> Not everything in life is transactional.

Thanks for saying this. Posts and threads like this read like real life is some kind of war zone with tactics and plans, as opposed to a beautiful dance in which we find ourselves pleasantly surprised with how things can turn out if we keep an open heart.

I urge these people to read less Art of War, and more fiction. Go and enjoy life without thinking of how to "win" all the time.

I do not believe that is the type of information being referenced. most people love to share their education knowledge, it is practically showing off. The point of people not understanding the value of information refers to organizational knowledge about how this collection of persons actually accomplish goals, rather than the official story - that's the valuable information referenced, not what one was taught in their schooling.

Even if someone is being transactional, giving out some information for free to see if it'll be reciprocated or not can be a good strategy, or to see if someone goes "they know something about X - maybe I can make a deal with them to find out even more". It's really not that different from giving out free samples of your product.