We don't know the underlying family dynamic, but the storyline that is being sold here is: - Girl proposes idea of making a game - Brothers were skeptical: "S

We don't know the underlying family dynamic, but the storyline that is being sold here is: - Girl proposes idea of making a game - Brothers were skeptical: "She tried with my brothers but they weren't interested." - Brothers challenged girl, maybe saying something like "you can't do it" - Girl says "watch me!" and asks mother about going to this RPG camp. So if you believe that actually happened, the $10K reward where the boys apologize is a really clever lesson. The girl gets her money and the boys lean a lesson about not being overly cynical (after all, someone would have given her $10K) Of course we don't know what actually happened here. So my answers are: (assuming everything stated is true) 1) Disgusting and manipulative (I never would want to cast any of my children in a negative light) 2) Brilliant if it actually happens: no better time than now to stamp out cynicism and negativity But of course, that assumes the story line is 100% true. If it turns out not to be the case, then I agree that the entire situation soup-to-nuts is repulsive.