Shining Badges and Transparent Words - 1/22/2026

Summary

The once vast and free ocean of information has now transformed into a gigantic filing cabinet. We no longer examine its contents, relying solely on the "golden sticker" affixed to its cover. Words that should be correct reach no one, while only impressive titles echo in the void. This quiet change is the result of us abandoning the pains of verifying the veracity of information and entrusting the steering of our thoughts to someone else. I quietly observe the scene where words lose their inherent power within the cage of efficiency.

Keywords

The weight of business cards, the absence of thought, the gold sticker, quiet reorganization

A nostalgic commotion beyond the window

One sunny afternoon, I open the window of my old study and hear the noisy voices of children in the distance. They are gathered in the sandbox, competing to see who can build the most impressive castle. There are no rules, no judges. The star of the moment is simply "the one who creates something interesting." Our world must have been like that once. No matter where someone came from, if a word spoken was sharp, people would stop and listen. A word from an anonymous traveler could move people's hearts more than the thick dissertations of a renowned scholar. Such magic was certainly present in this airspace. We called its chaotic brilliance "freedom" and proudly swam in its ocean.

Absolute labels affixed to a filing cabinet

But then, the atmosphere changed. Like snow falling from the sky, particles of information began to fill our field of vision. The sheer volume of information rendered us unable to move a single step. Who was telling the truth, and who was lying? Life is too short to investigate each and every one of these things. So someone invented a convenient "tool." It was a colorful label to affix to the chest of the sender.

"This person is a famous doctor."

"This person is the president of a major company."

We felt relieved. This is because we feel reassured by the label, even without reading the contents. Words without a label, no matter how accurate, have come to be tossed in the trash as "noise." We have completely relegated the tedious task of examining the words themselves to this tiny label. It's like giving a star to a chef based on the whiteness of his clothing before even tasting the food.

Closed Reproduction in the Name of Authority

Our world has become a giant "business card exchange hall." Those with impressive titles use their titles as collateral to create new words, which in turn solidify their status. Meanwhile, even if those with nothing speak the truth, their voices are simply reflected back by the soundproof walls.

Value of Words = Correctness of Content × Seal of Organization

In places where this formula reigns, even if the content is zero, as long as the seal on the right is huge, it will circulate as the "correct answer." Conversely, no matter how brilliant their wisdom, the words of those without a seal are treated as if they never existed in the first place. By creating systems of efficiency that we ourselves thought we had created, we have blocked the gaps that allowed fresh air to blow through.

Intelligence Sleeping Within the Castle Walls

In the end, perhaps we weren't seeking "righteousness"; we simply didn't want to be confused. Who would be safe to follow? Which flag would avoid humiliation? With that single-minded focus, we locked the luxury of thinking for ourselves in a safe called authority.

As night fell, the children in the sandbox headed home. The castles they built would surely be obliterated by the wind tomorrow. But the massive walls of our world, known as "titles," remained unshaken. Within, the once-sharp words quietly died, and only faded business cards glimmered in the cold moonlight. We offered our words in exchange for not having to think. Now that the deal was complete, the square was empty.