WTF Boy Scouts offering video game merit awards?

nosivad_bor · Mar 16, 2011

mjbrox said:
that is one of the dumbest opinions I have ever heard. I do not even know where to begin.

You are right, you do not need a club to go camping etc, but it is good to have group to help plan trips and socialize with other children your own age.

The creepy men who want to touch kids, all I have to say to that is FUCK YOU! Honestly I take that shit personal these days. That kind of stuff almost never happens and it is wrong to act like the Boy Scouts is an infestation of gay child molesters. Seriously, please stop saying it. It is not true and you know it.

You clearly do not know much about scouts and again peoples experience will be different based on what troop they are in. My troop was great and we were very active.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110316/ap_on_re_eu/eu_netherlands_pedophile_ring

Police say international pedophile ring smashed.

The majority of the 184 people arrested so far are suspected of direct involvement in sexually abusing children, They include teachers, police officers and scout leaders. One Spaniard who worked at summer youth camps is suspected of abusing some 100 children over five years.

I rest my case.

knewsom · Mar 16, 2011

nosivad_bor said:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110316/ap_on_re_eu/eu_netherlands_pedophile_ring

Police say international pedophile ring smashed.

:applause:

Great job, guys.

atriot:

95.D1.Rick · Mar 16, 2011

Actually reading that article, it seems like a decent idea. They are trying to get kids to understand they should budget some time to play, as WELL AS chores, studying etc. Also they are teaching them which games they shouldnt be playing, and why. Its NOT a merit badge.
As to bad troops,well each is as good as the parents and their involvement. Some troops are great. You can do just as much hiking and camping on your own, but its all documented, as well as the community service so when you apply for the job and tell them anecdotally how much camping/hiking /service you've done, you pale in comparison to the Eagle Scout, even a Life Scout.
Pedarists are everywhere, and the Scouts have taken alot of crap for a sick societal problem thats everywhere. What about all the community service they do? Not newsworthy.
Finally I seriously doubt you (knewsom) were any scout due to your inability to correctly spell Order of the Arrow, Webelos, etc. I call Bullshit. I look here very seldom lately, yet its the same old shit. Knewsom vomiting some B.S., getting people to jump through his hoops.

knewsom · Mar 16, 2011

95.D1.Rick said:
Finally I seriously doubt you (knewsom) were any scout due to your inability to correctly spell Order of the Arrow, Webelos, etc. I call Bullshit. I look here very seldom lately, yet its the same old shit. Knewsom vomiting some B.S., getting people to jump through his hoops.

Dude, I wasn't a scout, and never claimed to be one. Might want to actually read what I write before condemning me.

Durt D1ver · Mar 16, 2011

I'm an eagle scout. I loved being in scouts, but my troop, and my story was different than alot of others. We went on shooting trips 3x per year. We never backpacked. We all carried knives. We went camping every month, and did a week at a summer camp. We went climbing, canoeing, and whitewater rafting. The older venture scouts did most of the planning for the monthly campouts. I was a cub scout, and a webelow, but quit before joining boy scouts. Later when I was 15, I was heading down the wrong road, getting into alot of trouble, hanging out with some bad kids.

My little brother had since joined the scouts, and every winter, they went on a ski trip. The scoutmasters family owned a dude ranch in upstate NY, which had skiing. While there with my dad and brother, we went skeet shooting. It was the first time I had ever shot a gun. I went on another campout with them a few months later, where we shot rifles and shot trap. I joined up. That spring, after going on a weekend trip at Ten Mile River, myself and another kid from my troop were offered jobs there for the summer, as lifeguards. While I was away, living in a tent for 2 months, 20 feet from a lake, the group of friends I had been hanging out with had all gotten arrested for stealing bicycles and other stuff.

The next year I was voted to be SPL for one of our council's troops going to the 97 Jamboree. That same summer I did ordeal. I had my Eagle board of review 2 weeks before my 18th birthday. I had my awards ceremony the night before I left for college. I also got a scholarship to college because of it. The scouts changed my life for the better.

There's shitbags, and assholes, and sometimes pedophiles in every organization. From BSA to the Jehova Witness', to ROAV. Every Scout troop is different, You get out of it what you put in. If you and your kids don't like the trips the troop is doing, stop complaining and do something about it. It's lazy parents who don't want to do anything for their kids that ruin scouting, not anything else.

Robbie · Mar 17, 2011

:applause:

95.D1.Rick · Mar 18, 2011

knewsom said:
Dude, I wasn't a scout, and never claimed to be one. Might want to actually read what I write before condemning me.

Sorry, point taken. I was having a bad day, and you rub me the wrong way sometimes, but thats my problem, not yours. Carry on.

