Boy Scouts introduce videogame badge, other badges ask 'Really?'
By Tim Stevens 
posted April 28th 2010 8:27AM
posted April 28th 2010 8:27AM
Yes, really. The Boy Scouts of America have finally recognized that most important of modern children's pastimes with the creation of a "Video Games" belt loop and pin. However, our initial excitement on this momentous day is drastically lessened after reading how one goes about earning them. Here are the belt loop's three requirements:- Explain why it is important to have a rating system for video games. Check your video games to be sure they are right for your age.
- With an adult, create a schedule for you to do things that includes your chores, homework, and video gaming. Do your best to follow this schedule.
- Learn to play a new video game that is approved by your parent, guardian, or teacher.
Update: We're getting a number of e-mails upset that this post does not explicitly point out that these awards are for the Cub Scouts, not for the Boy Scouts. Mind you, the Cub Scouts are most definitely a part of the greater Boy Scouts of America organization, and anyone who knows anything about the BSA in the first place knows that pins and belt loops are exclusively for Cub Scouts. So, chill, yeah? Also, we're still waiting on that Trials HD advice -- we can't get 10 feet on those new Extreme levels without repeated faceplants.
Sad.
@jonbruc
Meh.
@jonbruc
Not really. The Boy Scouts are trying to make the kids be responsible and play games that are rated for them for an appropriate amount of time. It can only help.
@jonbruc The sad thing is more how the mormons have taken over that once great organization and turned it an incredibly religion heavy mouthpiece for their church and banned gays and atheists.
@jonbruc At this rate, in a couple of years there will be a pr0n badge..
@gargle
"Explain why certain genres of pr0n are not good for kids."
"Write a review."
"Discuss with family members the risks and benefits of working in the pr0n industry."
"Fit no more than 1 hour of pr0n into your weekly schedule."
Oh man.
And of course, "Participate in a pr0n tournament."
@ehisforadam I am not sure where you are and what make you say such things about Mormons but the BSA has always had religion as an important part of the program.
Regardless, they are a private organization and as such can make rules as to their membership as such, including not allowing atheists or gays.
@jonbruc
Very Sad, don't get me wrong, I love my Gaming, but Killing 7 Hookers in GTA is not merit for Badge in Scouts!
Now, if they Hacked their PS3 / XBOX 360 or Wii to say Run Android, THEN GIVE THEM A BADGE!
@Someguyperson maybe they should focus on those pesky molesting scoutmasters first.
@jonbruc This is sad, but this isnot the Boy Scouts, it is Cub Scouts for kids under 12
@jonbruc
Very
@ehisforadam
Yes, the Mormon church does provide funding and is the main reasons for those limitations on the national level. However, in the local units and councils there is less concern over these issues. I have worked with openly gay people (two held higher positions in the council and one in a regional position).
Also, this is not sad. It encourages young children (Cub Scouts, not Boy Scouts) to interact with others while being socially and fiscally responsible.
@onlymyrailgun
Isn't that called a gangbang?
@vanmankline Its sad that these local branches have to keep their tolerance under wraps though. This is why I quit scouts years ago, pulled my nephews from them, and refuse to support them. I don't want young men in my family to believe that gay is okay ONLY when it's hush-hush. That is one of the reasons scouts has no credibility.
@Gamecheater
gamers dont let other gamers go to boyscout
@jonbruc Belt loops are Cub Scouts
@ehisforadam How can you tell if a 10 year old is gay or not? I find it hard to believe anyone is mature enough at that age to know their sexual orientation.
@jonbruc
Yes, the Boy Scouts of America have strayed far from their original role of promoting patriotism and fighting communism in everyday life.
@Kaibelf : Then you're part of the problem. Gay is NOT ok in a single-gender organization that has adults in charge of children. How do you think the whole pedophile scoutmaster thing happened? Get your head out of your oh-so-politically-correct behind for five minutes.
@jonbruc
Our 11 year old is in the boy scouts and will get a real kick out of this story. The thing is that all of the requirements that promote responsibility here we have already tackled with him.
Kids (and parents) that think this story is foolish probably are those that need scouting the most to teach so much of what kids grow up lacking these days. Sure it's easy to use the video games and TV as a babysitter but when you do that you're essentially giving someone or something else control to raise your kids as they see fit.
I love technology and use it all day long but...
when it comes to raising kids I wish we lived in the 50's before all of this technology interjected itself into our lives.
@RequiemOfLife
FYI - Here in the United States boys move from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts halfway through the 5th grade. At the time our boy was 10 years old.
