I am late to the party on all this human behavior discussion, but I found it fascinating. Handing out “participation†trophies doesn’t destroy humanity; we have heard from a number of people that kids recognize these trophies for what they are.
However, no one seems to have mentioned what is at the bottom of this slippery slope. The scary stuff happens when you’re not allowed to distinguish the winners for fear of “damaging†the losers. No first place trophy: everyone gets the same medal because everyone tried!
That’s the kind of practice that destroys competitive drive and leads to the promotion of Pointy Haired Bosses, communism, and all of Ayn Rand’s fears.
That guy can pick up his trophy from Alice, during her lunch break. I'm sure she'll be happy to ensure that his ability to walk really is a cause for celebration.