Fuzzy Bear

After being part of the District Activities Committee, being in charge of several Camporees, planning District Camporees, being on staff of many District Camporees, I think I have an answer. I have generally never seen a complete failure no matter how badly they were done. One I observed was well on its way down the dumpster but was pulled out by just plain dumb positive attitudes. I don't want to pat myself on the back too hard but I almost pulled off a couple of pretty sorry Camporees without really trying. I have even put together a Camporee on the way to the event. I just loaded up my garage and hoped that nothing would blow off on the way there. OK, now that you know that I have my moments I want to share with you a secret that finally sunk in to my thick little pumpkin head. I was complaining about a Camporee, most likely done by me, to one of the female volunteers. She pointed out that the District Committee Chair for Activities was not to plan the event but to recruit someone to do it. I began to think and sure enough I figured out that the District Activities Chair not only didn't plan the event but had not really been recruiting anybody to do it either. More thought.... What was wrong? I then knew why they had not been doing their job. They had found several chumps to take the lead, accept the responsibility and the job was done. The next point was that the events were not being evaluated systematically for a reason. They were done but not very well and few wanted to complain for fear of becoming the new event leader. So, basically I was what was wrong. I enjoyed doing them. I knew allot of people that I could call at the last minute and get the job done even if it was the Friday night of the event. So, I asked the Committee Chair for permission to recruit a person for the next Camporee. He said yes and I found the newest and greenest person at the next Roundtable. I told him if he would accept the mission that I would see to it that he would have the most successful event in years. We planned an agenda for the next several weeks. The first week we looked at the jobs and duties. He decided on a theme and then we were off. Each week we recruited another person. We went over their job and they chose an event and possibly one maintenance job. The next week all three of us recruited another person and so on. By the time of the Camporee, there were patches, Tee shirts, hats, loads of events and materials for those events and enough people to make it a success. I had long ago stopped going to the meetings and only showed up at the event to be shown around. He was as proud as punch at being in charge of such a spectacle and was planning to invite a person that was impressed with his success to chair the next one. I told him to get in touch with the Activities Chair and get it approved. That was the start of the end of my many hats career in Scouting. FB (This message has been edited by Fuzzy Bear)

I have been in Scouting since the fifties. I have served most every position in Scouting. I have a trunk full of badges and awards. I have been in and out of school all of my life and have several degrees. My wife will vouch for me that sometimes I can't find my own hind-end and couldn't find it even if I had a phonebook Please forgive me if I have offended you even from a distance. I hope that our discourse that sometimes seems unfriendly is only our way of finding whatever we should be able to find so easily but just can't. It really is frustrating. FB

Elitist or not here is the criteria for the true religion: 1 Kings 18 Elijah a Jewish Prophet, " 15. As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely confront him today." He asked that the prophets of Baal to meet him on Mt. Carmel. Elijah, "21. How long will you stand between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him." Each side received an offering to be put upon their own stack of dry wood. The prophets of Baal were to go first to have their god light their fire to cook their offering. They called upon their god all day long to light their fire and nothing happened. When nothing happened, Elijah mocked them and said that, '27. their god must be talking, or he is out running around, on a journey, or he is asleep but at the end of the day neither voice, nor answer came. THEN Elijah took stones, 12 in number for the tribes of Israel and built an alter and put his wood on top of it. He had a trench dug around it. He then had the people pour 12 barrels of water on top of the wood, so the water was trapped around the base. Elijah, " 37. Hear me, O, Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that you have turned their heart back again." Of course God sent fire and consumed the offering. The people believed in God and the false prophets were slain. One thing that must be said about "faith" and that is that it must be built upon more than words or ideas or rocks. It must have the physical backing of God. If you do not have evidence, then your god must be asleep at the wheel. This example can be taken to its logical conclusion but the BSA does not want a Mt. Carmel meeting of all of the false prophets to determine who is right. The BSA does not want to determine a Scout's depth of faith. It does not want to determine the degree of maturity. It leaves that up to the individual Scout and their G/god. Now where does that leave the atheist? It leaves them outside the BSA. The reason being is that they have left the God question and have developed their own system of beliefs. They should have little reason to desire to be within the framework of an organization that postulates a belief in God. It should be their affirmation to act in accordance with what they think is right and a belief in God should be an outright contradiction to how they wish to spend their time upon this earth. It simply doesn't make sense to do otherwise. As, for who is right about their god/God, the challenge is open for a meeting up on the mountain anytime anybody has faith enough to ask for their fire to be lit. Until then, it may be assumed that a belief in God is enough. FB

