Hazing - How to Deal With It

I've been monitoring this discussion with interest for a
while now. I have my own opinions on what is hazing, and
what isn't. I know what we allow in our unit, and what we
don't.

We often participate in District or Council Camporees and
various other activities in company with other scouting
units, and at those events I sometimes see things happening
that would not be permitted in our own unit. Most of these I

ignore. Unless I think it crosses the boundary into ABUSE, I

figure it is between the boy, his parents, his leaders, the
committee, and their sponsoring organization. They are
responsible for setting and maintaining standards for their
unit. If/when I'm concerned enough about it to do something,

I'll look up the leader after the event for a private
discussion. (If I thought it crossed the line, or even came
too close to it, I'd report it to the council Scout
Executive.) On this basis, I've ignored many a snipe hunt,
search for a left handed smoke shifter or skyhook, etc.

What I don't know how to deal with effectively is when the
victim is sent to our campsite as part of his quest. Yes, I
can talk to his leader later that night, or the next morning,

or next week at work, or next month at roundtable. But what
can I / should I tell the scout, RIGHT NOW, while he's
standing in front of me, or another member of my unit, asking

if we've seen the snipe or if he can borrow our whatever?
What effect does/should the victim's age have on your
suggestions? (I've had this happen with Cub Scout age boys,
Tenderfoot age Boy Scouts, and high school age Explorers. Is
the same response appropriate for all of them?)

I have known a couple of people whose approach to this I've
admired. They've provided the object of the quest! A coat
hanger and paper plate can be made into a smoke shifter
(right or left handed), a coat hanger by itself can become a
sky hook (just take it back to the person who started the
quest and tell him it's now his/her job to find a sky hook
holder), and imagine the effect on the hunt master and
cronies when the hunter returns with a coffee can that makes
noises of something trying to escape (a few twigs or popsicle
sticks, paper clips, and rubber bands can do interesting
things) especially when accompanied by a statement such as
"gee, it looks so cute with that white stripe down its back"!
I can often invent such a solution the day or week after I'm
asked for it, but can't come up with such things on the spur
of the moment.

What can I tell the scout that won't undermine the authority
of his leaders, undermine his confidence in his leaders,
and/or bring about the embarrassment of knowing that he's the
victim of a prank?

Mark Ritter - RitterME@Juno.Com
Committee Member - Sea Scout Ship 90
The SSS North Star - New Milford PA (USA)
http://www.seascout.net/ship90

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