Is the Honours system is a farce?

I think that it is and I have thought so for many years, but today's crop really takes the biscuit. Honours are now just dished out like sweeties to any celebrity for the thinnest of reasons. The honours themselves are now so common that they are devalued and debased so that they no longer have any merit, and in reality they are just a sop by the government to associate themselves with mostly popular figures (and even sometimes as a reward for failure as in the case of the ex head of the Financial Services Authority)....

Pathetic....

Re: Is the Honours system is a farce?

The NEW YEARs Honours List “reflects and pays tribute to outstanding achievement and service right across the community"............apparently.

I will take a look at the list, out of curiosity and to see if I have heard of any of the recipients.
It's a good thing to salute worthy individuals, I have no idea what the awards are in order of merit or what the implications and privileges are.

BBL after I've googled.

Re: Is the Honours system is a farce?

There are many people who work quietly for the good of others. They keep their head down and don't crow about it so they are never noticed . These are the ones who deserve recognition but they wouldn't want it anyway.

So I suppose in some ways yes the honours system it is a bit of a farce.

Re: Is the Honours system is a farce?

It's like everything else in this day and age..the 'real' people who deserve honours don't get them.
There are some ridiculous ones as usual. I've never understood why actors or footballers get honours.

Re: Is the Honours system is a farce?

Honours in my opinion should only be given to people who have performed beyond the call of duty and not for something that they have been paid for doing.

Volunteers who do things to help others and receive no re-numeration deserve being honoured.

Congratulations to Ken Livingstone for turning down a CBE saying politicians should not get honours.

Re: Is the Honours system is a farce?

I agree that a country's honours should be bestowed only in circumstances of exceptional service to the country or to your fellow man, and not just for being popular or successful in your chosen field. To dish out gongs to young olympians is beyond parody.... wasn't winning the medal the reward? And don't you think just awarding the winners was discrimination against the losers? Why not just give everybody one to save any upset..

Re: Is the Honours system is a farce?

Too late Barry, all those disabled Para-olympians who have in their eyes 'lost out' are furious that they are yet again being overlooked and ignored. Haven't seen the full list yet, but I just bet some Civil Service panjandrums have been bumped into the 'Lords' or given some title to add to the letters on their office door, irrespective of whether they've actually earned it!!!

I too applaud Ken Livingstone for turning down his 'gong' - a man of principle!!!

Re: Is the Honours system is a farce?

I had a boss once who said that the letters stood for: OBE = Other Buggers Effort, MBE = My Bloody Effort, and CBE = Committee's Bloody Effort. Judging by that criteria then Wiggins' should surely be an MBE?

Re: Is the Honours system is a farce?

DM, there's an honour entitled the Order of St:Michael & St: George. There are various ranks to this order up to Knight Commander (KCMG) or otherwise known as: "Kindly call me God".

Re: Is the Honours system is a farce?

Ridiculous,didnt the Olympians get medals for effort which ever brand they were.Footballers and actors get paid.I think its something to do with the government having a bit of a bad time and they wont get in with an election either so its a bribe really.Good old Ken giving his back.