Ya know guys, what do rankings matter?

[BRASSO]

It's competition that drives excellence and achievement. Because DCI is marching music's major league (their own slogan) , strengths and weaknesses of the various corps (products) are going to be discussed, not only on DCP, but in the stands, on readily available recaps, and in critique. It's no different than a sports critic or movie critic pointing out areas that a team or movie is weak. Making the children (young adults) feel all warm and fuzzy after a crappy run isn't being truthful. If a show has flaws, it has flaws. It is what it is! IMO, you're mistaking honest, qualitative discussion about design and performance, for negativity. I would much rather have honesty, then flowery falsehoods.

If we tell Corps " you all did a great job", they'll quickly figure out we're just trying to make them feel good. And there's nothing wrong with that. Except for the following: when they REALLY do in fact do a GREAT job, and we tell them that, they won't place much stock in that, because that's what the person ALWAYS says.

If we want Corps marchers to appreciate honesty, then give them an honest opinion. If we want them to understand that we think everyone was GREAT, then just give them a full good dose of fluff that ultimately they'll determine was a good gesture meant to be nice to them, but in reality was a meaningless comment because the person says " you were great " to all the corps and marchers anyway.