Chinese culture treats information as a resource possessing real value. Information you have that others lack provides advantage—better decisions, competitive position, social capital. Sharing widely dissipates this advantage; thoughtful sharing preserves or strategically deploys it.
This shapes decisions: before sharing, consider what this information is worth and whether sharing serves purposes that justify giving it away. Importantly, sharing valuable information creates reciprocal obligations—the recipient has received something and owes something in return, whether information, assistance, or relationship credit. This makes information exchange a form of social exchange that builds relationships.
This perspective doesn’t mean sharing is always reluctant—information flows freely within trusted circles. But it means sharing decisions aren’t cost-free and deserve thoughtful consideration.
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