In the "What the Hell?" department...

[zridling]

[attach]

[cranioscopical]

See, it's like this.
Sometimes the sound fx fail in those games.
Some clever scouts  can fix that.

Remember the motto?

Beep repaired!

[40hz]

Id like to present the Boy Scouts of America with the highly coveted Jump the Shark Medal (First Class) for their desperate attempt to maintain relevance by watering down their ethos.

And some folks in my local scout council wonder why somebody like me (super-active in Scouts as a kid, OA Vigil Honor - and one of the first to earn the Computer Science merit badge) wants nothing further to do with their organization?

Very sad.

[Renegade]

Simply stunning...

Is the next merit badge for the boy with the biggest playboy collection to prove that he's not gay?

[Jibz]

Remember the motto?

Beep repaired!

And those who like racing games can "do a good turn daily" .

[mwb1100]

Maybe it easy to poke fun at this, and it might seem ridiculous on it's face, but...

1) gaming is important to kids today (as well as non-kids) - there's no reason to pretend that it's not
2) if you look at the requirements for the awards (and note that these are for the younger cub scouts), you may understand some of what they might be trying to teach the kids.

I'm not even a gamer, so I'm not sure why I'm defending this...

[40hz]

I'm not even a gamer, so I'm not sure why I'm defending this...

Maybe cuz they got ya where they want ya?

Simply stunning...

Is the next merit badge for the boy with the biggest playboy collection to prove that he's not gay?

[Gwen7]

Maybe it easy to poke fun at this, and it might seem ridiculous on it's face, but...

1) gaming is important to kids today (as well as non-kids) - there's no reason to pretend that it's not
2) if you look at the requirements for the awards (and note that these are for the younger cub scouts), you may understand some of what they might be trying to teach the kids.

in that case maybe they should also offer a Kama Sutra merit badge?

sex is a very important topic for my two 12 year old nephews. even if it is just something to talk about.

I hope.
 

[Darwin]

I'd say that this is indefensible... having said that, it seems to me that when I was a cub scout there were all sorts of merit badges for activities such as stamp collecting and model building, activities that have tenuous relationships with the outdoors and survival skills. Having said that, I dimly recall being disappointed when I got to Scouts and all the merit badges were for things like first aid and orienteering. So... video gaming doesn't really strike me as being an outdoor survival skill, but then, what do I know? Recent headlines have proclaimed that video gaming is good for hand-eye coordination, teamwork, and problem solving. Maybe we just have to keep up with the times? Still, scouting means camping in the snow to me!

[Darwin]

in that case maybe they should also offer a Kama Sutra merit badge?

sex is a very important topic for my two 12 year old nephews. even if it is just something to talk about.

I hope.
   

You posted this while I was pecking out my missive, above, Gwen. Hysterical!

[mouser]

they should give the badge to scouts who can successfully simulate and reproduce video games in the wild using only twigs and rocks.  such scouts are providing a service to their fellow brethren whose batteries run out while on long camping trips.

[40hz]

in that case maybe they should also offer a Kama Sutra merit badge?

 
One can only imagine what the graphic on a badge like that would be.

[40hz]

they should give the badge to scouts who can successfully simulate and reproduce video games in the wild using only twigs and rocks.  such scouts are providing a service to their fellow brethren whose batteries run out while on long camping trips.

Well...we used to play Battleship with twigs, some stones, and a bare patch of dirt for the game boards. Put a backpack between them and you're set to play! Checkers too!

And one kid in my troop ("Chip" Miller) who was a woodcarving nut (hence the nickname) did a really neat cribbage board for his Dad using a foot of old birch with nothing but his"Official Boyscout" pocket knife and a rainy afternoon to help him...

So does any of that count?

Skills like that might come in pretty handy on the day the bombs finally hit and you get tired of playing WoW for real.

[cranioscopical]

in that case maybe they should also offer a Kama Sutra merit badge?

 
One can only imagine what the graphic on a badge like that would be.

A bare cub in the woods?

[40hz]

in that case maybe they should also offer a Kama Sutra merit badge?

   
One can only imagine what the graphic on a badge like that would be.

A bare cub in the woods?

Would that be Yoni as opposed to Yogi Bear?

[cranioscopical]

Would that be Yoni as opposed to Yogi Bear?

[cthorpe]

The requirements actually seem reasonable.

Belt Loop

Complete these three requirements:

  1. Explain why it is important to have a rating system for video games. Check your video games to be sure they are right for your age.
  2. With an adult, create a schedule for you to do things that includes your chores, homework, and video gaming. Do your best to follow this schedule.
  3. Learn to play a new video game that is approved by your parent, guardian, or teacher.

Academics Pin

Earn the Video Games belt loop and complete five of the following requirements:

  1. With your parents, create a plan to buy a video game that is right for your age group.
  2. Compare two game systems (for example, Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Wii, and so on). Explain some of the differences between the two. List good reasons to purchase or use a game system.
  3. Play a video game with family members in a family tournament.
  4. Teach an adult or a friend how to play a video game.
  5. List at least five tips that would help someone who was learning how to play your favorite video game.
  6. Play an appropriate video game with a friend for one hour.
  7. Play a video game that will help you practice your math, spelling, or another skill that helps you in your schoolwork.
  8. Choose a game you might like to purchase. Compare the price for this game at three different stores. Decide which store has the best deal. In your decision, be sure to consider things like the store return policy and manufacturer’s warranty.
  9. With an adult’s supervision, install a gaming system.

[esoito]

The listed requirements look pretty sound to me.

