The End of Communism...

[OldGreyEagle]

...Well at least the thread on communist weapons dealers who happen to be scouters. The last few posts had begun to take on direct confrontational tones that really need to be in PM's. I am sure we can continue to bash each other in new and better threads. The topic had shifted to poster's styles.

 

While its interesting and entertaining to see various types of communication styles, you do have to understand insults and sarcastic behavior is generally not going to cultivate change. Then again pointing out that someone is perceived to be insulting and sarcastic is likley not to produce a change either.

 

It can be hard to accept that someone with a similar interest in a subject you are pasionate about (like scouting)can be so far off base of what you know to be true, but then thats the allure of these forums, exchanging information and being aghast at what someone, obviously inferior to you, thinks and defends with as much passion as you attack. At any rate, carry on, as I am sure you will.

[Eamonn]

OGE,

While I agree with the closing of the thread because of the "Bashing".

I have to admit to thinking how good it was to see a thread that wasn't in the area of politics, didn't have anything to do with anything that starts with the letter G and wasn't about uniform get so much attention.

I do hope that even if the thread didn't change anyone's mind, it did help us take a long hard look at what our responsibilities as leaders really are?

Eamonn.

[Trevorum]

We did seem to be talking past one another a lot... However, I thought Kudu did an excellent job of keeping to the posted topic of communism and weapons dealing in Scouting. He actually made me want to go see that film about the fall of the Berlin wall!

 

(btw, I wear the sox ...)

[CA_Scouter]

A scout is ... Courteous, Kind, ..... I remember seeing that somewhere... hmmmm....

 

I would like to suggest that if you see a post that you disagree with, or hits one of your 'hot' buttons, that you first ask yourself why this person is part of this forum, and why he/she posted in the first place. I submit that, based on our background as Scouters, that we are participating for the betterment of the Scouting experience, both for ourselves and our scouts, and only have good intentions in mind. Nobody who posts here wants to be scolded or accused.

 

Once you assume a positive stance, you can comment with kindness and helpfulness. Don't let the 1% of the bad posters affect your posts to the 99% of us who only have good intentions in mind.

 

:-)

 

 

[acco40]

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Where have I heard that before?

[Bob White]

Trustworthy and Obedient are part of the Law as well. I am not sure you can argue that wanting leaders to set a good example by following the rules of scouting and the community can be classified as contrary to the betterment of scouting. Nor can you easily justify adult leaders violating laws (even speed limits) as being done for the betterment of scouting.

 

Just because I am in the minority here does not mean I am wrong.

[CA_Scouter]

My response was to the subject of this thread, which is how we respond to and communicate with others with opposing viewpoints in the forums. It has nothing to do with violating BSA rules and other subject matter from the original 'communism' thread.

 

I am just as cynical as the next guy, but when somebody asks me what my 'sign' is, I say its POSITIVE!

 

That's how I'll choose to treat people in these forums.

 

Something else to consider, communicating via email can be tricky at times, because readers cannot always accurately guage the writer's intentions. They may read something and think the writer is rude, when its just the writer not being entirely clear with his writing style. In my work, we have 30 offices around the world, and rely heavily on email for communication. We have different cultures to communicate with, so we need to take the emails at face value, without trying to figure out intent all the time.

 

Even within these forums, we are a diverse group, i.e.. Military, West Coast, East Coast, South, Plains, etc...

 

Finally, email is anonymous, so you don't have to say these things to a persons face. Some people take advantage of that to intentionally goad others, when they wouldn't dare say it to them in person.

 

 

This brings me back to my original post, in that 1% of the posters deserve that kind of treatment, but the rest of us deserve better.

 

OK, everyone, GROUP HUG!!!!! :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[OldGreyEagle]

OK, everyone, GROUP HUG!!!!! :-)

 

done of course in a G2SS two deep leadership boy scouty platonic sort of way I am sure

[Trevorum]

ewww... keep your stinky socks away from me!

[Fuzzy Bear]

I disagree with ending the last column about Weapons Dealers. It was just getting interesting. People were warming up to the fire and beginning to really open up. We were so close to answering the great question about Scout Socks when the plug was abruptly pulled. It will take us a long time to return to that point ever again. It is like hiking up the mountain and only getting near the top. We may never see those beautiful vistas below and that deeply saddens me.

 

Oh well, one must move on.

 

 

FB

[packsaddle]

Remember, when you do climb that mountain and reach the pinnacle, if you tend to look DOWN on everyone else, you'll always be in a minority view.

[Fuzzy Bear]

I guess we will have to settle on looking down at our Scout Socks, which may well make us a minority.