Quote Originally Posted by Boblawblah View Post
If something is as I'm expecting (the "bare minimum" as you put it), and I already enjoy it, I would consider that worthy of praise.
That's - by definition - only a participation award.

Think: "Congratulations you, you got your computer turned on all by yourself today! Well Done!" and you see how vapid it is.

And this sort of crap - that seemingly infests schools today - only leads to genuine worthy praise becoming meaningless and worthless.

"Oh wonderful job Mary, you managed to tie your shoelaces! Have a gold star! And you Einstein came up with a new formula for the theory of life, the universe and everything, yes, you can have a gold star too! Now go sit down you two and we will give Jane a gold star for sharpening her pencils"