JohnB · Mar 20, 2011

I participated in webellos and scouts until I was 14 years old. Survived camping in Military tents that must have been from the Korean war. Cooked meals on our hand made sterno stoves in outhouses.
My Dad pushed me into scouts and webellos and did have some rather good times. In the Northwest we have many great scout camps and such. The scouts even have a sledding lodge on Mt.Hood that just rocked. It was a lottery system and your troup had to do lots of community service to even get in the lotto.
Granted we did meet in a Catholic church and prayers were said at meals but all in all some of those kids didn't have great homelifes and scouts probably made a big differance in there lives.
I look back at scouts with mixed emotions. I hated being stuck in the rain for days without a decent coat, shoes or tent. Resented the scout masters kids who always got the best tent, horse, sled whatever but in a way thats how life is.
I for sure would not want to have not been involved.
Now seems stupid to have a merit badge for video games but if thats what it takes to get a kid out of the house for a few hours so be it.

Jake · Mar 21, 2011

Durt D1ver said:
I'm an eagle scout. I loved being in scouts, but my troop, and my story was different than alot of others. We went on shooting trips 3x per year. We never backpacked. We all carried knives. We went camping every month, and did a week at a summer camp. We went climbing, canoeing, and whitewater rafting. The older venture scouts did most of the planning for the monthly campouts. I was a cub scout, and a webelow, but quit before joining boy scouts. Later when I was 15, I was heading down the wrong road, getting into alot of trouble, hanging out with some bad kids.

My little brother had since joined the scouts, and every winter, they went on a ski trip. The scoutmasters family owned a dude ranch in upstate NY, which had skiing. While there with my dad and brother, we went skeet shooting. It was the first time I had ever shot a gun. I went on another campout with them a few months later, where we shot rifles and shot trap. I joined up. That spring, after going on a weekend trip at Ten Mile River, myself and another kid from my troop were offered jobs there for the summer, as lifeguards. While I was away, living in a tent for 2 months, 20 feet from a lake, the group of friends I had been hanging out with had all gotten arrested for stealing bicycles and other stuff.

The next year I was voted to be SPL for one of our council's troops going to the 97 Jamboree. That same summer I did ordeal. I had my Eagle board of review 2 weeks before my 18th birthday. I had my awards ceremony the night before I left for college. I also got a scholarship to college because of it. The scouts changed my life for the better.

There's shitbags, and assholes, and sometimes pedophiles in every organization. From BSA to the Jehova Witness', to ROAV. Every Scout troop is different, You get out of it what you put in. If you and your kids don't like the trips the troop is doing, stop complaining and do something about it. It's lazy parents who don't want to do anything for their kids that ruin scouting, not anything else.

:applause:

Roving Beetle · Mar 21, 2011

All I can think reading this thread is an old joke I learned way back in Scouts.....

Just to lighten the mood:

How does a Cub Scout become a Boy Scout?
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He eats a Brownie.

JustAddMtns · Mar 31, 2011

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oNotOptimizeForBrowser/> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> I wanted to share a FB discussion I had with my Godson about Boy Scouts yesterday. I thought of this thread.

Rick
hey, how are ya?

Matt
good

Rick
what are you up to?

Matt
notin

Rick
I just got home from a Hospital Board meeting. Not the most fun thing ever

Matt
i guess so

Rick
how's school?

Matt
great we boy scouts are being picked up from school in a LIMOSINE
its AWESOME!!!

Rick
where were you going to?

Matt
its a 2 and a half hour ride we are going to the dairy queen

Rick
really?
just for a treat?
I'm heading to bed buddy, miss you. - Rick

I was never in Boy Scouts, but I've always respected the organization. I grew up in the woods, hunting, camping, building forts, you name it. My Godson had never been in the woods until I took him hiking to build a fort when he was 6-7. It was all he talked about for a couple of weeks. I live in NC and he lives in MI so my influence is minimal. What the heck is up with a limousine ride to Dairy Queen? My short discussion with him last night left me uneasy and a little sad...I'm not looking for anything other than to vent.........

DCDisco · Mar 31, 2011

I think this dialog can best be explained by the general pussification of America. We are becoming a soft ass nation of lazy shits who justify it by saying its progress, really?

No paddling in school..... building pussy kids
TV on in the household 24/7.......building pussy kids
Video games as baby sitters.........lazy parents raising pussy kids
Obesity rate skyrocketing...... lazy fat kids
Worrying about a kids "feelings".....weak

To be honest I see so many horrible parents out there, either letting the kids raise them selves b/c the parents are too lazy or selfish to care, not providing structure that kids need to develop in to a well adjusted adult, letting the children dictate what happens in a family (like letting a kid choose the meal every night)

The list could go on and on....

Better start learning Chinese, their super kids will rule the world in 20 years. Ours won't get off the couch to stop them.

61rover · Mar 31, 2011

I was a Cub Scout as a kid and I'm a Cubmaster for my 8 yr old now. I think Scouting is gret for kids, but it's only as good as the parent VOLUNTEERS make it. If you don't like the activities your kid's Pack are doing, then get involved and change the activities. That's what I did. I am 100% focused on outdoor activities and our Pack is doing way more of them.

As for religion, Scouts are open to ALL religions, organized or not. A belief in a god of your choice is a tenant of Scouting. But there is no bend towards Christianity.

