Unpopular Opinion

@RM

Yea, I wouldn't mind it so much if certain "colleges" (Cause if it's sports based, how can you really call it a college) were completely revolving around sports, then I could see it.. but the fact that most schools mix the two is insane.

@RT

Yea, the biggest problem I will face is teaching kids the joy of giving. That's what the story of Santa Clause does. I think, however, we shouldn't use Santa to 'bribe' our kids into good behavior. We should instead teach them that we give gifts because it's the morally correct thing to do. Idk what I'm gonna do yet, to be honest. How in the world can I explain that to a 2 year old?

@TT

Aaand that's why we have sports scholarships :( It's all about the Benjamins in today's world.

@Sub

Maybe I'm not defining myself because of my opinion, but because how I go about sharing it. I am a very outspoken person (Which in today's world isn't extremely valuable... most companies want yes-men) and honestly, I just get into arguments with people about it. Let me give you an example.

I am involved in TSA, the technology student association, where we travel and compete in various building, programming, and writing competitions. This year we had around 15 first places at the state level. the best in my school's history. The school, however, refused to pay almost any money for the kids to attend the national competition. Instead, they continued to fund the 0-12 lacrosse team and continued to pay for the football team's 20+ assistant coaches. Why did they do this? Duh, sports bring in money, as TT said. Of course I go and complain to my friends about it cause I wanted to go without paying a WHOLE load of money, and one of the lacrosse people overhear me. We argue. And then another sports girl jumps in. And it gets into this huge argument where it's pretty much me and my friend (Bless her) against about 9 other "sportsmen". I'm just not one to back down from an argument, and people know me because of that, and I'm pretty much linked to my unorthodox views.

I don't think you should define yourself by how others react to your opinion. Of course, I could be misreading you, but you generalize too much for my comfort. I hope you don't fall into the trap of justifying yourself BECAUSE you are of the unpopular opinion.

The fact is sports rake in the money, far more than any research ever will. And it's not as if all of the earnings disappears; a great sum of the profits are used to fund research, innovation, and development. There simply would not be enough financial support without them.

I think Santa Claus is actually a really good idea on several fronts. First, it inspires the ideological paradigm that good behavior is rewarded with positive gain. Even when they learn of his nonexistence, they still understand that their parents rewarded a positive behavior. Additionally, it helps them question what is true and what isn't - that just because a society 'believes' and follows a certain path, doesn't mean it's true or correct. Just because nations show Santa as real - even when revealed later it isn't - that doesn't mean he IS real. It helps them learn to question the world and decide things for themselves.

I find Santa Claus is a very good moral teaching ground. Plus, on the most simplistic level, they *enjoy* it. It's fun. It's a bonding experience.

Anyway, for the second one, I can understand that completely. Even having a lesser scholarship would be awesome. Just don't promote physical over mental gains. I don't have a problem with athletes, just the way they're seen as heroes while scientists, inventors, strategists, etc. are all seen as lesser. The only way to be famous is to discover something RIDICULOUSLY famous, while someone like Michael Jordan will always be remembered. Granted, they can always be a positive influence with the money they gain - donating to shelters, funds, giving back to the community, etc - but most don't and they shouldn't make millions for playing a game.

ANYWAY, rant over. Hope I at least explained myself well.

Personally, my parents deprived me of Santa Claus and told me he wasn't real. When I started going to my cousin's house for Christmas, it kinda ruined it because back then it was really fun to look at the Santa Tracker and actually have Christmas spirit. Idk, I'm Indian and I really adore the idea of Christmas and all. When I'm a parent, I'm making sure my kids will have the Christmas joy I've always wanted.

I actually got my family to celebrate it this year for the first time in 6 years :D. Still pretty fun. Idk, I can definitely see why you see the irrationality in telling kids about Santa Claus, but I think it depends on the kid. But mostly, I think most kids like the idea of Santa Claus, and most never get mad about parents lying to them. After some time, they'd think themselves were stupid for believing and they grew up xD

For sport scholarships, I feel ya. However almost all colleges do require a decent grade in most classes to be illegible for the scholarship throughout the years.

dacoqrs good for you for telling your kid the truth. Even though I am young, I think college should be a place where students learn and be educational not a place where if you are gifted at sports with a 2.0 GPA and be able to learn with the people who actually care about education.

I actually agree with both of it.

Telling that santa claus is real is not good IMO. My parents never lied about that and i felt better because of it.

I think sport scholarship should be placed in just some colleges that focused on their sport