World Records

The Universal Record Database, a website formed in 2008, offers the opportunity for anyone to achieve a world record. Titles like "Most Neckties Worn at Once" and "Fastest Time to Rip A Phone Book in Half" are typical records posted on the front page. The task need only be quantifiable, breakable and legal. Whatever you can think of, you can make into a world record. Every one now has a chance to achieve "immortality". Under the name of the site, lies the description, "The Definitive Site for Human Achievement".

This is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. Based on a spontaneous idea in your head, you suddenly are promoted as a world-class achiever. Instead of normally being regarded as someone with too much free time, you can be regarded as something much grander. You can achieve an elusive level of greatness, without going through the work that it entails.

A world record is not something to take lightly. Take, for example, the 200m dash. Those wishing to break the record are in competition with not only the current world-class sprinters (Asafa Powell, Tyson Gay), but generations of earlier elite runners (Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson), athletes that were idolized worldwide during their career. An added obstacle to this is the athlete's physiology. For example, Michael Phelps, recepient of 8 gold medals in a single Olympics and holder of 6 world records, has a torso larger than most men of his height, a noticeable advantage in swimming. This suggests that despite the hard work one puts into an event, it can be physically impossible to achieve a world record. This combined difficulty is what gives the world record holders a true sense of immortality.

The website suggests that you can circumvent this difficulty and claim a record as your own. The fact that they can associate such frivolous behavior with something so grand is disgusting.
It is similar to awarding someone a Nobel Prize if they discovered that using pencil as a toothbrush doesn't clean teeth well.

A common justification for this website would be, "Wait, this is just for fun. It's not something to be taken seriously". It is true that the website rewards creativity and imagination. It's a place to put a little of yourself online for others to enjoy. However, there is already a well-known website that has just the same function. It's called Youtube.