# The worst case of helicopter parenting ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 23, 2013, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-case-of-helicopter-parenting-ever/672008 "2013-10-23T04:18:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-case-of-helicopter-parenting-ever/672008/41 "2013-10-24T03:31:41Z")
I realize it wasn’t the case here, but I’m strongly reminded of this old [Bugs Bunny cartoon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdhftriXIrk). Yeah, I know, wrong sport too. File a complaint. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-case-of-helicopter-parenting-ever/672008/42 "2013-10-24T06:49:23Z")
I don’t see how this is worse than the Texas cheerleader murder-for-hire. THAT is the worst case of helicopter parenting I can think of. At least no one ends up dead from a lawsuit. Generally. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-case-of-helicopter-parenting-ever/672008/43 "2013-10-24T12:45:12Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Sometimes you are paired against someone far more talented than you. Sometimes you are going to get your butt handed to you. It happens in all sports and it happens in life. And [apparently](http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/western-hills-cougars-(fort-worth,tx)/football/home.htm), it happens to the Western Hills football team fairly regularly. They lost their first six games by a combined 218 points. Their closest game was 9-7, against a team that appears to be only slightly less terrible than them, but the rest were all blowouts. ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-case-of-helicopter-parenting-ever/672008/44 "2013-10-24T16:51:37Z")
The official investigation into the complaint has been completed: [“Bullying did not occur.”](http://www.today.com/news/school-official-bullying-did-not-occur-91-0-football-win-8C11452164) No further action will be taken. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-case-of-helicopter-parenting-ever/672008/45 "2013-10-24T17:44:18Z")
For once common sense prevails. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Toothpaste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-case-of-helicopter-parenting-ever/672008/46 "2013-10-25T19:18:31Z")
Helicopter parenting is really horrible, isn’t it? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-case-of-helicopter-parenting-ever/672008/47 "2013-10-25T19:38:11Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > That’s how I know: the weaker kids KNOW exactly what the score is. Kids who suck at sports KNOW they suck, and there’s no way to hide it from them, even if you give them ALL trophies. The first participation trophies were handed out over 30 years ago. It is not a new concept. ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-case-of-helicopter-parenting-ever/672008/48 "2013-10-25T20:30:38Z")
I don’t usually cite anonymous [TV Tropes](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DeadUnicornTrope) contributors, but here goes: > [@](#): > > Every other editorial on the Millennial generation makes some reference to everybody under 30 having an entitlement complex borne of loads and loads of fake trophies they got for just showing up as children, and cackle in glee that the recession finally “showed them” for the first time in their lives that everyone can’t be a winner. One graduation speech went viral, with the author basically patting himself on the back for “deconstructing” the idea of getting something for nothing. Of course, the closet full of “Participation” trophies trope is news to many REAL twentysomethings who were in competitive sports and academic activities, watched their high school class rank like a hawk, and were fully aware that tuition inflation and other changes have actually forced them to work HARDER than previous generations for the same things. > > … > > Speaking of particpation trophies, their alleged fostering of a sense of entitlement in children is exaggerated. They’re really more for the parents. After paying the registration fees and taking time out of their lives to watch their children in action, they want a tangible return for their investment, even if their kids weren’t very good. The kids themselves tend to be underwhelmed by the trophies (which are usually pretty lame) and view the uniform as the cooler souvenir. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-case-of-helicopter-parenting-ever/672008/49 "2013-10-25T23:55:50Z")
> [@brad\_d](#): > > The official investigation into the complaint has been completed: [“Bullying did not occur.”](http://www.today.com/news/school-official-bullying-did-not-occur-91-0-football-win-8C11452164) No further action will be taken. He’s lucky. [Harrison Bergeron will be executed for less](http://youtu.be/F1eHkbmUJBQ). ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-case-of-helicopter-parenting-ever/672008/50 "2013-10-26T00:15:25Z")
I don’t really care about what the coach could or couldn’t have done to stop the rout. The thing is, even if he had done nothing, that would not be bullying. It would only be bullying if he deliberately antagonized them. It might be unsportsmanlike, but it would not be bullying. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-case-of-helicopter-parenting-ever/672008.md?page=2)