History Main / PointlessCivicProject

In RealLife, projects like these are sometimes labeled [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folly "Follies"]]: Buildings that are built for no practical purpose except for decoration and/or to show off the wealth of whoever ordered it built. The grandest examples are probably the Egyptian pyramids, built partly to inflate the pharaoh's vanity and partly to keep a large agricultural workforce occupied during the season when the farmland was flooded. A more modern RealLife example would be "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_barrel pork barrel]]" projects (expensive projects approved by Congress that only really benefit the district of the congressman who proposed the project in the first place). However, [[FlameBait one person's pork barrel is another person's much needed civic improvement]], so Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease.

* The AgathaChristie novel "Dead Man's Folly" features an ugly building built with the usual good taste associated with the NouveauRiche. In this case, it ''was'' built with a purpose: [[spoiler:to hide the corpse of the owner's real wife, with the second wife posing as her ever since they'd arrived]].

** [[SubvertedTrope Often, however, these 'megaprojects' do serve a useful purpose]]; they give the local population something to do [[note: unoccupied dwarves end up hanging out in the dining hall making friends, which can lead to unfortunate consequences when a popular dwarf dies]], and they boost the economic value of the settlement, attracting more migrants and larger trade caravans... And larger and more numerous enemy invasions, to keep things interesting.

** [[SubvertedTrope Often, however, these 'megaprojects' do serve a useful purpose]]; they give the local population something to do[[note:unoccupied dwarves end up hanging out in the dining hall making friends, which can lead to unfortunate consequences when a popular dwarf dies]], and they boost the economic value of the settlement, attracting more migrants and larger trade caravans... And larger and more numerous enemy invasions, to keep things interesting.

** [[SubvertedTrope Often, however, these 'megaprojects' do serve a useful purpose]]; they give the local population something to do[[note]]unoccupied dwarves end up hanging out in the dining hall making friends, which can lead to unfortunate consequences when a popular dwarf dies]], and they boost the economic value of the settlement, attracting more migrants and larger trade caravans... And larger and more numerous enemy invasions, to keep things interesting.

** There's also the Night Vale Harbor and Waterfront Recreation Area...in a city that's landlocked and in the middle of a desert.

Basically, the result of a city or county government spending tons of money to build something that has little to no use. The reason may vary: the city council might have been taken in by a ConMan, a CorruptPolitician or the knee-jerk reaction of a [[SecurityBlanket terrified populace]], or the people in charge are [[TheCaligula just plain crazy]].

In some cases it might not be the actual local government but rather a charity of some kind. The result is usually the same: A lot of money is spent on something that ends up being utterly useless.

In RealLife, projects like these are sometimes labeled [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folly "Follies"]]: Buildings that are built for no practical purpose except for decoration and/or to show off the wealth of whoever ordered it built. The grandest examples are probably the Egyptian pyramids, built partly to inflate the pharaoh's vanity and partly to keep a large agricultural workforce occupied during the season when the farmland was flooded. A more modern RealLife example would be "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_barrel pork barrel]]" projects (expensive projects approved by Congress that only really benefit the district of the congressman who proposed the project in the first place). However, [[FlameBait one person's pork barrel is another person's much needed]] civic improvement, so Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease.

* In the ''Series/Mash'' episode, "Dear Truman," the staff of the 4077 are visited by a senior office who offers increased support for the field hospital as long as he sees some increased effort in local beautification. Col. Potter, after getting his jaw back after hearing something so stupid in a war zone, angrily protests that this flies in the face of medical and military priorities, but the visiting officer will not be persuaded otherwise and the camp has to play along.

In RealLife, projects like these are sometimes labeled [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folly "Follies"]]: Buildings that are built for no practical purpose except for decoration and/or to show off the wealth of whoever ordered it built. The grandest examples are probably the Egyptian pyramids, built partly to inflate the pharaoh's vanity and partly to keep a large agricultural workforce occupied during the season when the farmland was flooded. A more modern RealLife example would be "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_barrel pork barrel]]" projects (expensive projects approved by Congress that only really benefit the district of the congressman who proposed the project in the first place). However, [[FlameBait one person's pork barrel is another person's much needed]] civic improvement, so NoRealLifeExamplesPlease.

Basically, the result of a city or country government spending tons of money to build something that has little to no use. The reason may vary: the city council might have been taken in by a ConMan, CorruptPolitician, the knee-jerk reaction of a [[SecurityBlanket terrified population]], or the people in charge are [[TheCaligula just plain crazy]].

In some cases it might not be the actual local government but rather a charity of some kind. The result is usually the same: a lot of money is spent on something that ends up being utterly useless.