I have noticed in so many instances in this forum that the best answers are generally quoted from a specific handbook, guide, or site. There are three new people in our district and each of them is new to Scouting. One will be a Committee Chairman of a local Boy Scout unit. One will be a Scoutmaster of another unit. One Dad would like to get on board but wants to know more about Scouting before he commits. What books, websites and training do you recommend in each case to give the individual the most information for the time spent? Thank you for your input. I know that I will be able to share this knowledge with others. FB

It sounds like you would like to know for a reason or that you would like there to be a policy. It might help if you stated your case. I am sure that we could get a good discussion and come up with about thirty answers.

10 Principles to improve your work in Scouting You personally know what is needed the most and that becomes your priority one. Another way to establish a priority is to choose a job that is appealing to you and make that your goal. I believe the best way is to choose a job that is easy to recruit for and easy to achieve. Principle: Success breeds success. Most of us feel better when we accomplish a major project especially if we can do it quickly. If the job is at the unit level, then those that have a vested interest will most likely take the job. The person you select will feel insecure because they are new and untrained. It becomes your job to assist them in getting trained to be knowledgeable of their duties. Principle 1: New people do not like the discomfort of being an outsider. You can fix this by being a friend. Meet them for coffee and a review the job. Make them understand the needs and let them tell you some of their ideas about how to achieve them. Principle 2: New people want to join a group or New people do not like working alone. Since it is you and the one other person, bring in an old hand to train them. There will be more coffee and getting to know you and the job. Now it is three people and they are the center of attention. They also now have two friends they did not have before. Training is only the beginning. The person now knows some of the parameters and knows most of the duties. Survey the needs of the unit and establish a plan biased on those needs. Principle 3: People like to feel needed and important. They are faced with this mountain of responsibility but you are with them to assist in breaking it down into bite sized hunks so the problem can be brought into focus and easily solved. Principle 4: People want to be successful. How successful? They do not need to know these but you are there to help make them more successful than if you had done it yourself. You can let them know that within a certain time period they will be have climbed the mountain of responsibilities and will wonder why they ever doubted. Principle 5: People like the idea of time limited projects. Scouting has prospered on the notion that it only takes one-hour per week. If a person actually is doing one job, then one hour per week comes close but several things must be in place before that can be a reality. There is also "maintenance" time that must be acknowledged. Overall, if there is a plan and it is worked by a well trained individual there are limits to any project. Say this individual is now the CC and needs a committee. The CC will feel uncomfortable in recruiting but both of you together can make this goal achievable. Once again, start with those that have a vested interest and select one person at a time. Train them, befriend them and work the system as before. Let each MC know that their job is time limited and their duties will be very specific. Each meeting that is held should have the elements as before plus they are now joining a group with goals that will assist their children. Principle 6: People that are working on projects like to have fun and feel comfortable. How can this be done? Make sure that every meeting starts and stops on time. Make sure that every meeting has an agenda that is organized, prioritized, and well prepared. Make sure that every meeting has food and drink and a social time to talk in general but then is slowly focused by the leader to the agenda. Make sure that minutes are taken and new business is included. All ideas are important but will be tabled for review. Make sure to have a closing. It does not need to be formal but the ideals of Scouting should be the basis of our transactions as we come together. Principle 7: People like to be recognized for their work. Have a yearly dinner and hand out certificates, plaques, or home built mementos. Give them something and mention some of their work. I want to underscore recognition in this instance because if you have done your job correctly the support the unit will be receiving will be of maximum value and the program should begin to reap huge benefits. Principle: Know when to bow out gracefully and let them takeover their successful operation. Don't hang on. Periodic meetings or reviews can be done by phone or by personal visit. The idea is for them to take the ball and run. Since they are adults, this process generally is done fairly fast. NEXT: The District Who has a vested interest? Actually, it is the same people that you have been getting to know and trained. They will not remain forever in their job. By the end of the year some of these parents will want to move into another job. Also, there generally are many more parents than there are unit jobs. You will get to know several parents that will not be needed for the Unit operation but would be able to take on a time limited project for the District. Set your priorities and begin the process. Principle: Nothing is wrong with the old people that have been around but most of them have several jobs and cant be bothered with being very successful with just one job. In Scouting, FB

