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Video game merit badge... seriously boy scouts?

Kevriano

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That's a true reflection of the state of society today. What's next? Weight watchers badge for all the flabby teens that we have, caused by sitting around getting their game playing badge. I despair.
Scouts is supposed to be about an active lifestyle!
 
Village Idiot

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Kevriano said:
That's a true reflection of the state of society today. What's next? Weight watchers badge for all the flabby teens that we have, caused by sitting around getting their game playing badge. I despair.
Scouts is supposed to be about an active lifestyle!
Click to expand...

I love me the crap out of some video games. I also bike 10-20 miles in the limited time I have after work and upwards of 30 on the weekends. Who says they can't go hand in hand?
 
pigoo3

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Village Idiot said:
I love me the crap out of some video games. I also bike 10-20 miles in the limited time I have after work and upwards of 30 on the weekends. Who says they can't go hand in hand?
Click to expand...

If you're working, you're obviously much older & wiser than the average 6-11 year-old Cub Scout ;)...who may not be doing much exercising along with their gaming.

Unfortunately...over-weight teens, tweens, and pre-tweens is becoming more & more common. Stories on the evening news & 24 hour news channels (at least weekly) confirming that fact.

I don't know a whole lot about Cub Scouts these days..but if there is a "Video Game" badge to be earned...there should be some "Exercising" badges to be earned as well to balance things out.

- Nick

p.s. Good job on the weekly bike riding :)...I normally run 85-100+ miles/week.
 
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After rerading the article it's more a pin/belt loop then a badge. Still the fact that video games has any part of the Scouts movement is really sad. Add that to some schools having virtual sports (the Wii) in their physical education programs (I saw it on the news) and we have a sad sad world indeed.
 
gagnerants

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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.
Click to expand...
It's actually not that bad, it just shows how they have adjusted to fit in with today. Like number 2, 4,8 and 9 are actually helpful skills if you apply them outside of the video game world.
 
pigoo3

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gagnerants said:
It's actually not that bad, it just shows how they have adjusted to fit in with today. Like number 2, 4,8 and 9 are actually helpful skills if you apply them outside of the video game world.
Click to expand...

Thanks a bunch for posting/linking the actual requirements for this badge or pin/belt loop. The scope of skills required & practiced in that list of requirements:

- teaching
- socializing
- creating a plan
- involving your parents & family
- decision making
- practicing math, spelling, and other skills

...are very very important skills to practice & develop. It would seem that the video game part of this is only a modern or popular "vehicle" to get a young person involved in practicing & developing these skills.

With this additional info...IMHO...I see no problems with this video game badge or pin/belt loop.:)

- Nick
 
Kevriano

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the8thark said:
After rerading the article it's more a pin/belt loop then a badge. Still the fact that video games has any part of the Scouts movement is really sad. Add that to some schools having virtual sports (the Wii) in their physical education programs (I saw it on the news) and we have a sad sad world indeed.
Click to expand...

Yep, my daughters school have a Wii for that. We went spare at the teachers in parents meeting.
 
OP
DarkestRitual

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Well, I knew the requirements... still though.
 
harryb2448

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Whatever appeals to the kids eh? Maybe the days of knotting, splicing and whipping are over?
 
OP
DarkestRitual

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Good! Keep those snot nosed little brats in line! haha
 
pigoo3

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Village Idiot said:
Nope. I still plan on whipping my kids...

O:)
Click to expand...

A "whipping" was always a fantastic motivator for me to be "good". And if I was going to be "bad"...I better be really really careful that no one found out about it!;)

But then isn't that always the problem...not letting your parents find out about the "bad" things!!!;)

- Nick
 
XJ-linux

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Pretty pathetic that Scouting has come to this, especially considering a recent study that seems to find that about 75% of American youths are physically, mentally or criminally "Ready Willing and Unable" to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. I wonder how today's Scouts would fare against the likes of Ashbal Saddam, World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) Jihad or Jugendbund der NSDAP. I think the saying goes along the lines of "Most great societies fall due to decay from within...". Something to that effect anyways...

Expressed best, IMHO, in The Breakfast Club:

VERNON: You think about this...when you get old, these kids; when I get old, they're gonna be runnin' the country.

CARL: Yeah?

VERNON: Now this is the thought that wakes me up in the middle of the night... That when I get older, these kids are gonna take care of me...

CARL: I wouldn't count on it!
 
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Interesting thread.... I suppose it was inevitable for the Scouts to bring video gaming into their mix, to remain relevant for today's kids who are growing up with ipads in their hands. I, too, see it as a medium that offers an opportunity for learning and practicing useful skills. At least the award is not based on who logs the most hours playing!
 
harryb2448

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Not that sort of 'whipping'! You lot must have been atrocious kids!

Whipping referred to is done with cord to prevent rope fraying, similar to splicing but not so labour intensive.
 
the8thark

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Or you can just burn/melt the ends of the cord to stop it fraying.
 

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