what do you mean by “consciously maintained delusion”? what’s the delusion here?
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In a healthy "small pond," status can accrue in a non-pyramid-schemey sort of way because experience with the field or problem allows you to mentor newcomers and gain it that way, while also creating real-world progress and actually enjoying yourself
Status will always accrue at different rates, and hierarchies will emerge, but this is broadly okay as long as you are on a generally upward trajectory as a result of having something to pass on and someone to pass it on to. But we've created very poor institutions for this