I am dizzy from this ride and now it comes down to fists and tongues flying again. I think someone has really missed their meds even though we don't have a right to know but our need outweighs or desire and so forth and on and on. Why didn't we stop at quoting the Safe Scouting Guide? I mean by-gum Bob gets Doctor guy to back him and the then we get HIPPA and then BSA doesn't use HIPPA but some states do, depending on where you throw down your air mattress. Now everything is in a sealed envelope that has permission to heal but doctors won't do squat unless the kid croaks. Nobody should know except the kid and the parents but the parents should come along on all outings, so what is the reason we have those medical forms again? This stuff is great! FB

FB here. I have yet begun to rant! I want to purpose a double sided sword for the one job issue. It is never simple to say no but if you have people skills and many of you do, then it is easier to find a new leader and train that leader yourself than to do their job for them. Mentor them until they have their job "in hand" and if they need help, you will help them find it. You will be their security blanket while they learn. You will be the one to drink coffee with them and make them feel comfortable when otherwise they would be an outsider. You will be the one to introduce them to several of the old hands that you know and help surround them until they own their job. Your only duty is to not do their job for them and to bow out once they take over. This is done one person at a time. If you are very good at this type of recruiting, you can bring in about three people per year. Over the course of five years, you will have fifteen people that have been trained and you will have multiplied yourself many more times over than the four or five hats that you were wearing before this effort began. If you want to make an impact and to help others then this could be your mission. Once you begin to recruit and train, then before too long you will have enough trust built with enough leaders that they will begin to act like you. They will come to appreciate what you did for them and they will see the real value of your efforts. Most of us like to lead, train, and do but few think about membership and recruitment as the one side of the equation that we conveniently leave out. We say that fear keeps us from recruiting but I believe that it is fear of not being recognized because the spotlight will not be on us that keeps us piling high the hats. I think if you give it a try, you will find it enjoyable and your work will be found out anyway and recognized. I offer this approach from personal failure and redemption. FB

I recently visited a half-uniformed Troop. By closing time, the Troop leader began yelling that they could not have a proper closing unless their shirt was tucked into their jeans, etc. They recited the Scout Law and then he began yelling and made them do it all over after they tucked their shirts. He was their CC and was fully uniformed, highly decorated, fully trained, wore the WB beads, and was also the District Commissioner. I was fully baffled, bewildered and bemused and still am. FB

A person is asked to do one job. Another person comes along and sees what a great job that she is doing at the first job. They ask her to do a second job because her efficiency rating is high and they notice her self esteem was raised a notch with the second request. She is noted as doing a good job at the second one but even that is better than most. A third job is offered because there are so few people that are "trained" and they just "don't know" the program like she does. She is able to do her work in short because her work needs little planning because of her experience. So, out of desperation she takes the third job. Nobody else could do it plus she has a great personality. The forth job is taken because it only takes a little time to do and the fifth job is time limited. None note that her work is now done "off the cuff" and without thought but it is still good because people like her. At the District Dinner she is called up and given five or six Certificates of Thanks and all applause her great work. She feels wonderful about what she is doing for these young people that need her so much. Other carrot(s), District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver, etc. are hung out every year to those most deserving souls that sacrifice like she does and of course she is up for one of them the next year. It is unnecessary to do that to an individual. It is wrong and we should make it part of the training to instruct people that if they do the one job they are doing they will not have time for anything else. Also, recognition can be given for someone who does their one job well. How then will the work of the District get done? How will Camporees be run if the main people don't do them? Recruiting and training are the keys to bringing sanity to a program that relies on just a few individuals. It is a lazy approach to go to the same people year after year to get them to do the program. These individuals are good hearted and love to be asked. It is easy to do but it depletes the overall program. It takes away from the boys that depend on their leaders to deliver quality support. If a person decides that their present job is no longer satisfying, then she should stop and ask for another job. Simple as that! Who really pays when Scouting is done five and six nights a week by one person? If you can't figure that one out, then nobody should tell you. Hi, my name is Fuzzy and I am a Scoutoholic but I have been dry now for 8 years, FB

