the question of commodification of human interactions as a solution to consumerism. The art of tea ceremony, mastery in dance, and good manners should be treated as valued - and highly priced - experiences. However, if the humanity goes as far as to take a step "backward" into the times when kin relations were extremely valuable, would it endanger fragile promise of meritocracy that we enjoy at the moment?

Thoughts and suggestions are welcome - and in Russian, too. I am speed-writing an essay right now, so I had to spill it out before I forget, and finding words in Russian for the sake of adequate translation is not on my priority list right now.