Re: Ranking or a mere pat on the back which doesn't remove intrinsic motivation

["Allen Woods" <allenwoods@jit-software.com>]

Hmmm....

Ranking or a mere pat on the back.....

Nowadays, not much  of a ranking, if by that you mean that recieving an
award places the recipient in some sort of social group like (for example an
artistocracy) or caste.  Very few privileges are attached to the awards
either.

Much of the current debate about the UK official awards systems seems to
revolve around the award titles particualry those that refer to the "British
Empire".  I would agree that the UK honours system needs overhauling, but
the system does no harm, and provides the means for the Government to
recognise "good works" in whatever sphere of business people are in.  It
should also not be discounted that many of the award recipients take a
certain amount of pleasure in being nominated and subsequently receiving an
award (now there is a whole topic for debate...).  If they scrapped the
whole thing, then I have an idea that something to replace it would emerge.

Personally I find it bizarre that Mick Jagger was given an award of any
kind, but there you go...  I am also saddenned that some people who are
world experts in their field do not have their work recognised because what
they do is not seen as "politically correct" by those who finally authorise
the issue of an award.

Take care

Allen

[Moderator's Note:  I asked Alan Winlow, MBE for a breakdown of the honor levels:
The hierarchy is as follows:
GBE - Knight of Dame Grand Cross
KBE/DBE - Knight or Dame Commander
CBE - Commander
OBE - Officer
MBE - Member
With the top two levels you are entitled to use the term 'Knight' or 'Dame'