Mike Neuenschwander proposes a Law of Relational Risk:

Contribution to the relationship that is not met proportionally by the other participants is a loss to the contributor.

Law of Relational Risk, Mike Neuenschwander, Burton Group Identity Blog, January 24, 2007

His point is that everybody hates to lose time, money, emotions, whatever that have been contributed to communication, but people often don’t think of the key feature is that such contributions being unreciprocated is what makes them lost. In other words, if the other parties put in just as much, then there is reciprocation and a relationship of some sort, including at least the possiblity of mutual benefit. Skin in the game, if you will. If they don’t, then you’ve only been suckered. This is a good point, although it has a number of exceptions and maybe even more ramifications.