I suspect “dues” are less relevant in today’s world than a few decades ago. It used to be a (partial) defense against being judged harshly for your success, by showing that you’d earned it without special advantage. Nowadays, you’ll be judged regardless, as the assumption is that “the system” is so rigged that anyone who succeeds had a headstart.
To the extent that the dues do no actual good (unlike literal dues, which the recipient can use to buy things, presumably for the good of the group), skipping them seems very reasonable to me. The trick, of course, is that it’s very hard to distinguish unnecessary hurdles (“dues”) from socially-valuable lessons in conformity and behavior (“training”).
I suspect “dues” are less relevant in today’s world than a few decades ago. It used to be a (partial) defense against being judged harshly for your success, by showing that you’d earned it without special advantage. Nowadays, you’ll be judged regardless, as the assumption is that “the system” is so rigged that anyone who succeeds had a headstart.
To the extent that the dues do no actual good (unlike literal dues, which the recipient can use to buy things, presumably for the good of the group), skipping them seems very reasonable to me. The trick, of course, is that it’s very hard to distinguish unnecessary hurdles (“dues”) from socially-valuable lessons in conformity and behavior (“training”).
Relevant advice when asked if you’ve paid your dues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG0YKVafAe8