In a real situation the parent is more likely to at least acknowledge that the kid is getting his grades up, but remind him that a C is better than a D but now where he should be. It's still bad. It's basically partly trying. The flat line of doing just enough to scrape by. We're not dealing with kids here and this analogy is terrible. We are dealing with full grown adults mostly or young adults who are old enough now to recognize that you don't demand attention for trying....you don't demand attention or praise for engaging in the most basic of human expectations. I don't care if a person is trying to quit smoking. I'll be happy when they stop, but I'm not going to dote of them. It's a disgusting habit they should have never picked up, and had brain cells enough to know that this is a habit that is stupid and will kill you. Likewise I don't care if you are "Trying" to lose weight. I'll be happy enough when you reach that normal size and maintain it, but I'm not going to dote on you for that either. How fucking stupid does it sound anyway? Congratulations! You now weigh as much as a normal human! Congratulations! You lost a few pounds by not stuffing your fucking pie hole too much and moving around a bit more. USA started going down hill when it started caring too damn much about the feelings of those why try and fail. There are winners and losers, and you were lost the moment you became a fatty.