@psycros If you think that gay = pedophile then you're a fucking moron. I would never let kids into an organizaion that teaches them either to discriminate at a young age or one that would throw them out for being gay after they work for years to become Eagle. The fact that you would even imply that a gay man would have so little self-control and would be unable to not molest a kid shows just how fucking stupid you are, and that has nothing to do with political correctness. I assume you also assume any gay guy would hit on you, despite the fact that you are more than likely a fat and unattractive tool.
@Kaibelf I can't speak for psycros, but I don't think he was saying that gays are more likely to be pedophiles. If I had a little girl in girlscouts, I wouldn't be sending her off to weekly den meetings with some hetero dude. There's at least one reason the organization is single-gender (and single-sexual-orientation). It may not be a perfect system, but it's about minimizing your kids' risk when putting them in the care of any adult of any orientation.
I can tell who is or might have been a scout from the intellect in the responses... thanks to my scout leaders ;)
@deepfriedpirate
Just because they can exclude people from their private organization doesn't mean that they should.
From what I've read here I'm now more disurbed about America than I was five minutes ago... That's messed up... And most of your morals seem to be too, but maybe that's just modern society.
@pjfish That is a pretty poor point of view. I have worked for both organizations professionally. In BSA would not be around right now if not for the female volunteers (especially in Cub Scouting). For Girl Scouts, we have be trying to get fathers involved with their daughters, especially in events that fathers could actually enjoy such as camping and outdoor cooking. I guess your mentality is why it's not working.
@jonbruc
Does it come with a $18.7 Million judgement?
@Cobra4455 That may have changed since I was a Boy Scout lo these many eons ago, but we did indeed have metal belt loops for certain awards in Boy Scouts as well as Cub Scouts.
@jonbruc
How come no one is snickering at the "Frisbee golf" belt loop?
I've been gaming my entire life but I REALLY dont think a video game badge should be in the scouts :P
@Hobsie that was my first thought too.
Boy Scouts was always pretty odd already even back in my day.
It was about the outdoors/nature versus its old adversary, TV.
@Hobsie At least they get a new game out of it, even if it is age-appropriate.
Let's see: I don't think the BSA would approve of my gaming selections... especially when it's called the Ballad of *GAY* Tony.
@dragonfli They would hate all of my gay hentai.
Giving badges for being a responsible gamer: good.
The inevitable "they shouldn't get badges for playing games that'll give them square eyes and a stabbing tendency" media response this will engender: bad.
Somehow I doubt the same parents who probably put the kids in day-care/school/this/whatever else so they don't have to spend time with them that often would want a "family gaming tournament".
@Widgetech *sniff* too true :(
"I just want my dad to hug me"
@Widgetech
wow, you are bonkers dude. that's a messed up way to view kids' involvement in school and social groups.
mommy, why does everyone else at school have friends?
because, darling, their parents don't love them. but i do love you, my darling, very very much. you will never spend time with anyone but MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
lol?
4. show your scout leader your epic teabaggin' skills........... on halo 3, which is an M certified product.
good to hear that video games are being embraced by societies instead of expelled. good to see also the requirements arent just "play video games till your hands fall off" they acctually involve some research and knowledge :)
You are doing it wrong
No offense to the industry that I so dearly love, but this is 'effing retarded.
I can see it now... kids begging their parents to let them into scrub scrouts just to play video games and get 'em selves a badge.
@xler8r
Joke's on those kids when they realize their hours are going to be cut (most likely) AND they have to do "homework."
I need that merit badge screen printed on a t-shirt. Now.
Upon further investigation I am a bit disturbed to learn that I do not meet any of the 3 requirements to earn the Belt Loop. Despite that, however, I am well on my way to getting that Academics Pin.
What's that you say? I need the Belt Loop in order to earn the Pin?! Dammit!
This is for Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts. So this is for kids under 12.
so what, the fact that you have to be a scout to earn one of these already shows that you get a little more outdoors time than most other kids
Back in the day we had to hike around the woods for badges. It was uphill both ways and full of outdoor things. The worst part was , we weren't allowed to bring our Atari consoles. Not that there would be anyplace to hook it up in those awful tents. We only had our utility knives with the built in utensils, our canteen, a L shaped scout flashlight, and the scout manual between us and the critters of the forest. Let me tell you, it was no picnic having to sit around the campfires making those smores while bugs ate you alive. Meh, mumble, mumble.
@kabloink
I call bullshit. We brought our atari lynxs to just about every Hike we went on.