In RealLife, projects like these are sometimes labeled [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folly "Follies"]]: Buildings that are built for no practical purpose except for decoration and/or to show off the wealth of whoever ordered it built. The grandest examples are probably the Egyptian Pyramids, built partly to inflate the Pharaoh's vanity and partly to keep a large agricultural workforce occupied during the season when the farmland was flooded. A more modern RealLife example would be "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_barrel pork barrel]]" projects (expensive projects approved by congress that only really benefit the district of the congressman who proposed the project in the first place). However, [[FlameBait one person's pork barrel is another person's much needed]] civic improvement, so NoRealLifeExamplesPlease.

* Lampooned by DaveBarry in his book ''Dave Barry is Not Taking This Sitting Down'', in a column called "Eye of the Beholder":

* The incredibly expensive, country-spanning Anti-Smite Shield commissioned by the British government in the ''Literature/ThursdayNext'' series. A bit of a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]], in that it actually did serve a function: using up surplus government stupidity with one massive, incredibly stupid project.
* Played with in VorkosiganSaga with the [=ImpSec=] headquarters. Obviously [=ImpSec=] needs a headquarters somewhere but the actual building is a gaudy overdone monstrosity to please the vanity of the(long dead) mad emperor Yuri, and is renowned on Barrayar as the ugliest building on the planet.

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]
* Has appeared in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' lore from time to time: members of the Ecclesiarchy will demand the construction of more centers of worship for the Imperial Cult, even though the space could be better used for more practical purposes, like food production or housing.
[[/folder]]

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': Mayor Creator/AdamWest commissions an unusual war memorial for Quahog's deceased soldiers: "I can think of no greater tribute to their memories than this solid gold statue...of Dig 'em the Sugar Smacks frog".

** The Monorail project in the episode "Marge vs. the Monorail". In it, the townspeople are sold on the idea of the monorail by the slick-talking monorail salesman, despite the fact that Springfield has no ''need'' for a monorail. The end of the episode reveals that the city routinely builds pointless things, such as a Popsicle Stick Skyscraper, a 100ft Magnifying Glass (that sets the Popsicle Stick Skyscraper on fire) and a huge escalator to nowhere (whereupon reaching the top, riders simply plummet to their death).

In RealLife, projects like these are sometimes labeled [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folly "Follies"]]: Buildings that are built for no practical purpose except for decoration and/or to show off the wealth of whoever ordered it built. Another RealLife example would be "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_barrel pork barrel]]" projects (expensive projects approved by congress that only really benefit the district of the congressman who proposed the project in the first place). However, [[FlameBait one person's pork barrel is another person's much needed]] civic improvement, so NoRealLifeExamplesPlease.

** The town's continued project to build a drawbridge in Old Town Night Vale, despite there not being any rivers or bodies of water nearby, and no boats to even ''necessitate'' a drawbridge. The project keeps on failing due to the engineers insisting on using hilariously inappropriate materials, such as cardboard.

* The demented city council in ''WelcomeToNightVale'' approves several pointless projects.

* Played with in VorkosiganSaga with the ImpSec headquarters. Obviously ImpSec needs a headquarters somewhere but the actual building is a gaudy overdone monstrosity to please the vanity of the(long dead) mad emperor Yuri, and is renowned on Barrayar as the ugliest building on the planet.

* ''Literature/CoDominium'': The colony planet of Hadley is in serious need of industry and infrastructure... but the CD builds them a giant sports stadium instead. Unsurprisingly, the company that got the contract is owned by a corrupt [=CoDo=] Senator.

In RealLife, projects like these are sometimes labeled [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folly "Follies"]]: Buildings that are built for no practical purpose except for decoration and/or to show off the wealth of whoever ordered it built. Another RealLife example would be "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_barrel pork barrel]]" projects (expensive projects approved by congress that only really benefit the district of the congressman who proposed the project in the first place). However, [[FlameBait one person's pork barrel is another person's much needed]] civic improvement, so NoRealLifeExamplesPlease

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': Mayor AdamWest commissions an unusual war memorial for Quahog's deceased soldiers: "I can think of no greater tribute to their memories than this solid gold statue...of Dig 'em the Sugar Smacks frog".

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* CoDominium: The colony planet of Hadley is in serious need of industry and infrastructure... but the CD builds them a giant sports stadium instead. Unsurprisingly, the company that got the contract is owned by a corrupt [=CoDo=] Senator.
* In NineteenEightyFour, the Big Brother regime constantly builds things like monuments to both inspire mindless nationalism and to soak up excess resources. This is to keep living standards so low that the people are too worn down to resist.

