A few days ago, I wrote a popular article titled Skill Is Wealth: The Hidden Blueprint Behind Every Fortune I explained how in today’s fast-changing world, skill is the key ingredient behind success. Not degrees. Not luck. But your ability to do valuable, real-world work.
That article gained attention. Many people agreed. But one particular response made me stop and think deeply. It wasn’t a criticism. It was more of a philosophical reflection. A gentle disruption.
It came from Professor Reza Sanaye, who left this thought-provoking comment:
"The Present Ruling Digital Feudalism (PRDF), replacing the 1980's capitalism, is extremely skillful at turning skilled people into mere 'added values' as per OBJECTS of originary materialistic performance-doers. Thence, skills are turned over into zombie regent apparatus[-es] where part of skillful people own their free time for renewal of PRDF and part are even grudging themselves the ingratiation of even having any free time at all: digitally being present at work arena at any time of the day/night."
— Professor Reza Sanaye
At first, his words felt complex and abstract. But the more I read, the more I realized how accurate and deep his observations were. This article is my attempt to interpret, explain, and reflect on that comment in depth.
Why I Wrote This Counter-Article
I still believe skill is essential. But Professor Sanaye’s comment helped me see that skill alone isn’t always empowering. Sometimes, it can become a tool that locks us into systems we don’t control.
That’s why I’m writing this follow-up: to explore both sides of the story, and especially to unpack the deeper truths behind his message—truths we rarely acknowledge while chasing success.
Understanding Digital Feudalism (PRDF)
What is Feudalism?
Feudalism was a medieval system where power and property were controlled by lords, and the working population (called serfs) had very little freedom. Serfs lived on the lords' land, worked hard, and got only survival in return. Their labor enriched the few at the top.
What is PRDF?
The Present Ruling Digital Feudalism (PRDF), as Sanaye calls it, is a modern version of feudalism where platforms have replaced landlords. Companies like Amazon, Google, and Facebook control digital land. Creators and skilled workers use their tools, reach their users through them, and often earn through them—but the real power and profit remain with the platforms.
Real-World Example
Take YouTube:
- You make videos, build an audience, and monetize through ads.
- But YouTube controls the algorithm, the revenue share, and the visibility.
- One change in policy can destroy your income overnight.
You’re working, but you don’t own the platform, the traffic, or the system. Like digital serfs, you depend on the lords' goodwill.
"Added Values" and "Objects" — Going Deeper
● What Is "Added Value"?
Added value is what you bring to a product, service, or system through your skill. But if you are only valued for that output, and your human side—your creativity, struggles, health—is ignored, then you're no longer seen as a person. You're just a source of profit.
Example: Gig workers who deliver food for apps like DoorDash or UberEats. Their personal stories, risks, and challenges are invisible. They're valued only for fast delivery.
● What Does "Object" Mean Here?
An "object" is something used. It’s not alive. It doesn’t decide. When a person is treated like an object, they lose their agency. The system tells them what to do, when, and how—while pretending they have freedom.
Example: A customer support agent monitored by AI tools for every word, every second of silence, every emotion in their voice. Their job becomes robotic, their humanity reduced.
Zombie Regents and Hidden Controllers
Sanaye’s phrase "zombie regent apparatus[-es]" can be explained like this:
- Zombie: Moving but dead inside—just following commands.
- Regent: Someone ruling on behalf of someone else, not truly in power.
- Apparatus: The structure or machinery that runs things.
This means modern workers are often just running systems they don’t understand, can’t control, and can’t escape. They seem alive and active, but inside, they’re exhausted, disconnected, and dependent on the machinery of digital platforms.
Example: Content moderators for social media companies who filter harmful material. They follow rules, rarely see the bigger picture, and suffer deep psychological effects. They serve the system, but they are not protected by it.
Free Time That Isn’t Free Anymore
Sanaye says today’s workers are divided into two groups:
1. The Unwitting Contributors
They think they’re using their free time well—drawing, coding, blogging for fun—but unknowingly keep adding value to digital platforms. Their hobbies are monetized by someone else.
Example: An artist uploads free illustrations to Instagram. They get likes, but Meta gets ad revenue and platform engagement.
2. The Guilt-Driven Always-On Workers
These people feel bad for resting. They answer emails during dinner, check tasks in bed, and never disconnect. They live in a permanent work loop.
This is what Sanaye meant by:
"Digitally being present at work arena at any time of the day/night."
Over time, this leads to burnout, anxiety, and emotional fatigue—yet the system praises them for being "committed."
So, Is Skill Still Freedom?
Only when used intentionally.
Skill gives you potential—but whether it becomes freedom depends on how, where, and for whom you apply it.
When the system owns the tools, controls the reach, and dictates the rules, your skill is shaped to benefit the system—not yourself.
If you can’t say no, rest, or switch off—your skill isn’t setting you free.
What Can We Do?
Professor Sanaye is not asking us to stop learning or growing. He’s urging us to wake up. To become mindful.
● Ask Critical Questions
- Who benefits from your work?
- Who sets the rules?
- Can you unplug without penalty?
● Redefine Success
Move away from metrics like likes, views, and revenue. Focus on meaning, peace, and independence.
● Create Without Being Watched
Not every project must be posted, tracked, or monetized. Create for yourself. Build spaces that reflect your pace, not the algorithm's demands.
● Support Ethical Systems
Promote and use platforms that share ownership, protect creators, and respect time. Look into cooperatives, open-source tools, and local businesses.
Final Thoughts: Reclaiming Skill from the System
Professor Sanaye revealed a difficult truth:
Skill isn’t always power. Sometimes it’s how the system controls you without you realizing it.
We must not stop learning, creating, or dreaming—but we must become more aware of how our talents are being used, who benefits, and what we lose in return.
Skill should help us live better—not just produce more.
Let’s make sure our skills don’t just feed systems. Let’s use them to nourish our lives.
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