• Lots of social interaction involved.
• Plenty of socialization.
• Finding and processing information.
• Communicating that information.
• Learning give'n'take
• Comparing and contrasting to form opinions
• Learning and practising technical skills

                  ...and so on


If the Scouts are to remain relevant to young people -- the 'clients' -- then the organisation has to move forward, keeping its finger on the contemporary pulse.

Change for the sake of change in this instance?

Don't think so.

It's just another step in evolution  


I rest m'case m'Lud.

[JavaJones]

Cthorpe, stop being so factual! I'm having a hard time being outraged now.

- Oshyan

[40hz]

The listed requirements look pretty sound to me.

• Lots of social interaction involved.
• Plenty of socialization.
• Finding and processing information.
• Communicating that information.
• Learning give'n'take
• Comparing and contrasting to form opinions
• Learning and practising technical skills

                  ...and so on


If the Scouts are to remain relevant to young people -- the 'clients' -- then the organisation has to move forward, keeping its finger on the contemporary pulse.


...


I rest m'case m'Lud.

In which case we'll likely have to agree to disagree.

I'm sorry, but the requirements for the badge sound like little more than something the game industry might draw up to convince parents computer games are vastly more beneficial to a child's development than they actually are.

I also have to disagree with the tendency in many quarters (like school boards) to too easily equate doing something, no matter how minor, with developing a skill.

I'm wondering how long it's going to be before somebody equates the simple act of breathing with "exercising personal responsibility" and "recognizing and observing good health habits."

Play a game with somebody? Ah, yes, that's furthering the development of social skills.

Teach somebody how to play a game? Ok, that's developing social and verbal skills.

Compare two game systems? Oooo! That develops analytical reasoning, mathematical, and verbal skills.

...and so on indeed!

Note too, that once our little prodigy earns this badge, he can apply all these new skills he's so laboriously acquired to sell his parents on getting him a brand new game. Yay!!!Or maybe even a whole new game system if he's a real go-getter.  (See requirements #8  and #9 for details.)

"Man of the world, eh? Nudge nudge, wink-wink, say no more!" as the Monty Pythons would say.

Sorry. I'm just not buying it.

And if the scouting movement has decided that the only way it can "remain relevant" is by setting the hurdles at 6-inches, and positioning the finish line ten feet away from the starting mark, then they might as well "hit it on the head and drop it over the side" right now.

And as for resting my case...well...

With all due respect to the court m'Lud, I'm just bloody warming up!


------

Note: I've got nothing against computer games. Kids and adults want to play them? I have no problem with that. But I still can't bring myself to see where there's anything in the requirements for this "merit" badge that actually merits getting one.

What can I say? I'm crabby.  

Just my tuppence.

-----

ADDENDUM:

Something just occurred to me...

When I was working on my Communications merit badge, one of  the requirements I elected was to do a sales pitch. I don't remember the exact wording of the requirement from back then, but the current wording is very similar, if not exactly the same:

Choose a concept, product, or service in which you have great confidence. Build a sales plan based on its good points. Try to persuade the counselor to agree with, use, or buy your concept, product or service. After your sales talk, discuss with your counselor how persuasive you were.

My sales plan was to promote the "science badges" since I already held them for Oceanography, Atomic Energy, Electronics, and Computer Science. I also planned on getting the Chemistry, Geology, and Astronomy badges so I could claim I earned (what was then) the full set.

(I didn't BTW - and it was some time before one kid actually did.)

The hook I came up with was: There's a lot more to Scouting than tying knots.

My counselor loved it (since he was a proto-geek like me) and suggested I use it in conjunction with the next requirement-  which was to do a 5-minute presentation on some topic important to me.

It was an interesting experience presenting my "new scouting" concept at a few council and troop meetings. The reaction was decidedly mixed. And much to my surprise, there was a huge amount of pushback from some of the more traditional 'Hiking & Camping' crowd. Seems these guys felt those fancy new "propeller-head" and "sissy" badges were diluting all that was great and noble (i.e. manly) in the scouting movement.

I can vividly remember the hurt and utter frustration I felt trying to convince some people that times had changed and scouting needed to change along with it.

I guess what comes around goes around...

    and someplace along the line...

      OMG! I've become my father!!!

Arrrgh!!!

[mwb1100]

I'd keep in mind a couple things:  we're talking about cub scouts (around 4th grade or younger), not boy scouts,  and that cub scouts is supposed to be fun in addition to other things that might be part of scouting.

Now, I certainly wouldn't care if this particular award were dropped, but neither do I think it's a sign the empire is falling.

They might want to drop the 'Marbles' award first though (I imagine that one has been around for a while).

[40hz]

@mwb1100 - Wanna laugh? See the addendum I added to my comment above yours. I was typing it when you posted.

40hz gets his comeuppance! 

[esoito]

@40hz

LOL LOL Good one! I greatly enoyed your spray! Hopefully after a change of tablets you'll feel even better    Crabby?  Nah. Twitter and bisted? Nah.

Actually, you almost persuaded me to argue against myself...almost, but not quite.  

At the end of the day Scouts are supposed to be relevant to kids today and fun. Something so many youngsters today miss out on.

So often they seem to be expected to move from infancy to adultery (yes...I know...good isn't it?) with nothing in between!

[40hz]

Actually, you almost persuaded me to argue against myself...almost, but not quite.

No need. I already did. And apparently, I lost that argument.

So often they seem to be expected to move from infancy to adultery (yes...I know...good isn't it?) with nothing in between!

A definite problem that. Which brings us back to gwen7's suggestion for that Kama Sutra merit badge...