The US doesn't have sole claim on this PC BS. It's the same down here and it appalls me
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It seems as though the rationale is any excuse for a ceremony and let's give everyone a prize. Ridiculous!
My experiences...I grew up in a household where everyone was expected to pull their weight as both my parents worked their hearts out in the family biz. Some of things I remember - by age 8 I was mowing the lawns, at 11 I was doing all the household washing, by age 12 I knew how to change a tap washer etc. The moral always was - never expect anyone to do what you will not do yourself. Nothing was to be 'beneath' me. I took it upon myself by early teens to wash all the cars that were at home (six car garage and always full) each week and detail one per weekend as Dad could never find the time. I would LOOK for ways to contribute - don't pour accolades on me for this; this was ALL my parents' doing...how I was brought up.
I would often go to the workshop with Mum after school. There were always jobs for me. Dad's motto was that we would never expect our staff to do something we would not do; our staff were not to be our 'slaves'. I grew up and entered the family biz expecting that I would never ask someone to do a job I wouldn't...like clean the bathrooms, sweep the floors etc. Our leading mechanics were expected to chip in to do this stuff just as our first apprentices were. ANYONE who decided they wouldn't do the remedial stuff would find themselves out in the cold very fast. We all did our share happily; those who didn't weren't employed for very long.
These days I shake my head....kids talk back to their employers all the time. They think they know oh so much more when in fact they know next to nothing. They want immediate gratification and recognition when they haven't yet earned it. It's all about 'me' and 'now'...god help us as these are supposedly our future leaders....
I could blame the schools, society, cultural change etc etc...in the end I don't know where the buck stops any more.
Here's another example - one which I am dealing with right now. The junior football club names their 6 best in each team each week. I am a team manager so that is my job in corroboration with our coach. I am supposed to make these choices based on a roster???? WTF!!! I don't believe in this garbage. The 6 best should be named as the actual 6 best and if that turns out to be much the same kids each week well that is life as we should name on merit. We also have matchday awards. The president and I both want only 2 per team for our older age groups and 3 for the youngest group. The older age groups should only receive a most disciplined and an encouragement award (2 encouragement awards for the younger group). Again, I am being asked to ROSTER these awards??? Regardless of merit??? Gotta be kidding me...encouragement awards no problem as I can always find a kid who has done more than asked on the footy field for a match...but the most disciplined award goes to the one player who fits the criteria. Parents are arguing about not enough matchday awards....they want MORE. It appears we are supposed to award mediocrity....and I just won't do it. So now I am the dragon lady of the footy club. Big effing deal...kids need to learn that the world is one big contest and you have to contest to win...