We need to be careful, folks...

Well, it seems that the discussion on "Why female adult leaders" is going
a bit beyond the bounds of the "guidelines" to the list. Or has anyone
re-read those lately?

Several months ago, we almost lost a subscriber over the "Cly Bascome"
patch trading controversy. Now, we have possibly driven a subscriber
from the list because we disagree with his opinions.

This, fellow Leaders (or subscribers) is not right! Whatever a person's
opinion is, that person has the right to speak it, within the bounds of
good taste in choice of language. We, as readers or listeners, have the
right to not agree. We do _not_ have the right to "shout down", verbally
attack a person, threaten retaliation through his Council, or say that the
person has no right to post, just because of [his] stated beliefs.

If the person has opinons with which you disagree in one area, does that
make _everything_ that the person says invalid? Think about it. If I
disagree with [Paul] over his insistance on bringing a beer on a campout,
does that mean that I should disregard his advice on how to use a compass?
Does it make my advice to him on how to pack a backpack invalid? I don't
think so. Even though I _do_ think that he shouldn't bring the beer. Even
if he doesn't drink it until after the boys are asleep, bringing it _is_
against BSA policy.

In my district, there is a very highly respected Scoutmaster and leader.
This man has served on staff at many Scoutmastership Fundamentals courses,
and is (I believe) a Wood Badger. He is present at almost every roundtable,
and is very active in our Council's Campmaster program. He is a member of
local "Catholic Committee on Scouting". This man is also a certified,
bonafide, died in the wool sexist. Everyone who knows him accepts this as
part of his personality. Does it make him less of an authority on Troop
Administration? Of course not!

We need to be very careful on how we conduct ourselves around people that
we dissagree with, as we are dangerously close to doing the same thing to
another poster.

Regardless of how much we disagree with Sam and Mary, They have the right
to their opinions. It is just possible that they might have extremely valid
input on other issues, which we will not hear if we chase them away.

If we disagree with a post to the point of infuriation, then the best reply
is - no reply.

Now, let's get on with _other_ discussions.

YiS,

Chuck Bramlet, ASM Troop 323
Thunderbird District, Grand Canyon Council, Phoenix, Az.

I "used to be" an Antelope! (and a good ol' Antelope, too...) WEM-10-95
Please E-mail any replies to: >> bramlet@eccx.ateng.az.honeywell.com <<
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"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to", said the Cat.
Lewis Carrol, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"
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