# What prize would you not accept? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 2, 2019, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829 "2019-02-02T10:30:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2019, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/41 "2019-02-02T22:24:44Z")
I won a car playing Bingo back in the early 80’s. 1982 Cavalier. Would have cost me a bit over $700 to drive it off the lot, that included tax and license. I was unemployed at the time and struggling just to keep up with child support. Had to say no. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2019, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/42 "2019-02-02T23:16:36Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Trip to Canada. Gee thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/43 "2019-02-03T00:10:01Z")
A car. I don’t drive so I have no use for it. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/44 "2019-02-03T00:20:18Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Huh, I truly can’t think of a travel- or experience-type prize that I would turn down, unless it meant missing a bunch of classes mid-semester. Even if it didn’t _sound_ like my thing (like tickets to a major sports event), I’d probably give it a shot on the general principle that you might as well try everything once to see what it’s like, and you never know what you might end up enjoying. > > I can think of physical objects I have no use for and no place to put, like a grand piano, but I’d want to check with the university music department first just in case they wanted one. Me, too. I’ve taken three international trips to countries I had no particular desire to visit - New Zealand, Ireland, and Germany - and they all turned out to be among the best vacations I’ve ever had. Lack of expectations might have had something to do with it. I also surprised myself by thoroughly enjoying a live monster truck show. (It’s \*amazing \*what the drivers can do with those behemoths). All that said, I almost certainly would turn down tickets to a soccer game. I’ve given the sport a fair shake, and just don’t care for it. ---
**Author:** ![betterlifethroughchemistry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/betterlifethroughchemistry/32/3094_2.png) [@betterlifethroughchemistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betterlifethroughchemistry)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/45 "2019-02-03T01:55:28Z")
Too bad the OP specified the prize could not be sold or transferred and Mrs. White and I would be more than willing to take all those cruise people don’t want… For me, it’d be music tickets, I love music, but the vast majority of contemporary pop music is total crap IMHO, so thanks, but no thanks… ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/46 "2019-02-03T02:27:21Z")
**Anything** sports. Anything. ---
**Author:** ![Hopeful\_Crow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/da6949/32.png) [@Hopeful\_Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hopeful_Crow)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/47 "2019-02-03T03:08:36Z")
I’d turn down a cruise _ **if** _ it was on one of those huge mega ships with umpteen thousand other people, an on-board theme park, so many shows that some people probably never even look at the ocean, shops full of overpriced junk, and shore excursions that only took you to the most touristy spots in town for an hour or two before you’re rushed back to the ship. Not my idea of a vacation. If it was on a smaller ship with less than two hundred passengers and with a relaxed and casual atmosphere and nature-oriented programs that get you away from tourist hotspots, I’d be interested. I’d love to travel the Inside Passage this way. I have no interest in going to a Disney theme park or anything of its kind, either. Offering me a free stay at a Trump hotel or resort would elicit an emphatic “Hell, no!” from me. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/48 "2019-02-03T03:11:15Z")
Anything but cash gets declined. Well, depending on what brand and size, I might mull over accepting a motorcycle. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/49 "2019-02-03T03:49:23Z")
The Donald J. Trump Award for Ethics in Government ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/50 "2019-02-03T04:46:04Z")
I’d have to turn down fresh cut flowers. My allergies have become so severe that I can’t even be in the same room. Anything that would activate my motion sickness, such as certain types of boat trips or amusement park rides. I have already turned down free trips to the Super Bowl on more than one occasion – fortunately my brother and various other relatives were able to take advantage of the opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![Dickerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/51 "2019-02-03T05:10:40Z")
Tickets to a Rush concert (yes, I know they’ve disbanded), or a trip to Disneyland. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/52 "2019-02-03T05:39:09Z")
> [@simster](#): > > The Donald J. Trump Award for Ethics in Government Why not? It probably comes with a big bribe. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/53 "2019-02-03T06:01:31Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Why not? It probably comes with a big bribe. Pretty sure it comes with an indictment. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/54 "2019-02-03T07:31:07Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Gee thanks. No. Thank \*You. \* ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/55 "2019-02-03T07:54:49Z")
I’m in the lowest income bracket, and we’ve got a perfectly serviceable car, so I’d probably turn down a brand-new one, just because I couldn’t pay the taxes on it. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/56 "2019-02-03T08:04:38Z")
What I’d forgotten, but this thread reminded me, is that in the USA, winning a prize comes with an obligation to pay taxes on it whether you want the damn thing or not. Seems barking mad to me, there is no such requirement in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/57 "2019-02-03T10:24:36Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > What I’d forgotten, but this thread reminded me, is that in the USA, winning a prize comes with an obligation to pay taxes on it whether you want the damn thing or not. Seems barking mad to me, there is no such requirement in the UK. It’s even worse in the state of California where most game shows are filmed. There if you win a car you have to have the cash available to pay the taxes immediately or the car won’t be released to you. Thus if you win a car you can’t simply take out a loan using the car as collateral in order to pay the taxes then sell the car and make a profit, rather you have to pay the $7,000 or more in cash immediately or else you forfeit it. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/58 "2019-02-03T10:35:26Z")
In a raffle, I won a caravan holiday in a beachside caravan park, at the point of the city I live in furthest away from where I live. It would have been a long tedious drive there and back and I would have had to pay extortionate road tolls. All to spend a couple of nights in a caravan. So I never rang up to accept the prize. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/59 "2019-02-03T11:08:57Z")
Anything that required costs to run. I would take a house, because I’d be a fool not to, if it was reasonably sized. But a mansion would be too expensive to maintain. I’d also reject a car, because I don’t drive (though in the real world I would sell it, which is against the OPs rules in her scenario). ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829/60 "2019-02-03T11:55:48Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > A cruise, my idea of hell. This. X 1000. I’ve been on one, and would pay big $$$ not to go again. Ditto for any planned vacations. I already have free passes anywhere\* on one of the major airlines and I’ve never used them. A few years ago, my SIL (due to work connection) offered me free tickets and backstage passes to a Springsteen concert. I politely declined, and explained those would be wasted on me. She gave them to someone else who would enjoy them. \*Standby, and I have to pay the taxes to travel outside the continental US. IIRC, Hawaii would cost about $50 USD each way – same for Europe. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prize-would-you-not-accept/828829.md?page=4)