Thank You for Participating

I am so sick of hearing people bitch about participation trophies. Nothing makes you sound like an old codger more than complaining about all of society's ills can be traced back to the decision to give children trophies for participating in things. Mind you, I used to be one of those people. I've stopped though, because I've started to realize the issue was never, and is not now, so black and white.

The game I play has contests about every two weeks. I've entered a couple of time and won minor things. The last two, I didn't enter because I didn't have time and/or wasn't in the mindset to even try and come up with something. A guildmate of mine did enter both of them. He got prizes from one because they decided to reward everyone the same. He got prizes from the second one for participating. He didn't win the major stuff on that one, but he did get a little bit of stuff thrown his way, just for the effort.

And, okay, so the game runners did not do this to help anyone self-esteem. They didn't do it to make anyone feel good. They did it because this is their way of keeping people interested in the game. They also did it to encourage more people to enter their contests. I'm sure this has something to do with being able to so said numbers to backers as proof of the game's popularity.

The truth of the matter is this: participation IS its own form of currency. In certain cases, hell, in a lot of cases, just the fact that you put in the effort to show up makes all the difference.

So I have to wonder, how many of these little t-ball games where kids got participation trophies wouldn't have happened at all if those kids had chosen to stay home? The great ball players may feel unhappy about the other kids getting something too, but how would they feel if there were so few kids interested in the sport that no teams existed at all?

End of the day, it always comes down to supply and demand. If you have 200 people trying out for your team of 10, then yes, you have the advantage. Be selective. Choose the best. Shout out in all glorious self-righteousness that you will not coddle anyone and that you will not lower your standards.

But remember, that only only ONLY works so long as you have the numbers advantage. The minute your team that requires ten only has three people show up, well.....that changes things. Now you're the beggar and the other side can make the demands. You might be surprised what you'll be willing to compromise under those circumstances.