In Colorado, many Packs and Troops are sponsored by churches, but some (like ours) are not. It's mostly because of meeting space. Most public schools are quite hostile towards Scouting. I don't know why. Churces have meeting space.

Like everything in life, it's only as good as you make it. If you leave it to other people to lead your kid's lives, then you get what you deserve.

JustAddMtns · Mar 31, 2011

61rover said:
I was a Cub Scout as a kid and I'm a Cubmaster for my 8 yr old now. I think Scouting is gret for kids, but it's only as good as the parent VOLUNTEERS make it. If you don't like the activities your kid's Pack are doing, then get involved and change the activities. That's what I did. I am 100% focused on outdoor activities and our Pack is doing way more of them.....

Like everything in life, it's only as good as you make it. If you leave it to other people to lead your kid's lives, then you get what you deserve.

That's what I thought. I run into Scouts camping all the time. In Pisgah in bivouacs, on Cold Mountain etc... it seems completely different that the MI pack I'm referring to.

DCDisco · Mar 31, 2011

61rover said:
I think Scouting is great for kids, but it's only as good as the parent VOLUNTEERS make it. If you don't like the activities your kid's Pack are doing, then get involved and change the activities.

Like everything in life, it's only as good as you make it. If you leave it to other people to lead your kid's lives, then you get what you deserve.

Xs a million

brianhoberg · Mar 31, 2011

I actually was a Boy Scout for a while. Never did make it to eagle scout, in fact after going to Philmont the first time as a First Class and being tapped into the Order of the Arrow, I pretty much got out. After leaving it for a bit, my high school had a organization called the Explorer Scouts. I believe there was an ever so slight connection to the BSA, but we did more stuff with the faculty that was sponsoring the club. We went to Philmont (my 2nd time), went backpacking and camping all the time, and even went down near Bustamante, Mexico to go caving and climbing in Bustamante Cave. Truth is, BSA itself is a good organization, but BSA has bad seeds in it as well as good seeds. Unfortunately, it's the bad ones that get press and coverage from the media.

The Scouts taught me a bit that I still remember from my time within it: packing only the essentials to keep it light, how to navigate your way with the stars and sun and say fuck it to the compass, what plants are/aren't edible, how to cook over a fire, how to plan multiple meals over a fire, how to rock climb and cave climb, how to rappel and ascend, and how to backpack long distances without killing yourself or your back. Hell, I still remember my first time at Philmont was with an external frame military backpack from the Vietnam era. That bitch still scarred me for life. But, truth is, it can teach you a lot.

You get what you put into it. If you have a responsible parent who is willing to work and go out with their son/daughter and spend time with them instead of throwing them in front of a TV you can do the same. It just depends how involved as a parent you want to be.

My son is 3 1/2 and he was out there yesterday learning how to plant in the garden and grow food with me. I love being a dad and my son and my time with him is one of the reasons I refuse to travel as much as I have in the past for work. So for some kids it's great, others...not so much. Just depends on how aware and active of a parent you are of your kids needs. Some parents can't do all that with their children that the scouts can. Doesn't make them a bad parent, but the least they can do is meet their kids needs of knowledge and foster it through either going out with them on the weekends camping, fishing, shooting, and hiking, or getting their kiddo involved in an organization such as the Scouts. It's the intellectual skills taught to them to know how to work with what they have that makes the organization successful.

kennith · Mar 31, 2011

someone said:
Actually reading that article, it seems like a decent idea. They are trying to get kids to understand they should budget some time to play, as WELL AS chores, studying etc. Also they are teaching them which games they shouldnt be playing, and why.

I wouldn't want them teaching my kid anything of the sort. Who are they to determine what is appropriate and what is not?

It's the Boy Scouts. Hand the kid a compass and toss him in the fucking woods. Stick to what you've been doing, and keep your nose out of the rest of the kid's life. They've got no business as substitute parents.

People worry so much about protecting kids from things they themselves did as a child. Those things helped make you who you are. In the act of sheltering, people cause their kids to simply stray instead of explore.

I've got news for you. You had a dirty magazine? Your kid looks at porn on his computer. If you think you've got that all locked up, you've got another thing coming. You went to that old barn your parents said was dangerous? Your kid plays games that you think will warp his tiny little mind.

Oh. By the way... When, exactly, did you start screwing the girls you knew?

The scouts can't fix that. There isn't anything to fix.

Look on the bright side, though. At least your kids aren't smoking as much pot as you used to.:rofl: I fucking love that.

<mocking parental voice> "Keep it in your pants and stay off drugs, son."

Meanwhile, years ago, there were all of those high-as-a-kite threesomes with half-empty bottles of rum and names you couldn't remember the next day.

Do you honestly want the scouts guiding your kids through that portion of their lives?

Cheers,

Kennith

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WTF Boy Scouts offering video game merit awards?

nosivad_bor

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knewsom

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95.D1.Rick

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knewsom

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Durt D1ver

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Robbie

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95.D1.Rick

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JohnB

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Jake

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Roving Beetle

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JustAddMtns

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DCDisco

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61rover

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JustAddMtns

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DCDisco

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brianhoberg

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kennith

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