* The incredibly expensive, country-spanning Anti-Smite Shield commissioned by the British government in the ''ThursdayNext'' series. A bit of a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]], in that it actually did serve a function: using up surplus government stupidity with one massive, incredibly stupid project

[[AC:LiveActionTelevision]]
* Something of this nature is discussed but doesn't actually happen in an episode of ''WKRPInCincinnati''. The local homeless shelter's kitchen catches fire and it will cost $40,000 to rebuild. Jennifer gets a bunch of wealthy Cincinnaitians together to donate the money, but they decide "why just rebuild the kitchen when we can build them a whole new shelter?" One man will donate a plot of land he has sitting around and a couple of others donate $150K for building it. Then the users of the shelter show up, and point out they don't need nor want a new building, especially not one in a distant suburb no one can get to via public transportation. What they need is to have the shelter's kitchen rebuilt.
* In the ''{{Frontline}}'' episode "Let the Children Play", the Frontline team did a community service project for disadvantaged inner-city youth as a ratings grab. Despite all the kids wanting a basketball court, they decide to build a playground as it makes better television. And then the playground is found to be unsafe and cannot actually be used.

[[AC: TabletopGames]]
* Has appeared in {{Warhammer 40k}} lore from time to time: members of the Ecclesiarchy will demand the construction of more centers of worship for the Imperial Cult, even though the space could be better used for more practical purposes, like food production or housing.

[[AC:{{VideoGames}}]]

[[AC:WebOriginal]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* ''FamilyGuy'': Mayor AdamWest commissions an unusual war memorial for Quahog's deceased soldiers: "I can think of no greater tribute to their memories than this solid gold statue...of Dig 'em the Sugar Smacks frog".
* ''TheSimpsons'':

In RealLife, projects like these are sometimes labeled [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folly "Follies"]]: Buildings that are built for no practical purpose except for decoration and/or to show off the wealth of whoever ordered it built. Another RealLife example would be "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_barrel pork barrel]]" projects (expensive projects approved by congress that only really benefit the district of the congressman who proposed the project in the first place). However, [[FlameBait one person's pork barrel is another person's much needed]] civic improvement, so NoRealLifeExamplesPlease.

Basically, the result of a city or country government spending tons of money to build something that has little to no use. The reason may vary: the city council might've been taken in by a ConMan, CorruptPolitician, the knee-jerk reaction of a [[SecurityBlanket terrified population]], or the people in charge are [[TheCaligula just plain crazy]].

In RealLife, projects like these are sometimes labled [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folly "Follies"]]: Buildings that are built for no practical purpose except for decoration and/or to show off the wealth of whoever ordered it built. Another RealLife example would be "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_barrel pork barrel]]" projects (expensive projects approved by congress that only really benefit the district of the congressman who proposed the project in the first place). However, [[FlameBait one person's pork barrel is another person's much needed]] civic improvement, so NoRealLifeExamplesPlease.

* Something of this nature is discussed but doesn't actually happen in an episode of ''WKRPInCincinnati''. The local homeless shelter's kitchen catches fire and it will cost $40,000 to rebuild. Jennifer gets a bunch of wealthy Cincinnaitians together to donate the money, but they decide "why just rebuild the kitchen when we can build them a whole new shelter?" One man will donate a plot of land he has sitting around and a couple of others donate $150K for building it. Then the users of the shelter show up, and point out they don't need nor want a new building, espeically not one in a distant suburb no one can get to via public transportation. What they need is to have the shelter's kitchen rebuilt.

* In ''Series/{{Benson}}'', federal auditors discover an unexpected buget surplus of $8 million and insist that the state spend that money or their federal distribution will be reduced by twice that much the next fiscal year (which starts tomorrow), so Benson & Clayton try to find a way to spend it before the end of the day. In the end Benson decides that's stupid, and just announces that they have a surplus.

** There's also the Night Vale Harbor and Waterfont Recreation Area...in a city that's landlocked and in the middle of a desert.
-->There is no ''water'' at the actual waterfont. And that is a definite drawback, I agree. For instance, the boardwalk is currently overlooking sagebrush and rocks. The Business Assocation did not provide and specific remedies to this problem, but they assured me that the new harbor would be a ''big boost'' to Night Vale nonetheless. Maybe wait until the next flashflood and head down there for the full waterfont experience.

* In ''Series/Benson'', federal auditors discover an unexpected buget surplus of $8 million and insist that the state spend that money or their federal distribution will be reduced by twice that much the next fiscal year (which starts tomorrow), so Benson & Clayton try to find a way to spend it before the end of the day. In the end Benson decides that's stupid, and just announces that they have a surplus.