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I hadn't reasoned my way to this exact mechanism, but I need to reflect on this. You're right that they seem to have no pain response to their own work. Unfortunately, I don't have a theory of mind for this because I feel like my own work leaves me in agony about 50% of the time.

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I suspect the idea of effort being valued in itself has something to do with it. The more effort it takes, the more worthy must be. The alternative is to admit that the work was wasted, is wasted, and will continue to be wasted until the org dies or someone gets so disgusted with the status quo that they invoke the gods of sunk cost, flushing the whole thing down where it belongs.

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