Dillards 42: Tweeting to Unpopularity

[victoriasponge]

I was a Brownie here in the UK (complete with promising myself to God and the Queen - neither of which are now important to me) and enjoyed that because we did a good variety of girly activities and sports/outdoor activities. Tried Girl Guides (for 11-14 y/o) and hated it because it was so boring and girly. (As an aside, I still haven't tried Girl Scout cookies and I need them in my life)

Wish I'd joined karate and the scouts, both of which were open to me and I'd have loved but I hated the idea of doing 'boy' things. No idea why, my parents both pushed me to do whatever I wanted. Socialisation starts them young, it seems, regardless of parental influence, or at least in my case it did.

[justoneoftwo]

I think the Mormons were breaking away because of allowing gay troop leaders . . . 

[cascarones]

I was in a outdoorsy focused girl scout troop, we had some girly things like cookies and throwing parties at the senior center, but the girliest one I remember was getting our babysitting certificates around 11/12. Those were actually really useful, since we had to learn CPR for adults and infants, how to rescue someone who's drowning, fireman carry and of course take care of babies. Plus, it was pretty standard in our area to get paid another dollar or two more per hour if you had it.

We also did a lot of stuff with the Boy Scouts, camping trips with adjoining camp sites and what not, but I think that was more a product of the troops having a ton of sibling overlap between my brother's troop and mine.  Derick will just have to get over it if he wants Izzy or Sam to follow in his scouting footsteps.

[Cleopatra7]

1 hour ago, Mudgie said:

My daughter has been a girl scout for 12 years (she's a junior in HS) and the opportunities made available by our state council do not compare on any level to those made available by our Boy Scout council. She's just joined the Venture Crew through my son's boy scout troop. Next summer we're backpacking across Europe for 3 weeks and she and my husband are doing boundary waters for 2 weeks. Girl Scouts has never offered anything like that. 

Girl Scouts offers a variety of national and international trips called Wider Opportunities:

http://www.main.org/gsusa/widop.htm

I knew one girl who went backpacking in Alaska through a Wider Opportunity, though that particular activity never appealed to me (I’m a proud toilet elitist). Also, my mom was and still is a helicopter parent and didn’t like the idea of me leaving the house, even for a Girl Scout sponsored trip.

50 minutes ago, nausicaa said:

I wonder how much of it is that GS troops are really all about crafts and selling cookies, or that's just the assumption because they're "just girls." Men always seem to inherently get more respect for their hobbies and endeavors, and I think that starts young. 

This, I think, is the crux of the issue. Male activities are automatically more respected than female activities, even if girls/women are doing more or less the exact same thing as the boys/men. It’s like how computer programming was initially dismissed as “women’s work” because it first classified as secretarial and therefore feminine in nature, but then became more of a high status job when it was reclassified as part of STEM and was therefore for men.

[uselesstrivia]

38 minutes ago, Cleopatra7 said:

This, I think, is the crux of the issue. Male activities are automatically more respected than female activities, even if girls/women are doing more or less the exact same thing as the boys/men. It’s like how computer programming was initially dismissed as “women’s work” because it first classified as secretarial and therefore feminine in nature, but then became more of a high status job when it was reclassified as part of STEM and was therefore for men.

I think this is the biggest issue.  Most of the opinion on what Girl Scouts is about (for those that are not participants) is based on information provided those that are not in GS.  If you are not in it or don't know someone in it the biggest thing you hear about is cookies. I think Boy Scouts was more standardized and structured - where you could search for info that stated "at X age Boy Scouts participate in Y". 

My experience is that Girl Scout troops are a little more standardized direction the beginning (i.e. "sit upons is a good introductory activity for a new troop") but are allowed to morph and grow based on the troop.  Have a more "girly" troop or leader then you are likely to do more of those things.  My cousin are spaced all up and down the east coast of the US- the difference of what each troop was doing varied not only by area but by the differing personality of my cousins.  I remember quitting the Brownie troop I was in because the troop leader decided we were all going camping.  Most of the girls in my troop were thrilled - I was done in my mind before I even got home from the meeting.  (My lifetime mantra from childhood is well known among my outdoorsy family members " I. do. not. sleep. on dirt"

[Bad Wolf]

I think the Mormons dropped out because of the gay and transgender acceptance. That's not what they say, but that's what many people think.

