US Boy Scouts issues awards for videogame mastery

[at_liberty]

A sign of the times (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100429/tc_afp/uschildscoutsvideogame)

[steve666]

And then they downplay such traditional merit badges as Riflery.

[getsome]

If you take a minute to look into this you will find that it's not a merit badge for playing video games....It's a Cub Scout belt loop badge for learning time management....It's to help younger boys learn how to make time for important things like homework and chores before playtime, thats all....As for the comment about the Boy Scouts being anti shooting, thats just not true at all....My younger son/scout has been trap shooting several times this year and they had a rifle course during summer camp last year....The Scout Master for his troop takes them to his deer camp several times a year where they have a safe range for the boys to shoot rifles and shotguns....The Scouts are a class organization and take no money from the government, united way, or anyone else so they can maintain their standards which are not always PC but they do it because they want to maintain their integrity...

[Bawanna]

If you take a minute to look into this you will find that it's not a merit badge for playing video games....It's a Cub Scout belt loop badge for learning time management....It's to help younger boys learn how to make time for important things like homework and chores before playtime, thats all....As for the comment about the Boy Scouts being anti shooting, thats just not true at all....My younger son/scout has been trap shooting several times this year and they had a rifle course during summer camp last year....The Scout Master for his troop takes them to his deer camp several times a year where they have a safe range for the boys to shoot rifles and shotguns....The Scouts are a class organization and take no money from the government, united way, or anyone else so they can maintain their standards which are not always PC but they do it because they want to maintain their integrity...

I did not know this but feel ashamed that I didn't. As a former Eagle scout I participated in scouts for several years afterwards but then with all going on in life I drifted away. When my sons were young we tried the cub scouts but they just weren't impressed with scouting at that age level, mostly making cookies and wooden models and stuff, probably they were advanced for their age. I like to think I taught them the experiences and values of scouting but feel bad that I didn't contribute to the new generation of scouts. Perhaps it's not too late? ................................

[recoilguy]

I did look into it a little and I will avoid logical fallacies in my response here. It is as gotsome said and not a reward for being a gamer.

RCG

[LHS905]

I did not know this but feel ashamed that I didn't. As a former Eagle scout I participated in scouts for several years afterwards but then with all going on in life I drifted away. When my sons were young we tried the cub scouts but they just weren't impressed with scouting at that age level, mostly making cookies and wooden models and stuff, probably they were advanced for their age. I like to think I taught them the experiences and values of scouting but feel bad that I didn't contribute to the new generation of scouts. Perhaps it's not too late? ................................
Correction Bawanna...you might be a former boy scout but if you attained the rank of Eagle Scout you are always an Eagle Scout. I was awarded mine in 1977.

LHS

[Bawanna]

Correction Bawanna...you might be a former boy scout but if you attained the rank of Eagle Scout you are always an Eagle Scout. I was awarded mine in 1977.

LHS

True enough, thanks for correcting my oversight. I was awarded mine in aprox 1969. Where does the time go? I've forgotten so much of the stuff. I know I was Order of the Arrow with them bars on both ends but don't remember what them bars stood for other than 1 rung up from standard Order. It was a good experience and provided many stories. Went on and received 4 50 mile hike patches, lots of stories good and bad there. Average hike was about 70 or 80, weren't any places you could do exactly 50 and be someplace with a truck. Good stuff.

[LHS905]

True enough, thanks for correcting my oversight. I was awarded mine in aprox 1969. Where does the time go? I've forgotten so much of the stuff. I know I was Order of the Arrow with them bars on both ends but don't remember what them bars stood for other than 1 rung up from standard Order. It was a good experience and provided many stories. Went on and received 4 50 mile hike patches, lots of stories good and bad there. Average hike was about 70 or 80, weren't any places you could do exactly 50 and be someplace with a truck. Good stuff.

I have some of the same regrets as you do. My son never participated in Scouts, I think I might have been too busy. Lousy excuse. A lot of good things in scouting, I hate to see the negative press of late. I was at the same level in OA, Brotherhood I believe. I think Vigil was above that, got a triangle design on the arrow shaft. I never did a 50 miler "officially". National Ealge Scout Assn., and BSA have been putting out a lot of info lately regarding the centennial of BSA

[jlottmc]

I never made it much beyond cub scouts. We had NO dad's which ment lots of arts and crafts, and no camping hiking etc. I learned all my bushcraft and such the hard way, and from my uncle. Sometimes I wish I had stuck to it, but then again I didn't have much time then either. Funny how some things never change.

[O'Dell]

Boy, times have changed since I made Eagle in 58 or Explorer Gold in 60. The merit badge that gave me the most trouble was cooking. I still can't make toast in a toaster.

[Bawanna]

I have some of the same regrets as you do. My son never participated in Scouts, I think I might have been too busy. Lousy excuse. A lot of good things in scouting, I hate to see the negative press of late. I was at the same level in OA, Brotherhood I believe. I think Vigil was above that, got a triangle design on the arrow shaft. I never did a 50 miler "officially". National Ealge Scout Assn., and BSA have been putting out a lot of info lately regarding the centennial of BSA

I think they are coming out with a book or something. I've been contacted a couple times to supply information for it. I think if there's a dad in the picture and helps sons and daughters along, that scouting is optional. I was lucky and I had a dad who taught me well and scouting both. I think it's a great thing for kids who otherwise dont get those experiences good and bad.
I often thought that the military should be required for a shorter period of time a year or two just for people men and woman who have never experienced disipline, or leadership or doing what they are told. I've had friends who were total losers come out squared away after military. I've also had squared away freinds go in and come out total losers so my concept apparently isn't totally sound either.
I've got some gun stories from when my kids spent their brief times in cubs. I"ll save em for another time.