Would you accept a knighthood/MBE/OBE/CBR?

ICBM

No.

marcus449

I don't really need the royal family's validation. I'm good as I am

koneguitarist

Yes it would be an honour. 
Like Thorpy, as a service man or a former service man you swear an allegiance to the Queen and If you deserve it why not. 

shaunm

Of course I would. 

I find it strange that people would turn it down.

Reverend

If accept a knighthood,  but change my name by deed poll. 

Perhaps to Rock Sallot.

LordOxygen

If I was a well paid sports person (winnings or sponsorship) i would not. It i was a volunteer or somone who gives to society in other ways that does not lead to significant personal financial reward i would.

As it stands I'm neither, so a moot point.

speshul91

Can you get them for services to pizza delivery?

Johnspreyer

It's difficult to believe that, at the beginning of 2017, anybody takes them seriously or indeed cares one way or the other.

LordOxygen

Johnspreyer said:

It's difficult to believe that, at the beginning of 2017, anybody takes them seriously or indeed cares one way or the other.

Fair point. 

holnrew

merlin said:

I can't help thinking that the very reasons for doing community/charity work would be totally devalued by accepting an honour from a system that creates a need for community/charity work. 

If your intentions are just then you don't need validation. 

Yeah, this and the royal bollocks is why I wouldn't.

holnrew

Blueingreen said:

Let's just say I'm dubious about people who like to claim that they'd put moral principles first and wouldn't be greedy for money/status/power in theoretical situations.  From my observation:

- percentage of people who claim they'd act out of principle and refuse honours/cash etc in such a theoretical situation = remarkably high

- percentage of people who actually do when put to the test = remarkably low

Call me an old cynic but my conclusion is that an awful lot of people out there are flattering themselves, or trying to delude the rest of us about the nobility of their character.

Not me. I do my best to keep my integrity and remain as honest as I can. I didn't post this to make a statement, I was just curious how many others felt the same as me. 

Babones

Knighting is like top 40 bullshit. There are loads of unsung heroes who will never get it, yet don't crave it. Leave it to devoid of personality sportspeople and that ilk. I don't recognise titles myself.

Sporky

You still get a medal, right?

Chalky

Shock news! A bunch of people who will never do anything in their lifetime that would earn them an honour are saying they wouldn't accept one!   

Sporky

I said I'd take it!

ICBM

I wouldn't accept one because the entire system which administers it is corrupt, even though many worthy people do also get them. Nothing to do with whether I do or don't support the monarchy - they don't choose the recipients anyway.

"Sir" Fred Goodwin? "Sir" Philip Green? People whose respective "services" consisted of destroying one of our greatest banks leaving the government having to buy it out, and bankrupting one of our greatest retail groups then selling it to a patsy for £1 while running off with the pension fund?

Yes, obviously those are extreme examples and I know Goodwin did have his knighthood taken away (and Green certainly should have), but it just shows the worthlessness of the 'honours' system.

camf

Chalky said:

Shock news! A bunch of people who will never do anything in their lifetime that would earn them an honour are saying they wouldn't accept one!   

Bit of an assumption, isn't it You might never do anything in your lifetime but the rest of us might have other plans.

Gassage

@holnrew If you're going to ask me can you please use the usual protocols and I'll make myself available.

ourmaninthenorth

I'd feel quite miffed that the establishment would recognise anything I'm about as worthy of their approval. 

Therefore I'd accept any such plaudit as an irrelevance. 

Heartfeltdawn

Absolutely not. 

A question for those who may know: at what point is a knighthood legal? I rather fancy accepting in writing then changing my mind during the ceremony just prior to the whole kneeling sword nonsense.