[Buzzard]

So, if the boy scouts allow girls, will this be the end of the girl scouts organization? I know that they are currently two separate entities, but they cant both survive.  Either they are going to have to merge or one will have to die.  If thats the case, then I definitely am not in favor of the boy scouts being the only option for girls.  I know too many people in leadership and I'm not impressed... 

[HarryPotterFan]

On 10/11/2017 at 12:59 PM, HarleyQuinn said:

I was referring to a food service position. But good point about JillyMuffin.

I don't think he could manage a food service position or anything where a company paid him to interact with people. Even if a local manager was able to put up with him during the hiring process (or had a morbid curiousity and wanted to see what would happen), I can see him getting fired quickly when customers complain about him  proselytizing and being a bigoted asshole. 

7 hours ago, HereticHick said:

Eeek! I think I saw the Cross Church crowd from a distance yesterday here on Capitol Hill.  If only I had known--I would of gone up close to gawk.

Uuuugh make it go away!!!! 

[PennySycamore]

Thank you, @Cleopatra7 and everyone else who spoke up for the Girl Scouts.  Two of my granddaughters are Girl Scouts -both are Brownies this year, I think- and my middle daughter is a Leader.  Her troop was in the International Festival parade this past weekend in Spartanburg, SC and my granddaughter held the USA sign.  The troop is going to Camp Wabak this weekend.  

On her Facebook, my daughter posted a picture of a woman who has been an active volunteer with Girl Scouts for 68 years!  This wonderful woman was wearing a cape covered with badges in the photo.  

As for your question @Buzzard,  the Girl Scouts fully intend to hang around.   This is a statement from my daughter's (and granddaughters') Council that was posted on their Facebook page:

Quote

We are aware you may get questions regarding the recent vote to allow girls in Boy Scouts. While we can't speak for the decisions of other organizations, we can confidently say that Girl Scouts is, and will remain, the scouting program that truly benefits girls by providing a safe space for them to learn and lead. Girl Scouts remains committed to and believes strongly in the importance of the all-girl, girl-led, and girl-friendly environment that Girl Scouts provides, which creates a necessary safe space for girls to learn and thrive. Thank you for your commitment to the Girl Scout Mission and your dedication to building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who are making the world a better place. If you have specific questions please feel free to reach out to us at 1-800-849-GIRL.

I recall that on the most recent season of The Great British Bake-Off (not the current one), one of the bakers was a Girl Guide leader.  Kate was baking a gingerbread rendition of a Girl Guide camp out and Kate, Mel and Mary Berry recited the Promise with Mary hesitating a bit on the Queen a wee bit.  After all, when Mary was in the Girl Guides,  there was a king and not a queen.

[Greendoor]

I don't believe that Derek has cheated on Jill.  I can not imagine anyone who would agree to be with him. 

 

[cascarones]

@Greendoor Not even Becky?

[Greendoor]

Don't know Becky, don't want to, and won't disparage her by suggesting she would touch D with a 10 foot pole.

 

[QuiverFullofBooks]

6 hours ago, Cleopatra7 said:

I made the best sit upon as a Brownie. It was actually a large bucket with a lid that was in turn covered by a cloth cushion for you to sit on. Not only did it make a proper chair/stool for sitting, but you could store stuff on the inside. It’s at my parents’ house and I really need to find some way to bring it to my apartment, because it’s very useful.

I have one of those too! It was the best. It’s up in the attic now. My husband doesn’t understand why I’m holding on to it.

[eye_browz]

Jeremy and Jinger are raising awareness about Jeremy's mom's charity and they are encouraging people to support. 

Hopefully Derick can take a look at the way the Vuolo family operates, and hopefully Derick can improve his approach to fundraising.

In general, being an a**hole is not going to convince people to donate anything.

[HarryPotterFan]

@eye_browz Doubtful, they don't just have different approaches (video of them being nice vs fire and brimstone) but very different goals. Jinjer are trying to use their power (a lot of followers) for good - donate to help needy kids! Derdick is just a greedy, lazy, jerk who wants to benefit himself.

[VelociRapture]

1 hour ago, cascarones said:

@Greendoor Not even Becky?

Is she the Fundie version of Becky with the good hair? 

(I know who Becky is. I just love a lame joke.)

[Satan'sFortress]

It is my understanding that girls will be able to join Cub Scout "dens," which is for the youngest kids, but they will still be single gender, so girl dens and boy dens. When the kids are older and move into "packs", they can be all-girl, all-boy, or mixed----depending on how that unit wants to operate.  Later on, the Boy Scouts will make a new, separate program for older girls, who will then be allowed to go for Eagle Scout.

