23 thoughts on “Not The Onion.”

    1. “Participation trophies are stupid”

      No they aren’t. But, don’t worry. The actual stars and winners get bigger trophies.

      Of course I agree that legislating against them is stupid which is why I posted this story – to show the utter stupidity that has its grip on the GOP.

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  2. “When kids are growing up they’re being taught it’s OK to just be OK. You don’t have to be the best.”

    So.

    Pretty obvious everyone can’t be the best. Children are under tremendous pressure in many families. Organized sports and grade pressures to get into the best colleges. Drugs to overcome ADD, energy drinks along with the usual peer pressures.

    The best and brightest will always rise to the top no matter what the rest get for trying.

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  3. Are we supposed to guess at why this story is noteworthy?

    The actual legislation looks entirely unremarkable. Pay attention to the language of Section 1: “Youth sports or other youth recreation activities operated under the authority of a local government…”

    If, as I do, you think of participation trophies as a form of social engineering that governments should not perform, then the restriction is perfectly legitimate.

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      1. That’s what I guessed. And that’s why I point out there is nothing stupid about this law. The story doesn’t serve the purpose you wanted for it.

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          2. The awarding of participation trophies is a completely trivial matter that does not belong in the state’s code of law. In spite of your wierd opinions, recognizing each YOUNG child’s participation in a sport with a small trophy does them no harm and may do them some good. And, in any case, it is a decision for the people organizing local sports activities for the children in their town.

            It shows the utter stupidity and desperation of the “antiwoke” message that MAGA is betting on that such legislation would be considered. Completely BONKERS.

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          3. RE: “The awarding of participation trophies is a completely trivial matter that does not belong in the state’s code of law.”

            Is the state not entitled to make laws you judge to be “trivial”?

            Also, since you have no authority in the matter, is it not pretentious — even dishonest — of you to declaim on it in moral terms?

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          4. “Is the state not entitled to make laws you judge to be “trivial”?”
            Of course it is. And I am entitled to opine that they are BONKERS.

            “Dishonest?”
            Having and expressing an opinion is now dishonest?
            With all due respect, you are a complete dunce. Do you even know what “pretentious” means? What “dishonest” means? It appears that you do not.

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          5. RE: “Having and expressing an opinion is now dishonest?”

            Expressing an opinion based on morality is dishonest unless (a) you make a reasonable argument to substantiate the opinion or (b) you can otherwise demonstrate that your moral opinion is superior. Your commentary fails both tests.

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          6. “Expressing an opinion based on morality is dishonest . . .”

            Leaving aside that my opinion on this BONKERS legislation was not based on “morality” the rest of your “analysis” is pure nonsense.

            And, for what it is worth, it is uncivil of you to constantly make accusations of “dishonesty” without any evidence or logic to them. But, as always, I do not really expect much of in the way of civility from any of you MAGATS. (Make America Great Again Trump Supporters). So you never disappoint.

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          7. …”you to constantly make accusations of “dishonesty” without any evidence or logic to them”…

            Remember that Mr. Roberts’ logic is the only ne that matters. And ONLY Mr. Roberts can accuse people of being “dishonest”. The rest of us are dishonest when we do it.

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          8. RE: “Leaving aside that my opinion on this BONKERS legislation was not based on ‘morality’.”

            On what, then, is your opinion based? So far, you haven’t substantiated it in any way, except by name calling.

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  5. FWIW, the Boston Marathon gives medals to all who finish, about 30,000 each year. I suppose this would be banned if it is considered a local government’s event.

    This is a case of the state trying to control a small town’s events to suit an agenda by the bill’s sponsors.

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    1. RE: “This is a case of the state trying to control a small town’s events to suit an agenda by the bill’s sponsors.”

      What’s wrong with that?

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      2. Limiting the state in our lives is not the only issue. Allowing the state to perform its reasonable and authorized functions is also at issue.

        Besides, one could argue that performance trophies represent an unreasonable function of state power that the state is authorized to prevent.

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  6. A little related story to share on “participation trophies”.

    Several years ago, I coached a rec league basketball team (10-12 year olds). I had decided that I was not going to ask the parents to purchase trophies because there was no reason to do so. (Bad coaching, perhaps?). However, because the boys showed great improvement in skills and TEAMWORK, I decided to purchase them myself because, in my mind, their improvements deserved recognition of some type. Certificates are nice, but wouldn’t have made it out of the team get together. The purpose was to reward IMPROVEMENT, not just participation.

    Just a true story where participation was not the reason. But some may see it that way.

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