the A-for-effort culture

[rm]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/education/18college.html

Comments

[hexkitten.livejournal.com]

Nearly two-thirds of the students surveyed said that if they explained to a professor that they were trying hard, that should be taken into account in their grade.

Every week, I try really hard to write an entertaining post for thereallljidol, therefore I deserve to win.

Somebody needs to put the smack down on these kids. What are they going to do when they get jobs?

"Gee, boss, I know that my numbers don't add up and that I gave the wrong information to multiple clients for months, but I worked really hard, so I shouldn't be fired."

[these-3-remain.livejournal.com]

Every week, I try really hard to write an entertaining post for therealljidol, therefore I deserve to win.

Brilliant! At the very least, you deserve a cookie for that comment.

[hexkitten.livejournal.com]

Mmm. I love cookies. I should bake some shortbread today.

[these-3-remain.livejournal.com]

Definitely! And even if you don't follow the recipe, as long as you word hard, your cookies should be delicious.

[hexkitten.livejournal.com]

I'm going to extend this throughout my kitchen!

If I undercook chicken, nobody can get food poisoning because I tried really hard!

[these-3-remain.livejournal.com]

Exactly!

It works for everything in life: If I'm driving to work and I hit a pedestrian, I can't be charged with vehicular manslaughter because I tried really hard to stay off the sidewalks.

[hexkitten.livejournal.com]

Ha! I can't top this example.

[these-3-remain.livejournal.com]

LOL. This "but I tried really hard" excuse is truly ludicrous, isn't it? And yet a lot of folks use it. Don't they know that the matter was settled a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away? "Do or do not... there is no try.” (http://thinkexist.com/quotation/do_or_do_not-there_is_no_try/250565.html)