KS, I want to speak from my own personal experience which contributed to a complete burn and fizzle. It was not pretty but moreover it was unnecessary and what I really should have done wasn't. I know you will not accept my advice and I am wasting good electrons but let me give it from the worst possible place, from a distance. Call your D.E. or who ever recruited you and tell them that you meant that you were going to help recruit a full-time Roundtable Commissioner AND a staff! Tell them that you believe strongly in good program and that you want to rebuild the Roundtable because it is an important part of training other leaders. Let them know that doing your job as SM is vital to the Scouts and parents you serve and it would be in the best interest of all for you to take on the job of recruitment. You do not get any brownie points for recruiting and it is behind the lines where nobody will see your acts of courage. If you achieve you goal, somebody else will take credit for your work and pat themselves on the back for a job well done. Now that I have built it up, let me tell you what you get out of it. You will have a better Scout unit because your efforts will be directed towards that goal. You will see a Roundtable that will function properly and will assist you in your efforts as SM. You will have made several friends by actively speaking to them about a goal that you believe they would be best at doing. People will quietly know that it was you that did it and will respect your work all the more. Your wife will understand what you are trying to do for your family as well as the community and will most likely give you a hand at a time limited project that will no doubt give her some of your valuable time. Your children will benefit because you will have an extra evening or two to spend flying kites. The D. E. will understand your true value and will now have someone that has wisdom concerning their time. I know that you would do a great job at Roundtable because you are probably a great leader. One job per leader is more than enough. When you can do that, then those Woodbadge Beads will feel a little lighter. I probably should have spent this time doing something constructive, sorry. FB

It is a great job. Get a staff. Make it the second best show in town! FB

Bob, I am not privy to the numbers of Eagles nor am I trying to make a factual statement about the quality of the present day Eagles. I am aware of the requirements both today and 40 years ago. I have witnessed the changes in requirements and personally believed that the program was disintegrating. To my amazement, the program did not burn out but continued in spite of my incorrect opinions. Although the emphasis is different, the BSA is a great program both today and yesterday. I am thankful for those that continue to make it so. FB

Help select the committee. Guide them in the direction that will best assist you. Steer them towards the best person for the CC job. Make everyone believe that you had nothing to do with it. Act as if you have been given a great gift by the COR. Honor them for knowing exactly what needed to be done. What I got out of the book, FB

A few years ago, the BSA changed the program by eliminating the First Class requirement of Morse Code. It was obvious that too many Scouts were not Mentally Fit and would never make it. The only way to make the Eagle Award accessible to the general public would be to make it so easy that anyone could do it. Later, the BSA changed the requirements for First Class to be so easy that a Scout could do that part in record time. People are still not satisfied with the ease that the Eagle can be obtained, so other meaner ways have been devised to allow youth their resume builder. The other side of the argument is that by bringing more young people into contact with a program for a longer period of time is the best way to assist in positive change for the greatest number. This was a utilitarian goal planned to shape the youth of America into being Morally Straight. It was a way to modernize and to bring into focus what young people want and are doing. It was a way to make it palatable to the masses. Where are we in the process? I feel that for every one cheap shot Eagle there are four really meaningful, knowledgeable young people that will not only benefit from the program but later return to assist others. The other twenty percent will most likely not benefit from anything but there is always hope and I have seen people change just through association. The BSA is an organization that is not perfect but has the kind of resilience that people benefit from even with the acknowledged problems. FB

One year I bought a small ham-fist sized roll up hammock for camp. I thought it would be comfortable and it could also be used on backpacking trips. I set it up close to the tent between two trees and opened it. That night I carefully put everything under me and took off my shoes. I crawled into it and kind of folded in half, which of course, was not very comfortable. The next thing that happened were these noises coming from the local neighborhood brought on by a blind armadillo which scared me because I didn't know what was thrashing about and it took me about five minutes and considerable effort to find my flashlight. I darn near rolled. Actually I fell out into the wet grass and dirt below. The little animal finally recognized me for what I was, a large animal on the ground thrashing about. He jumped straight up, squealed and took off. I wanted to do the same but in the opposite direction, wherever that was. After that incident, I shortened the rope and lengthened the hammock, making it tighter. I got back in and found it much more to my liking. What occurred next and without my immediate knowledge was that my body began squeezing out between the diamond shapes making kind of, what I now call, apples of flesh and blood. These apples were just right for the picking by those pesky camp mosquitoes. They would set their darts into me and would get such a bellyful they would just simply explode. Nonetheless, the next morning I looked a mess with diamonds and whelps all over. I figured one more night of comfort like that and I wound need a blood transfusion. Someone took pity on me and loaned me an aluminum cot. It was free and comfortable. I recommend it. FB

