Success is bad
09-20-2013, 04:47 AM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,839
Success is bad
I see this whole thing as a perfect example of America's attitude of 'Every one gets a trophy'
Yahoo Shine - Women's Lifestyle | Healthy Living and Fashion Blogs
"Other kids quit because they can't keep up," she told The Post-Star last month, adding that she planned to change the reading program's rules, suggesting they draw names out of a hat instead of awarding prizes, such as T-shirts, water bottles, and atlases, to kids who read the most books. (Gandron has not returned Yahoo Shine's request for comment.)"
A friend figured that part of the quote might have been left out 
What the author *meant* to say was:
"Other kids quit because they can't keep up, and we want to teach them that the only proper response to others' success is to denigrate and attack them until the so called "go-getters" realize their achievement is actually destructive to society as a whole. Only then can the true achievers come to terms with their mediocrity and begin the process of repairing their diminished self-esteem," she told The Post-Star last month, adding that she planned to change the reading program's rules, suggesting they draw names out of a hat instead of awarding prizes, such as T-shirts, water bottles, and atlases, to kids who read the most books. (Gandron has not returned Yahoo Shine's request for comment.)
Yahoo Shine - Women's Lifestyle | Healthy Living and Fashion Blogs
"Other kids quit because they can't keep up," she told The Post-Star last month, adding that she planned to change the reading program's rules, suggesting they draw names out of a hat instead of awarding prizes, such as T-shirts, water bottles, and atlases, to kids who read the most books. (Gandron has not returned Yahoo Shine's request for comment.)"
What the author *meant* to say was:
"Other kids quit because they can't keep up, and we want to teach them that the only proper response to others' success is to denigrate and attack them until the so called "go-getters" realize their achievement is actually destructive to society as a whole. Only then can the true achievers come to terms with their mediocrity and begin the process of repairing their diminished self-esteem," she told The Post-Star last month, adding that she planned to change the reading program's rules, suggesting they draw names out of a hat instead of awarding prizes, such as T-shirts, water bottles, and atlases, to kids who read the most books. (Gandron has not returned Yahoo Shine's request for comment.)
09-20-2013, 05:51 AM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,026
We all know that folks with the desire to compete at a high level whether in sports or academia bring down society as a whole and destroy the self esteem of those in society that will not or cannot compete at the same level. 
We wouldn’t want to reward folks that strive to excel in something and thus better themselves and possibly society in general. Nope. We need to keep everyone at a mundane lackluster level so we can all feel good about ourselves while at the same time blow smoke about how valuable we are and how much we contribute in life.
We wouldn’t want to reward folks that strive to excel in something and thus better themselves and possibly society in general. Nope. We need to keep everyone at a mundane lackluster level so we can all feel good about ourselves while at the same time blow smoke about how valuable we are and how much we contribute in life.
09-20-2013, 05:52 AM
#6
Libertarian Resistance
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: 757 FO
Posts: 1,057
The Key Word
in the article is "public". It tells you everything you need to know.
As a thought experiment, try to imagine the impossibility of the events in this story happening in a dues paying private library--as opposed to a "free" government library.
WW
As a thought experiment, try to imagine the impossibility of the events in this story happening in a dues paying private library--as opposed to a "free" government library.
WW
09-20-2013, 06:20 AM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,263
This would all be a lot funnier if it weren't for the fact that these people are > 51% of the vote now. Why work when you can vote for people that will just give you stuff?
Now, the rest of you get back to work and pay your taxes.
Now, the rest of you get back to work and pay your taxes.
09-20-2013, 06:34 AM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2011
Position: Volleyball Player
Posts: 4,026
It's true, not everyone can win. Not everyone can make it. Not everyone will even have the chance to make it. I'm extremely competitive, but I realize the above as well. I'm not sure of the solution, as we can't just "get rid of" the people who don't make it. It's imperfect. I don't believe in rewarding failure, but I'm not sure how we ensure a reasonable chance for everyone too.
09-20-2013, 06:36 AM
#10
Moderator
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: ATP, CFI etc.
Posts: 6,056
It's like the old quandary of how much to give the local bum on the street- enough to buy another bottle of cheap wine, or enough to survive and but for the grace of god go I. There is no easy answer, it swings like a pendulum.
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