MDorBust From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1711 times:
Yes, I was a scout.
And yes, I thought that scouting taught me many valuavle lessons that remain with me to this day.
But, scouting isn't for everyone. You have to be willing to be physical. And you have to be willing to get some hazeing... and give some out. It's kinda like Jocks.. with ropes, and knives... in the woods.
AerospaceFan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1703 times:
It's a pretty diverse world, and if you believe that everyone should be entitled to their own ideas about how to live in it, then I guess you would have to concede that the Scouts should be allowed promote the lifestyle they want to promote.
Bezoar From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 805 posts, RR: 9 Reply 5, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1701 times:
I was an avid scouter from 8 to 16, passing up through Cubs and into Explorers. I loved the fellowship, and learned many great skills from camping skills to leadership. It was my main extracurricular activity during those years. I left scouting 34 years ago when I had the nerve to ask girls out. I could not testify to how things are now. I would guess they are very similar.
If anyone is interested in joining the Boy Scouts, I suggest that they consider joining an active troop that has been in existence for several years, with solid adults leaders and older boys.
"There are none so blind as those who will not see."
Falcon84 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1697 times:
Quoting AerospaceFan (Reply 4): It's a pretty diverse world, and if you believe that everyone should be entitled to their own ideas about how to live in it, then I guess you would have to concede that the Scouts should be allowed promote the lifestyle they want to promote.
So, promoting intolerance is now a good thing? Uh, OK.
AerospaceFan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1697 times:
For a lot of people, it's a good way to learn about the outdoors and how to be independent, and yet part of a team. Or so I've heard. I personally missed out on the Scouting experience because I was such a bookworm at the time.
LTBEWR From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 12331 posts, RR: 12 Reply 10, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1691 times:
Me and my brother were all in scouts in the mid-1960's-early 1970's(including Cub and Explorers), with one of my brothers acheiving Eagle. From camping including cooking, to summer camp, hiking, learning about nature and the enviorment, learing different things via the merit badges. We also learned the danger of illegal drugs, making good judgments in life and even religious related achievements. I can never remember any perverts approaching us within Scouts.
For a number of years, adult leaders have to be checked for any criminal record, especially involving sexually perverted beheavor with children. Yes, I am aware of their anti-gay stand (upheld by the US Supreme Court) of the Scouts, but that is probably due to 1) that many sponsor groups are affiliated with religious organizations or institutions and 2) liability fears and higher insuance costs if any known gays do ever attempt to apporach a minor scout.
STLGph From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8977 posts, RR: 27 Reply 12, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1685 times:
Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 10): 2) liability fears and higher insuance costs if any known gays do ever attempt to apporach a minor scout.
meanwhile Mary Kay Letourneau gets celebrated in song
Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 10): 1) that many sponsor groups are affiliated with religious organizations or institutions
gosh, Catholic priests?
Quoting MDorBust (Reply 6):
Someone could always start up a gay scouts organization.
Badges awarded to be awarded for --
Abba Lipsynching
Believing in Life After Love
Figure Skating
Judy Garland Lore
Prada Handbag Bootlegging
Theatre Performance of a role originated by Bernadette Peters
Theatre Performance of a role originated by Patti LuPone
Vogue-ing
Eternal darkness we all should dread. It's hard to party when you're dead.
AerospaceFan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1682 times:
Quoting STLGph (Reply 12): Abba Lipsynching
Believing in Life After Love
Figure Skating
Judy Garland Lore
Prada Handbag Bootlegging
Theatre Performance of a role originated by Bernadette Peters
Theatre Performance of a role originated by Patti LuPone
Vogue-ing
STLGph From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8977 posts, RR: 27 Reply 14, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1678 times:
Quoting AerospaceFan (Reply 13):
Wouldn't this be considered stereotyping, though?
it's satire in a thread that otherwise will sound like this
1) the boy scouts are wonderful and teach manners and respect
2) the boy scouts are bigots
Eternal darkness we all should dread. It's hard to party when you're dead.
AerospaceFan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1673 times:
Quoting STLGph (Reply 14): it's satire in a thread that otherwise will sound like this
True; a little satire never hurt anyone. Well, maybe except for Lenny Bruce. (Come to think of it, I think he was actually technically prosecuted for obscenity, as I recall.)
Quoting Falcon84 (Reply 3): Yeah, if you're gay, you're not good enough to be a Scout.
When recieving my Eagle rank I actually made a point of my disappointment in this BSA policy. One of the most influential man in my life, my college counselor, was gay and he would have made a better scout master than the old fart running our troop.
The problem is the old crusty men running BSA who change at a pace that would make Strom Thurmon impatient.
However:
Quoting Falcon84 (Reply 7): So, promoting intolerance is now a good thing? Uh, OK.
If you think promoting intolerance of gays is the Boy Scout's first, second, or hundreth priority, you are sorely mistaken. It's an amazing organization that can have a tremendous influence on the formation of responsible, thoughtful young men, and more importantly, leaders.