There should be a buckle that hooks under the boot/shoe that can be tightened. The lacing goes to the outside of the leg. If you fail to lace them to the outside, they hooks will catch and lock together and cause you to stumble, fall, or walk with considerable difficulty. I was a Scout in the 50's-60's era. The leggings were not used much by Scouts that I knew. The uniform that looked great, I thought, was the green Explorer uniform and the white leggings. The Boy Scout leggings were the khaki green. I would use the Boy Scout leggings on occasion to give my Class A uniform that little something extra. They were really too short to be of much use and they would pull on the pants once tucked inside and tightened. Three of us got together and learned a little close order drill and became the unofficial Color Guard of the District. We even took it a step further. We visited the Army Navy Surplus store and purchased white leggings and some white braid to drape around our arms. We did it so well that few people questioned what we were doing but several wanted to know if the leggings and the cord were official. We assured them that it was just a creative twist but that it made us feel official, as if that meant something. I kept my white leggings and the cord all of these years just to remember the feeling of the march, the calls, and the ceremony. In my head, we were like the Army Color Guard, snappy, sharp, and inspirational. I am sure we were also kind of funny but that was not important to me. FB

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal , helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. A hijacked moment to reflect on our Law. please continue....

I can see that you have set your course and are off. You may be correct in all that you are doing. I don't want to disturb a perfectly good answer to an obviously bad situation. I have dealt with SM's over the years and parents and Scouts and myself on various issues. (*Yes, I have been wrong on more than one occasion, ask my wife, she will vouch for me) I have experienced problems where the offending party was not always wrong. Thinking for just a minute about what the SM was saying, 'I want your son to be more assertive'. I understand the definition of that word but what does it mean to the SM? The second point is about the "bully" that threatened your son. What is the task and what is the reason for the task? It appears from a distance that the SM is all wrong. Another problem is that this SM has been doing this job for 20 years. Yes, others will have problems with him. Any person in a position of authority will have detractors. When you begin to look for problems about someone you will find somebody that has been offended by him. Just the same, if you were looking for someone that has experienced something good about him, you would probably find them, likewise. I would want to speak with the SM as a family. I would want a mediator or a good Unit Commissioner. I would want both parties to explain fully their side of the story. Deciding wrongness from one point of view is never a good way to conduct business. Sometimes, people are doing things correctly but misunderstand some rule or they are doing things correctly and the other party misunderstood their actions. This happens even when everything looks from the outside that what is happening is all wrong and it still might be. Writing letters to the authorities to expose an individual as a bad person without some type, any type, of due process is an error in judgment. What happens if you are wrong? You cannot unwrite your anger and the letters. Others will only remember your actions of anger and the person that you have hurt will live with that mark. Actions of anger can have long lasting effects that you may never have intended. I am not taking the side of anyone in this matter. I am asking only for restraint and some type of use of the chain of command that involves people that should be assisting the SM in his job. SM's are only part of the fabric of Scouting, they are not the main design. My last but foremost concern is for your son. I know that this matter is difficult for him to negotiate but it is obvious that he has the aid and support of two helpful parents. With your backing, I know that he will come through this no matter what your decision. Sincerely, FB

I am not sure that racism, prejudice, or poor judgment will ever go away. It will always be implicit or explicit because we are humans that find it easier to love our own. Learning to love our neighbor is a higher goal and to achieve it is almost beyond imagination. The brotherhood of Scouting has been a help. I have witnessed this over the years from my little corner. FB

Cheating, lying, falsifying records, breaking the Scout Oath and Law are steps along the short route. When the real problems come around, is when those that have knowingly taken steps in the wrong direction will not know the right things to do, will not function properly, will be found out for what they are....and it will happen. The worst of all is they will see who they really are and it will be too late. Change happens because we ask for it and engage in it ourselves. B.P. asked each of us to paddle our own canoe... and rightly so. FB