My son did Boy Scouts for two years, but only after we had talked to the Scoutmaster to let him know that we were atheists and to make sure that this unit didn't discriminate against gay people (one of the leaders was gay, as it turned out.) 

I have to say, in contrast to what someone said up a few pages, that I do think it can be good, occasionally, for older boys to have some separate time away from girls, and vice-versa.  They all act differently when they are teenagers around the opposite gender.  I don't really care about that when they are little, but for the older kids, yeah, it can be good.   I know I like time with just women sometimes!

 

 

[potato]

I was never allowed to join the Girl Scouts because I had to go to Greek school on Tuesday and Friday afternoons  

And as I get older, I realize that my life is slowly turning into My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

[PennySycamore]

I'll bet the Dullards and the Cross Church folks were in DC to attend the so-caled Value Voters Summit sponsored by the Family Research Council.  Twitler is attending even though the only value he really holds is that nothing matters but himself.

[ATimetoDance]

Maybe Derick's tweet is because Smuggar got caught cheating again.  

[klabourdeth]

I loved Girl Scouts when I was in elementary school. Chances are I would have kept up with it if it was not for the amount of changes in leadership. The first year my troop had 3 leaders, second year we had just one who was all into it which allowed for the troop to do so many different activities, but my last after having over 5 leaders in one year bale out I could not deal with it.

I think by age 9 I was tired of the organizations & other activities I was in going though adult leaders like a baby going though diapers. I end up joining 4-H for 9 years & First Robotics all though school were it was close to a god send by those points that we had the same leaders year after year.

I know if you are a scout in Michigan that it was a right of passage to do the week long stay on Mackinaw Island.

[Eternalbluepearl]

7 hours ago, HarryPotterFan said:

@eye_browz Derdick is just a greedy, lazy, jerk who wants to benefit himself.

Yes! This is a big part of what rubs me the wrong way about Jill and Derick. All of their begging has been for themselves. And they are a part of a wealthy family to boot. It's maddening. 

[LacyMay]

I didn't realize that Boy Scouts letting girls in would be considered such a divisive issue. 

I'm in Canada and for as long as I can remember Scouts Canada has allowed girls in its programs (and the group's were co ed) I even had a couple (female) friends who were leaders. I guess the Boy Scout movement in the states is much more formalized  (I've never heard of Eagle Scout in a Canadian context) but still surprised that it's such a big thing. I guess to me it's just normal. 

To those questioning if this would mean the end of Girl Scouts, Girl Guides of Canada is still flourishing so I would assume Girl Scouts should be safe.

As a past girl member  (Brownies,Guides,Pathfinders) And current Guider (Co-Leader in a Ranger unit which is 15-17) it's also interesting to hear people have this idea that Girl Scouts is somehow less important/challenging/valuable than Boy Scouts. I (luckily) haven't experienced that attitude firsthand. Personally while a lot of it depends on the type of unit Guiding in general teaches such valuable skills. As a girl member I learned loads about camping and the outdoors. And our Ranger unit is hard core overnight backpacking trips, white water rafting, snow shoeing and plans to get wilderness first aid certified. In addition they've done program work emergency preparedness and had some great conversations about relevant issues. 

 

[Fundie Bunny]

8 hours ago, Satan'sFortress said:

I have to say, in contrast to what someone said up a few pages, that I do think it can be good, occasionally, for older boys to have some separate time away from girls, and vice-versa.  They all act differently when they are teenagers around the opposite gender.  I don't really care about that when they are little, but for the older kids, yeah, it can be good.   I know I like time with just women sometimes!

No, they don't. I've had a mixed-gender friend group since i was an early teen, and i have seen how this shit is learnt. Teenagers act differently when they are around people they are not confident with, and if they have never been able to be in a group setting, of course they will behave like assholes. Here scouts are always mixed, just separated by age groups, and so far, there has been 0 pregnant girls after a camp out. I honestly can't see why anyone would still be opposed to this.

[Imagine20]

I grew up in a WELS church, where Boy and Girl Scouts were forbidden for some stupid reason or another. I always picture the Duggars to be like that, in which case, why does he even care?

I used to live a few blocks from the Capitol, and it still feels like it's my neighborhood. Seeing those pictures made me miss it.