Social capital works differently at different scales. By definition, the kind of tribe you're talking about where "everyone knows (and trusts) everyone else" cannot possibly scale beyond 100 members, which today doesn't even cover a tiny neighborhood in a city. But having dense and reasonably stable social connections is quite helpful even beyond that.
Re:Work on these things
by tonyedgecombe on Thursday January 09, 2020 @09:43AM
(#22001543)
My favourite definition of a tribe is that it's a group where everyone gives what they can and takes as little as they need to.
"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."
Karl Marx.
My favourite definition of a tribe is that it's a group where everyone gives what they can and takes as little as they need to. Everyone should be willing to give their last slice of bread and be offended at the idea of 'owing someone' for it.
This just doesn't scale well, but it happens in things like gaming groups, married couples, etc.