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“They call the practice ‘Pay It Forward’,” said Spock.
“Pay what forward?” Doug asked.
“Whatever the recipient requires or most needs.”
“Not, then, passing on the object or service that the gift giver has already received.”
“That is correct. It is assumed that the recipient requires a different gift, specific to their own circumstances.”
“How does the gift giver determine what that is?”
Spock paused for a moment. “I believe it is a varying combination of the giver’s instincts or perceptiveness, and the recipient’s willingness to convey a need.”
“Is this not a common courtesy in Human society? They are obliged to give it a name and recommend it as a course of action?”
“Indeed.” They both contemplated this with a certain amount of sadness. “Not,” Spock added, “that Vulcans are known for their spontaneous generosity. But if one sees a genuine need –”
“– one meets it –” Doug agreed.
“– preferably in ways that will not cause offense.”
“My parents often quoted an old Earth maxim: ‘From each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs.’”
“Perhaps Humans have come close to achieving that in the 23rd century.”
“You do not say ‘we’ in this context.”
Spock paused – and before he could respond, Doug was asking another question.
“You have used the word ‘it’ in various contexts in this conversation. How would you define… it?” He muttered, “Or should that be ‘“it”’?”
“You yourself use the word when conversing,” Spock noted.
“Indeed. Are you prevaricating, Mr Spock?”
“Perhaps.”
Spock pointedly did not clear his throat. “The definitions relevant at present are ‘The subject or object spoken about immediately before’ and ‘The implied subject of an impersonal verb’.”
“This proves that Humans that are mentally agile, and yet they still need to be reminded to ‘Pay It Forward’.”
“In addition, note the use of the word ‘Pay’ in what is no longer a capitalist society.”
Doug mused on this, and suggested, “Gift this Generosity Forward.”
Spock inclined his head. “That would be logical.” He couldn’t resist adding, “If not quite as euphonious.”
He realised his mistake when Doug lifted a hand and began asking yet another question.
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