There's an expectation that if i pay attention to you, i will get some return on that investment. The world is not static. Sor anything that is static, ultimately, at some point fails. In italian you say, lend attention or borrow attention? Yes, it's your. This tis a different when you ask someone to pay Attention to youo yhoud tell him to please lend me your attention,. There is an implication that you are going to give it back and return it. And perhaps we should stop thinking about it that way.