[Ansteorra] Cookies and merit badges

[Lisa]

Regardless of what method is used to reward people for outstanding
performance, there are going to be those who abuse it.  If everything is
left up to the whim of the crown, people who deserve recognition but do not
"flaunt" themselves are not going to get recognition.  With a "merit badge"
system of sorts, the liklihood of those who don't tend to flaunt themselves
is a little greater for them to get recognition.  You do X, Y and Z and you
get this award or badge.  Unfortunately the down side to this setup has
already been discussed, the probability of certain people doing A, B, and C
to get award D, then dropping that activity to go to the next thing that
will get them an award.  Regardless of what method is used to recognise
ability, there are always going to be individuals who are going to abuse the
system, the goal is to attempt to limit the abuse as much as possible.

Elizabeta of Rundel

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jean Paul de Sens" <jeanpauldesens at gmail.com>
To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 9:02 AM
Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Cookies and merit badges


On 5/23/06, Chris Backus <cebackus at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>  "Merit badges" like "cookies" was always one way I heard aspects of our
> current award system negatively described.  I didn't think JP meant
literal
> merit badges, although I also was an Eagle Scout, but rather the aspect of
> SCA awards collected like merit badges.l
>
> I thought the conversation turning to kids was good, because conversation
> can spur new, semi-related ideas, but I didn't want it to only become
about
> a youth award system, because I think the adult aspect of our award system
> is also very interesting.
>
> Hawkins
>

Hawkins, I was more searching for the reason *why *applying the label of
"merit badge" system would be construed as a negative thing, if you
understand what I mean.  I.e., what is it about the merit badge system that
makes it available to be used as a derogatory descriptor.

Some answers to that have arrived, although I'd certainly be willing to see
more.

JP



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