(I was unable to post this last week because the system was down. I just remembered and brought it out of mothballs.) Thanks Neilup, being considered as a fit for a part in a Training Troupe has always been a high compliment to me. Your resources are earlier than mine, so you must be right about the OA sashes. Concerning the merit badge daydream, I had it myself on more than one occasion as a Scout. For most of us, filling up the front of one sash was a matter of strategic spacing. Order of the Arrow Handbook, August 1954, page 59, Arrow Bands. "The Ordeal, Brotherhood, or Vigil Honor bands are worn with the arrow pointing toward the right shoulder." Each Arrow band can be worn only by the individual holding that honor. The book is silent about what the person should do that the holds all three honors. I suppose the individual could wear all of them at once but if the person did, the Arrow bands need to be pointed over the right shoulder, at least in '54. In warmer climes, I presume it only reasonable to wear one at a time. As always, I stand to be corrected in light of the usual overwhelming evidence against me, FB

I understand what you are expressing about adults not doing their job but it seems overstated as an indictment of Scouters in general. I am sure that we could find examples of neglect such as this in any council in America. Yet, I want to believe that these are in the minority. Either way, we do not have supporting evidence, so your point is accepted as cautionary. I disagree that people can easily give examples of something that they have not experienced and get away with it. This type of person tends to express views that have little depth or personal attachment. They tend toward book answers and are unable to give insight based upon people, place, or time. This often happens on resumes or in interviews with candidates for a job. A person begins by fictionalizing a degree, a project, or a past job and then moves into glossing over the details. Even if they come off with their charade, they have left a paper trail with names and phone numbers that can easily be checked. Hopefully the employer will know how to look beyond mere words. With such an effort, the person can easily be exposed and set aside. Some still accomplish their duplicity and do it with remarkable stealth but a young person without the background or sophistication to achieve such a lofty goal generally is unable to pull it off in front of a group of thoughtful adults. You still have the paper trail that can be followed up on either before or after the event. So I submit that good questioning, active listening, and a critical eye for detail will assist a BOR member(s) in achieving their goal effectively. FB

I was fifteen and was camping in the mountains of Philmont for the first time. Actually, I had never seen mountains before and was impressed. My tent-mate, David, was a quiet young man so we didn't talk much. The Ranger had told us to choose carefully where we raised our tents. We were using tents without floors or zippered doors. We walked into our first camp and found a nice place low and under a large tree. It was pretty and we were both inwardly congratulating ourselves on our choice. The tent went up and it promptly began to rain. David got in on his side and I on my side. We lay silently watching the downpour. After a few minutes, David mentally noted that water had begun to come under his side of the tent so he put all of his gear in the middle of the tent and climbed up on it. I laughed to myself at the sight of him up on his pack like a drowning rat and I on my side still dry. A few minutes later I felt some water running beside my sleeping bag, so I piled my gear in the middle and climbed up. There we were two drowned rats. The water continued to come faster and began to widen. Lighting started booming and both of us decided that we needed to evacuate the premises. Out into the rain we stepped already wet, donning our rain gear, we tore down the tent and started searching for a place were water would not come rushing through during the next downfall. Neither of us said more than a two words during this first learning experience. That night, lying in moist gear, I wrote about how to carefully choose a camping spot in the mountains. David didn't have much to say about it. We just dried out our gear when we had a chance. I still quietly find it amusing. FB (This message has been edited by Fuzzy Bear)

Should the BSA change its' policies? They did not ask me and I doubt that one person could change the direction even if they were put in charge and if they wanted to change it. The question is fundamental in outlook and representation and cannot be broached without a landslide of opposition. The problem comes when all of the proponents find that there is little real agreement on the ideas that they think they agree on. It is a strange mixture of ideas that coalesce under a few headings but there is agreement on the general form which looks allot like a symbol steeped in tradition and accepted by the populace. Would the organization benefit from changing its polices is a good question. That approach allows for a larger discussion. Opponents will not need to get angry because their position is being exempted. Proponents of the position will not need to feel threatened that their position is being attacked. It is a matter worth discussion. A fair hearing allows for introspection that gives depth to an argument and/or a personal belief. FB