If you're one who thinks the BSA is the KKK with neckerchiefs, you're too liberal for your own good.
It's an organization that needs change not an organization that should be written off.
I was a Scout for many years, starting as but a wee Cub Scout (gosh was I cute in my little uniform) and progressing up the "ranks" to Boy Scout. It was fun up until the Boy Scout stage. The older kids in my troop didn't seem to want us "children" around, but politely tolerated us none the less.
I earned one merit badge in Boy Scouts, Horsemanship. It wasn't my choice. There were other badges I wanted to earn, but no one else wanted to pursue them. I could have done them on my own, but where's the fun in that?
Overall, it was a good time. I had a lot of fun on the camp outs and even a couple of community service projects.
AerospaceFan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1657 times:
I gather that one's experience can also depend on the composition of the troop one happens to be in. As with all large organizations, some groups within the Scouts might be better run than others.
I was a Scout in the UK, they wouldn't let me do my Duke of Edinburgh's Award because I lived in State Housing and was therefore not considered "suitable"...so I left the Scouts and joined the Army Cadets and got to shoot things and blow stuff up!!!
I learnt some useful things as a Scout/Cadet and now my job is to promote the Duke of Edinbirgh's Award to kids from State Housing and other "unsuitable" young people...so I guess I win eh??
I think the new generation of Scouts are pretty good, there are some excellent young leaders coming through, same for all youth organisations really, you need young leaders, us old farts just don't have a clue anymore!
Stoney From Switzerland, joined Jan 2005, 199 posts, RR: 4 Reply 23, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 1575 times:
I'm a scout too, but it's kind of different here in Switerland. It's more like the adventure scouts back in the US.
I learned a lot in the scouts, many social skills, being able to work with people you never met before or don't really like, being able to do great things just for the fun of doing something.... anyways, I can only suggest everyone to go there, I've had a great time and I made a lots of friends.....
Anyway, how about posting some pics of your scout time?
I'll start:
That's one of the tents we put up for a yearly state event, that time organized by us...
My camp. This year I was the boss, so I'm kind of proud of what we set up. We had 50 kids and it's a great thing being able to look back onto what one has organized...
That would be our whole team of leaders last fall. Here in Switzerland we're all pretty young, after the motto: Made for the young ones by young ones. Well, I'm turning 20 this year and it'll be my last year here as an active leader.
Now it's your turn
Greetz
Stoney v/o Vulpo
[Edited 2006-04-04 23:06:54]
BAZL - Bundesamt gegen Zivilluftfahrt - royally screwing around with swiss aviation
Tom in NO From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 7194 posts, RR: 40 Reply 24, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 1564 times:
I was in the program all the way from Cubs Scouts up through when I earned my Eagle Scout in May of 1978.
Although we had various issues with the local council and various Scoutmasters over the years, overall it was a great experience (going to summer camp each year in mountains of Southern California, Buckskin, general campouts, running the Colorado River (a story in itself), merit badges, the friendships, and how it helped me mature), and one I wouldn't hesitate to put my boys in (if I had any).
As an aside, my 7-year old daughter joined a Brownie troop recently formed at her school.
Tom at MSY
"The criminal ineptitude makes you furious"-Bruce Springsteen, after seeing firsthand the damage from Hurricane Katrina
25 Slider: I was not a scout, but suscribed to Boy's Life for years! Now, however, my oldest son is a Cub Scout (Tiger) and has enjoyed it immensely. He joined l
26 Air380: My son is in boy scouts. He learns how to cook, and how to shop on a budget. He also has a lot of fun activities, like camping on the beach, high adve
27 MD11Engineer: Both my younger brother and sister were in the scouts (in Germany girls can join the groups as well). I joined the cadet section of the Civil Defense
28 BHMBAGLOCK: I spent one year as a Cub and hated it. Wrong type of group. Basically just a couple of mothers sticking the kids in a room to do a craft or two, no c
29 Wrighbrothers: I was in the. Beavers -(for 4/5-8yr olds) Cubs- (8-12yr olds) and Scouts- (12+) Earned a heap of badges and awards, even earn all 3 of the highest bad
30 Pdpsol: Why is it our British brothers and sisters are so enlightened regarding LGBT issues while US Scout leaders remain stuck in Neanderthal times? The US
31 Maury: Way to lay it out. And also: I am just fascinated by the tactic (the one that's shown up here, in the McKinney thread, and others) of stating in mock
32 Slider: Freedom of Association. Indeed, that knife cuts both ways. Um, off the top of my head, traditional proven American values in teaching boys how to bec
33 777236ER: Given that America is (was?) traditionally pretty liberal, I would assume 'proven American values' don't so as far as dimiscrimination based on sexua
34 Cadet57: Yes. Got my eagle in Feburary Best 6 years of my life. Had alot of fun. Learned too much to mention, espically that you DO NOT forget to bring your g
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