Behavior Is the Only Honest Signal: Costly Signaling Explained
floguo · x · 2026-09-27
This week's internet roundup centers on Kevin Simler's essay Honesty and the Human Body:
- Honesty is an economic proposition: the best signals are differentially expensive—costly to produce but even costlier to fake. A growl's depth signals body size, high-contrast colors signal real defenses, and Apple's roomy, well-staffed stores are a signal budget competitors can't afford.
- Words are the cheapest signal: they aren't scarce, especially online. A boss saying "great job" is less honest than a raise; PageRank works because quality inbound links are scarce.
Also shared: a piece on how being good at something can trap you—praise and opportunities keep you doing work you no longer enjoy—and Scott Young's argument that much "learning" is just hiding from being bad at the real thing.
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