Duration is the final filter. People chasing rewards leave when rewards dry up. Sustained obsession can’t be faked. If you do fake it long enough to become indistinguishable from someone who has it, you’re not faking anymore.

If effort is now diminished, if it can be hidden, and proof can or soon will be gamed too, if transparency itself can be performed — what’s left?

The only thing left that can’t be gamed is wanting something badly enough that it shows. Desire is the closest thing to proof of authenticity we have left.

Desire resists this because it’s too... See more