# Why do Dopers start contests regarding grave matters?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [October 13, 2022, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159 "2022-10-13T02:25:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 168

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2022, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159/168 "2022-10-14T17:31:18Z")

</div>

> [@Acsenray](#):
>
> It’s a game with an element of chance (a presently unknown result) and a prize (a ranking).

A ranking is not a prize. There is no prize for winning this contest. It says that explicitly, two times, in the OP of the thread you haven’t taken the trouble to read.

> [@2022 Senate Confidence Pool Contest](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2022-senate-confidence-pool-contest/973042/1):
>
> Per board rules there is no prize, monetary or otherwise, for winning this competition.

The idea that a ranking is a prize so therefore it’s gambling would make every competition gambling. Or an unknown result and a prize equal gambling is even more ridiculous.

Willie Wilson finished a distant 3rd in the 2020 Illinois senate race with 237,699. 3rd is a ranking, so I guess senate races are gambling.

Cuba earned a silver medal in the 2022 U-15 Baseball World Cup.

Unknown result: check  
Prize: check

The 2022 U-15 Baseball World Cup is gambling.

Do you see how ridiculous you sound?

---

_[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dopers-start-contests-regarding-grave-matters/973159)._