Re: To slow the GPS debate, I hope

On Fri, 24 Jul 1998, paccerelli wrote:

> HI ALL I AM SORRY ABOUT THAT MSG AND THAT LANG. USED I WAS JUST VERY UPSET
> AT SCOUTS SO I AM SORRY ALL
>


To the author of the above,


I think it was good that you apologized.

E-mail is very immediate, and it is very easy to send a message in the
heat of anger that you may later regret.

I would offer you the advice of typing your message after you've had time
to think about it; or type it, then postpone sending it until after you've
had a cooling off time. Reread it and try to edit the angry portions out
of it, so you're speaking what you believe, not just angry emmotion.

You must remember our posts are being sent to thousands around the world
and are being permanently stored in an electronic archive. The entire
world can access a copy of every message written to the Scouts-L list at
any time. Consider the record you leave behind.

I'm not flaming you. I'm sure you've received several negative responses
already to your message. I'm just offering friendly advice. Slow down,
think about what you really want to communicate, and reread your message
several times, editing each time as you go.

We've all written things here at one time or another that we've regretted
later. You're not the first, and surely won't be the last.

On the subject of hazing...

There are many positive ways to build team spirit without hazing, while
ensuring each Scout pulls his own weight. In the end, you reap what you
sew, the slackers never experience the real essense of what Scouting is
about.

Think about all the great things Scouting can do to build a true team spirit
without hazing.

Scouts in my troop have traveled to 17 foreign countries, they've
backpacked through the Rockies from Montana to Mexico, biked across most
of the USA, done 200 mile canoe trips, and they've worked together on
benefits; one for a Scout who needed a double organ transplant and another
for a mom who needed a bone marrow transplant. I've seen so many things
happen through Scouting in past 21 years as a Scoutmaster.

Real team building is done by Scouts coming together to support each other
while working toward a common goal. Hazing is about a group singling
someone out in order to harm/humiliate them. Team building comes from the
culmination of all the ideals of Scouting. Hazing comes from a lack of
Scouting ideals. What do you really belive in?

Let the Scout Oath and Law be your guide. Think about it.


YIS, Cliff Golden
Scoutmaster Troop 33; DeKalb, Illinois
Three Fires Council BSA

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