On Compliments (Blog Post 3)

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On Compliments


As I learned more about the Oktip people and their religious practices, the prevalence of Matfunoktipa, or the moon, in their daily lives seemed to grow. Or perhaps it had always been there and I was simply growing more aware of it. As I was visiting Lapaisenja with Rahli, my guide, I got to witness another aspect of the Oktip and how they pay homage to the moon, even with something as simple as accepting a compliment. 
            Rahli and I were walking among one of the marketplaces on Lapaisenja, or ‘Big Island’, when I observed this phenomenon. Trading among the Oktip is a highly polite and ritualized activity, stemming from the wars that used to be fought and using ‘peace’ and the word for currency. I was used to traders complimenting wares during these deals, where it was customary for the buyer to compliment the product before bargaining for it. It was surprising for me to learn that normally compliments are not that easily accepted. 
            As we were walking and listening to the conversations in the market, I remarked to Rahli that her skill with the traders was a great thing to watch. I thought she would be happy to hear this, as it showed that she was a shrewd buyer and could always find the best price. However, she reacted with some distaste. 
            “No, it is the sellers that feel bad for me, so they sell to me easily,” she replied. I knew this was not true as I had seen other vendors try to scam her and fail. When I mentioned this, Rahli agreed with that but still said she held no special talent with trading. 
            I confronted her about her refusal to accept a compliment and she nervously explained, “it would be the same as bragging. It is a gift from Matfunoktipa and if we do not respect gifts they are taken away.”
            Apparently, this applies to all compliments aside from the traders’ dance, because I got the same answer from all the other Oktip that I questioned about this curious belief. 
            Accepting a compliment was equal to bragging, and bragging was frowned upon by the Moon. 

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