[76lsjumb]

Totally relevant aside: One of the things that I hate about debates like this one is the tendency of some on the "keep the status quo" side to say that the proposed changes will be the end of <insert institution or cherished value here>.  In fact, there's a long history of people arguing that various new inventions or ideas will have ruinous effect, and in almost every case, the anti-change forces were proven wrong. 

There's an excellent podcast that goes through historic examples of this type of argument, including new ideas you would not imagine to be controversial, like comic books, the telegraph, the novel, and coffee.  It's here: https://pessimists.co/episodes/  I really liked the "kids these days" episode, which traces the same tired argument we hear today all the way back to ancient Rome.

Is it possible that letting athletes make money on the side will ruin college sports?  Sure.  But history suggests that things will work out okay.

Absolutely correct.  After all, look how much more unified and civil [not to mention more physically fit] everyone has become as a result of the advent of the internet and explosion of social media.  Now that were all so much more connected and capable of responding to anyone, anywhere, at any time, bullying has basically ceased to exist, for example.

H.uge amounts of money being thrown at kids by people who want to make h.uge amounts of money off them.  What could possibly go wrong?

[76lsjumb]

Totally relevant aside: One of the things that I hate about debates like this one is the tendency of some on the "keep the status quo" side to say that the proposed changes will be the end of <insert institution or cherished value here>.  In fact, there's a long history of people arguing that various new inventions or ideas will have ruinous effect, and in almost every case, the anti-change forces were proven wrong. 

There's an excellent podcast that goes through historic examples of this type of argument, including new ideas you would not imagine to be controversial, like comic books, the telegraph, the novel, and coffee.  It's here: https://pessimists.co/episodes/  I really liked the "kids these days" episode, which traces the same tired argument we hear today all the way back to ancient Rome.

Is it possible that letting athletes make money on the side will ruin college sports?  Sure.  But history suggests that things will work out okay.

Absolutely correct.  After all, look how much more unified and civil [not to mention more physically fit] everyone has become as a result of the advent of the internet and explosion of social media.  Now that were all so much more connected and capable of responding to anyone, anywhere, at any time, bullying has basically ceased to exist, for example.

H.uge amounts of money being thrown at kids by people who want to make h.uge amounts of money off them.  What could possibly go wrong?