Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Resolved: Pokemon should replace cash scholarships with fitness equipment.

prodigal_fanboy

New Member
Given that the PUI is actively interested in building and maintaining an enjoyable and healthy game (2, 3, 4), and given that they are actively concerned with maintaining the integrity and quality of the brand name (2), PUI should apparently have a vested interest in combating negative stereotypes in regards to its player-base.

One common stereotype is that gamers, among which TCG players are counted, is that of a high obesity incidence rate among the sub-group. Granted, there are certain confounds which increase this phenomenon (those most likely to be drawn to Pokemon might not have the most active lifestyles in the first place). However, that is no to say that Pokemon cannot do something to combat these pervasive and hurtful beliefs. Taking a liberal interpretation of the "Learning" facet of Spirit of the Game, PUI should be motivated to educate players about healthy life-style values (4).

Therefore, PUI should begin a program which rewards Professors for maintaining a healthy life-style: professors are, after all, the face of the system in terms of face-to-face P.R. (1, 2).

Furthermore, PUI should send with league supplies informational pamphlets to be distributed to participants containing information on making healthy food choices. Correspondingly, hosting Leagues in fast food establishments should be done out of necessity rather than choice.

And lastly, scholarships should be replaced with equal-value vouchers for health and fitness equipment. Recipients of these vouchers may submit an application outlining their planned purchase (and should it not be actual equipment) how this purchase is relevant to their pursuit of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Granted, there are those who maintain healthy lifestyles or simply don't care about the children. As such, those who win vouchers but would rather have the scholarship or travel voucher may apply for the traditional prize, however, in doing so exempt their right to all monetary rewards from POP events for no less than 365 days following submission of the request.

Footnotes:
1. Responsibility
Professors are trusted with a great deal of responsibility.
2. Professionalism
To maintain a higher degree of respect, Professors should act professionally when acting in an official capacity. Foul language, horseplay, smoking, drinking alcohol, and similar activities are unacceptable while actively representing Pokémon. In addition, it is unprofessional to publicly make negative comments about Pokémon, the Pokémon TCG, or TPCi without first trying to resolve these issues with TPCi via private communication. Negative comments made publicly only hurt the brand, the game, the company, and the organized play program
3. Fun: The Pokémon TCG is a game, and games are meant to be fun for all parties involved. When a game ceases to be fun, players find other things to do.
4. Learning: Players should strive to help each other increase their Pokémon TCG play skills. It is not a player's responsibility to make his or her opponent's plays for that opponent. However, discussing strategies, offering deck tips, or constructively critiquing game play decisions after the match has been completed helps both participants to become better players.
 
When has P_F ever NOT been serious on something? Anyone willing to eat a sock then mail it to me would rather work out then win cash
 
mmm...fitness equipment? OH MAN, I shoulda gotten a treadmill with my 07 nats win!!! :[!
 
Bohn highly approves it!
And for those who are already fit, would be nice to use in supplements such as whey protein, etc :p
 
Totally agreed, health in first place.
On side note, I was wandering wich kind of paper they use in newer cards, if that come from recycling or something like that.
 
New Nats prize structure?

1st Place

A Pokémon TCG National Championships First-Place Trophy (which also acts as a dumbbell)
An invitation to the closest Premier Fitness/Mademoiselle Fitness
A Travel Award for the winner (and parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to the 2010 'The Biggest Loser' contest
A lifetime supply of grapefruit worth $5,000.
A Carmen Electra workout video
A combination of 72 power bars of various flavours
Other great Arnold Schwarzenegger-themed merchandise!

2nd Place

A Pokémon TCG National Championships Second-Place Trophy (which also functions as a healthy snack)
An invitation to the juice bar
A Travel Award for the winner (and parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to the 2010 'The Biggest Loser' contest
A Bowflex
A Richard Simmons workout video 'Sweatin' to the Oldies'
A combination of 72 expired power bars from various bankrupt power bar companies
Other great Makuhita-themed merchandise!

3rd Place

A Pokémon TCG National Championships Third-Place Trophy (which also yells motivational words)
An invitation to the 2010 Ethiopian Pokémon TCG Championships
A Travel Award for the winner (and parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to an undisclosed location (food will NOT be provided by the airline)
NO CARBS
A Cadbury Thin chocolate bar
A combination of 36 Jenny Craig consultants
Other great low carb merchandise!

4th Place

A Pokémon TCG National Championships Fourth-Place Trophy (shaped like you, slightly more fit looking)
An invitation to some random boot camp
A Travel Award for the winner (and parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to a desert island, where you will be forced to fend for yourself
A gift certificate worth $1,500 of Abercrombie & Fitch clothing
A Mr. T to pity you
An Ab Rocket
Other great infomercial-themed merchandise!

5th through 8th Place

An invitation to Curves Health Clubs and Fitness Centers for Women
$750 worth of organic food
A combination of 36 bicycle parts that you must assemble yourself and then use

9th through 16th Place

A Yoga Membership

17th through 32nd place

A Wii Fit
 
Wouldn't GIVE fitness stuff give the impression that the tournaments' winners (and therefore, the players who are more into the game) are actually fat?
 
