They are honours. Do they honour the right people? Does the existence of the system benefit the society more than the money it costs related to the monarchy and everything?

Reply 6

Drewski

Original post by clh_hilary

They are honours. Do they honour the right people? Does the existence of the system benefit the society more than the money it costs related to the monarchy and everything?

What do you think on the matter? You posed the question, why not tell us where you stand?

Original post by Drewski

What do you think on the matter? You posed the question, why not tell us where you stand?

Mixed. I don't know.

Reply 9

Mackay

They are always given to the wrong people, so I'd say they are meaningless. Not necessarily 'good', or 'bad'.

Reply 10

mojojojo101

I'd say the concept of marking a particular person out as having done something particularly noteworthy is fine, in fact it could serve as an inspiration to others to do the same.

However when you give out knighthoods like not particularly noteworthy candy you kind of devalue the whole process (same goes for OBE's and MBE's).

Reply 11

KingBradly

A lot of people who've received knighthoods have been people who deserve recognition, so I think they're cool. I can see why people would think they're stupid though.

Reply 12

El Salvador

Original post by Mackay

They are always given to the wrong people, so I'd say they are meaningless. Not necessarily 'good', or 'bad'.

You need money to maintain the system.

Reply 13

El Salvador

Original post by stroppyninja

Yes, it's nice that people receive recognition for good deeds.

But there already are honorary degrees.

Reply 14

El Salvador

Original post by mojojojo101

And some are inheritable right?

Reply 15

midnightice

Danny Boyle had the right idea. He outright refused one.

Sir Elton John.

Original post by clh_hilary

And some are inheritable right?

No.

Hereditary titles are separate to honours. If my Dad,for example, was awarded a Knighthood, I wouldn't become a knight on his death, it would just 'disappear'.

Original post by clh_hilary

But there already are honorary degrees.

But that's completely different. That's like saying why give someone a present for Christmas when they've already got their birthday.

Honourary degrees are given by universities to whomever they want, there's basically no public input and noone really cares one iota about them.

The public honours system (CBEs, OBEs, MBEs, KBEs, DBEs, etc) can be awarded to anyone and the recipients can be put forward by anyone.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 18

El Salvador

Original post by Drewski

No.

Hereditary titles are separate to honours. If my Dad,for example, was awarded a Knighthood, I wouldn't become a knight on his death, it would just 'disappear'.

But that's completely different. That's like saying why give someone a present for Christmas when they've already got their birthday.

Honourary degrees are given by universities to whomever they want, there's basically no public input and noone really cares one iota about them.

The public honours system (CBEs, OBEs, MBEs, KBEs, DBEs, etc) can be awarded to anyone and the recipients can be put forward by anyone.

What do you mean 'put forward by anyone'?

Reply 19

Drewski

Original post by clh_hilary

What do you mean 'put forward by anyone'?

Any British citizen can write to 10 Downing Street and nominate someone for an honour. They can't say what honour they think they should get (or at least, if they do, that would be ignored) but they can nominate anyone at all.