desertrat77

Yes, chalk ball...a wildly popular sport? With this rule from the attached pdf: "In the event of a Scout being shot with a chalk ball, the shooter and the “hitee†are banned from the course for the remainder of the program." I also enjoyed the written prohibitions against food, drink, tobacco, and alcohol whilst on the range. I think Joe Bob's point remains "on-target."

Sentinel, here's what I was trying to say: non-scouters have ridiculed the BSA for its play-it-safe decisions. And if the parents and kids aren't aware of the rules before they join, they'll find out pretty quick shortly thereafter. Let's recall that the water gun/balloon ban was not fine print--it was front/center on many major media outlets. Public response, by and large, was "you've gotta be kidding me, no water guns?" People join organizations because of like interests and mindsets. Decisions by National not only impact perspective kids and parents, but those already registered as well. They'll vote with their feet.

Consider the intangible optics of the organization as well: the BSA does not permit water guns, water balloons, nor bubble ball. Nor a bunch of other things that millions of people do every day without injury to body or soul. Outside the hallowed halls of Irving TX, people size up an organization on such matters, for good or ill.

"Total gibberish"--that sums up National's explanation quite well. They can use all of the managerial gobbledygook they want. The bottom line: they don't understand fun, they don't like the outdoors, and they are afraid of lawsuits. Stereotypical higher-headquarters group think.

Also the sound of the bling...jingle all the way.

@Krampus: you mention adults wearing patrol patches...I concur, they didn't do that in the past. However, one exception. When I was a young scout, I recall a SM in a neighboring troop who had a great sense of humor. As the old saying goes, he could make a dog laugh. Very dynamic, active, positive troop. One day I noticed his shirt, and he was wearing an old Hog Production MB where a patrol patch was supposed to be. It took me a minute or two, then I realized the punch line.

Krampus, serendipity...as I was typing my response to Stosh, I saw the bar "1 new response posted" or words to that effect. Once I posted my 2:00 PM, and then read yours, I believe your post makes the point better than mine. Scouts/Disney/bling: we call also recall Office Space, and the discussion re "flair"

@@Stosh, good point. Could it be that today's uniforms have so much bling/geegaws/gimcracks that it all blends together? A good example, from another thread, is the world crest and the 2010 ring. My blasphemous opinion: 1. World crest: superfluous. 2. Centennial ring: beyond superfluous (if that were possible, and in this case, I think it is). And the list could go on. When you see an old scouter's shirt on the Big Auction site, they were remarkably bling-free.

There was a long spell where nothing but MBs could be worn on the sash. This after decades of the BSA allowing scouts to put their rank, camp patches, etc. on the back. Then it was allowed again. I think it's a good call, a safe place to keep everything that meant something to a scout as they advanced. Patch blankets and vests just aren't the same. Sleeves: My first MB, firemanship, was my sole MB for about 1.5 years. Sewn to my right sleeve, it got kind of ragged, as it was with me on every adventure/misadventure. Eventually it found its way to a sash. When I dig my footlocker out of the garage and take a look at my sash every other year or so, that first MB still stands out--darker, ratty-looking--but it came by that appearance honestly. OA sashes: an interesting habit, these days, of wearing the sash to monthly district meetings, troop meetings, etc. I understand the pride, but that's what the flap and/or pocket ribbon are for. Sash should stay in the footlocker till a) OA events or b) attending an event in an official OA capacity.

My daughter is a Venture scout in an outdoor-driven crew. When she comes home, the stories: backpacking trips that included tornado watches after they were already on the trail...refilling canteens from a lake, slowly filtering it, with water moccasins happening by...a camp out with a busted tent flap and a broken sleeping bag zipper on a freezing, windy night.... Risk? Yes. But these are her scouting experiences, and she's darn proud of them. She's more mature and confident as a result. Her leaders are smart. I trust them. Scouts don't grow sitting in folding chairs, listening to lectures.

I understand the science...but am I missing a cultural reference? Or am I just overthinking a perfectly good post? The first camporee, that memory remains quite clear!

@@BadenP, well said, and mighty darn glad to see your name!

Stosh, what the....? I think our patrol had that for dinner on night at my first camporee. Probably not intentional, but that what it tasted and smelled like.

Yes! By 2020, the BSA will be nothing but Cub Scouting, ages 5 - 18. Third graders and HS seniors sitting around, gluing macaroni to tin cans. Makes a nifty pencil cup, you gotta admit.

I agree.

Excellent insights, Krampus, thanks. "...huge warning sign down the road." I concur--the first time Johnny Scout gets a "C+, needs more work" on one of his term papers, he won't believe it. And we'll have to stage an intervention for momma bear before she calls the prof, the dean and an attorney....

@@Krampus, that's the right word..."bling." The scout and/or mom may also be chasing the "earned every MB" title, which "unfortunately" doesn't come with its own patch or pin. PS (Added) When you consider the great scouts that don't make Eagle for one reason or another, or the scouts that earn Eagle by sheer force of will, crossing the finish line at the last second, the importance of palms seems rather small by comparison.

Given that this decision was made by the same group of folks that banned water guns, I guess it should come as no surprise.

Well.... I'm trying to think of how this whole thing is going to negatively impact his life, should he miss out on the coveted ninth/tenth palm. Nothing comes to mind.

Good point...but unfortunately the implementation phase will not include fun activities like bubble ball.

The indoor/sedentary folks are in now fully in charge; it will only get worse. Pretty soon, all that will remain will be STEM and Reading MB.

Very true. Indeed, the palms are make-work. I don't recall purposely setting out to earn them. I stayed active in the troop, and the excess MBs just happened thru a combo of leftovers and earning a few at camp just because they seemed fun or interesting.

When I "achieved" my two Eagle palms, no BOR was required. Stay active/positive in the troop, earn the MBs (if you didn't have "leftovers" pre-Eagle), have a chat with the SM, and file the paperwork. It was a very casual process. Palms aren't rank, I'm still not sure what the big deal is.

That ninth palm will make a big difference on those college applications...

Stosh, that's a good one! Haha I got home from work and read your "swan song." I couldn't quite comprehend it. Over the years, you've sparred with some of the best at scouter.com (long 15 round bouts), yet some PMs would drive you away? It didn't add up. So, well back!