That is because of YOU people of the USA being fat and doing tournaments in restaurants. We European people don't have to pay for your enthusiasm for fat (just keep your Mcdonald's), so clean up your mess and do some tournaments in fitness centers.

I really love this troll :lol:
 
I'm deeply offended that anyone would consider this thread a troll. Likewise, I feel that moving it to the Random Topic Center, while arguably a more appropriate forum, only serves to marginalize the points made in this thread.

@NoPoke -- BMI is, to my knowledge, a mediocre indicator of personal fitness. For several members of our varsity team, they have BMIs of 25-26, which puts them in the obese range, and yet they are lean as can be. Their weight is "inflated" by muscle mass. Granted, it's obvious to tell where this would pose an issue, so perhaps you are right and it would be a good metric.

@Sabett -- I don't think comparing this to A Modest Proposal or prejudice against "fat people" is an accurate reflection of the nature of this thread. Nowhere do I advocate disallowing obese people to participate in the game, in fact, that would be counter intuitive to my end design. Rather, we should welcome such individuals, teach them to play AND encourage a healthier lifestyle.

There is no proscription against obesity. Merely incentives and support for healthy living.

@Vegitalian -- I support your enthusiasm, but I think that we should allow PUI more discretion in how they want to enact this agenda.

@Bohn -- I agree. Ergometers, even used, can cost $1000 USD. It'd be very nice to win one of those! Furthermore, such earnings would not be reflected in any Financial Aid documents (to my knowledge) for those who are currently in college, if that is a concern.

And yeah, whey is really expensive, so I don't ever use it unless someone offers it to me. That'd be nice, too. A small jar of whey for winning cities?
 
I don't think anyone can deny that 'workout equipment' if actually used by the winners, would be far more beneficial to the health of the players of the game. But at the same time, it would be arsenic in the wine cup of the health of the game itself. People who seriously play to win tournaments and honestly know they can are not going to play a game to win the equivalent a random Price is Right item. It'd be like giving away a fine china dish set. Sure, it's worth something! But there's a lower chance that anyone will use them, or just set them on display in the living room. Much lower than the chance that a player will go on to college and save a crap load of money on it, and make him/herself and his/her family better off for it.

I have skimmed this thread, so I don't know if it's been said, but this could've been brought up. What if some degree of choice was brought up? I can personally guarantee you, at LEAST 80% of the time, the money would be taken over the treadmill. Unfortunately, you have to remember that you're dealing with kids here, or at least, young adults. We're talking about WORKING out, as opposed to CASH. However truly beneficial a prize might be over another, kids look to what sounds better. I'm afraid practicality will be the bane of this debate's sorry existence.

I can't say that I disagree with such things as distributing health pamphlets or rewarding professors, as that would definitely send a message that PUI cares. But when you take away a large reason that people play to win, you take away a large chunk of players, and that's something that PUI absolutely would not stomach.

Rebuttals, anyone? ;)
 
Is it wrong that I'm reminded of "A Modest Proposal"?

OK, I had to look that up, but awesome!

But come on people, it's not that bad an idea... until you think about where the money is going at the moment.

Sorry, don't see this being as high a priority as education in most people's eyes. And I hope for those that do have to treat health costs so highly, they are already getting the help that they need.
 
I am found of this idea because I really need a good dumbell/bench set to use this summer for wrestling next year...

The only way I can see if people would choose the fitness stuff would be if the scholarship would be for $10,000 and the fitness stuff would be like $15,000 worth of stuff. Sure the people may just pick the fitness package because they could sell it, but it woul give them some choice at least...

As for the BMI thing. It isn't very accurate. You could have a real stocky guy who is like 5' 3'' and ways 210 but he is pure muscle. Hey would be obese by the BMI chart although he is just muscle.
 
I am found of this idea because I really need a good dumbell/bench set to use this summer for wrestling next year...

The only way I can see if people would choose the fitness stuff would be if the scholarship would be for $10,000 and the fitness stuff would be like $15,000 worth of stuff. Sure the people may just pick the fitness package because they could sell it, but it woul give them some choice at least...

As for the BMI thing. It isn't very accurate. You could have a real stocky guy who is like 5' 3'' and ways 210 but he is pure muscle. Hey would be obese by the BMI chart although he is just muscle.

*fond, dumbbell. ;)

And no, people don't choose it. The proposal states that the prizes ARE fitness equipment/health goods and services. People may opt for cash when winning what was formally a cash prize (so 1st and 2nd place regs and Top X @ Nats), but in doing so revoke their right to claim prizes for 365 days following that event.

Edit: and I mentioned the BMI thing.
 
I agree BMI is a very poor indicator. From memory your hip to waist ratio is a much better indicator of body fat levels. But at least in the UK it is only the poor BMI that is well known by the fitness and health industry.
 
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