Sludge (Friction Exploitation)
Friction placed on the path to something you are entitled to — refunds, cancellations, claims, opt-outs — so that exhaustion, not decision, determines the outcome.
An everyday example
A rebate that requires a printed form, a mailed receipt and a six-week wait; a claims process that resets when you call back.
What it can cost you
Abandoning value that is yours because pursuing it is tiring.
Warning signs
- I am about to give up on money that is mine.
- The exit has more steps than the entrance.
One thing to do
Treat sludge as a signal that the value is real: schedule the steps, keep a written log with dates, and escalate in writing after the second obstacle.
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