Boy Scouts Give Up Entirely, Offer Video Game Badge

[AlphaFrog]

Story Here

From scouting.org—OK, it's not technically a merit badge, it's a belt loop:

Requirements
Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts may complete requirements in a family, den, pack, school, or community environment. Tiger Cubs must work with their parents or adult partners. Parents and partners do not earn loops or pins.
Belt Loop

O RLY? What's next...the LOLCAT Badge? I iz boiskout, givz mi teh popkorns. Lulz.

[AGDee]

I read the requirements and they are pretty similar to the other academic belt loop requirements. I will say that academic belt loops are just "candy" basically. They aren't required to move up in rank and they aren't anything like a merit badge. They have them for sports and academics and, honestly, I think this one should have been a sports one. If you look at the requirements though, they include: budgeting, spending time with the family, evaluating the ratings programs and what's age appropriate, and managing time to LIMIT video gaming to make sure that homework and chores are done too.

I don't think this is a bad thing. They are piloting an Internet merit badge and there is now a Webmaster leadership position in Boy Scout troops.

Just for a frame of reference, other belt loops include bowling, baseball, hockey, badminton, skateboarding, chess, collecting, etc.

[DaemonSeid]

I wonder what game they have to play? Modern Warfare or GTA?

Maybe some Madden?

[aopirose]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

I wonder what game they have to play? Modern Warfare or GTA?

Maybe some Madden?

It can be any game that the Scout chooses with his parent's permission as long as it is age appropriate. Madden is OK for Cubs. Modern Warfare is not.

When the VG requirements came out last fall, I was hoping that there would be a little more meat to them. I did encourage my parents to have their sons compare and contrast two similar games and discuss it. We did Thrillville, which is building a theme park and SimsAnimals, which is creating habitats.

[AOII Angel]

Ha! It has to be done with a parent, so maybe the point is that the boyscout teaches the adult how to use a computer/gaming system.
"Uh, no Dad, push the other button...you suck!"

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Ha! It has to be done with a parent, so maybe the point is that the boyscout teaches the adult how to use a computer/gaming system.
"Uh, no Dad, push the other button...you suck!"

OOOh noes...a WoW badge!!!!

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

OOOh noes...a WoW badge!!!!

I'm so glad I put a stop to all that gaming early in my relationship with my husband...he'd literally spend DAYS playing the same game just building up "experience points" doing something stupid like killing spiders. He wouldn't eat anything but chocolate reisens (an entire bag or two) and drink diet coke! It's pathologic.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I'm so glad I put a stop to all that gaming early in my relationship with my husband...he'd literally spend DAYS playing the same game just building up "experience points" doing something stupid like killing spiders. He wouldn't eat anything but chocolate reisens (an entire bag or two) and drink diet coke! It's pathologic.

Killing spiders is not stupid.












Killing rats is stupid.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I read the requirements and they are pretty similar to the other academic belt loop requirements. I will say that academic belt loops are just "candy" basically. They aren't required to move up in rank and they aren't anything like a merit badge. They have them for sports and academics and, honestly, I think this one should have been a sports one. If you look at the requirements though, they include: budgeting, spending time with the family, evaluating the ratings programs and what's age appropriate, and managing time to LIMIT video gaming to make sure that homework and chores are done too.

Exactly. Here are the requirements:

Requirements for the Video Games Belt Loop
Complete these three requirements:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Learn to play a new video game that is approved by your parent, guardian, or teacher.

There's also a Pin for Webelos Scouts:

Requirements for the Video Games Pin
Earn the Video Games belt loop, and complete five of the following requirements:

1. With your parents, create a plan to buy a video game that is right for your age group.
2. Compare two game systems (for example, Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Wii, and so on). Explain some of the differences between the two. List good reasons to purchase or use a game system.
3. Play a video game with family members in a family tournament.
4. Teach an adult or a friend how to play a video game.
5. List at least five tips that would help someone who was learning how to play your favorite video game.
6. Play an appropriate video game with a friend for one hour.
7. Play a video game that will help you practice your math, spelling, or another skill that helps you in your schoolwork.
8. Choose a game you might like to purchase. Compare the price for this game at three different stores. Decide which store has the best deal. In your decision, be sure to consider things like the store return policy and manufacturer’s warranty.
9. With an adult’s supervision, install a gaming system.

The requirements for the pin do focus more on playing, but still I see broader value in a lot of the requirements.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Killing spiders is not stupid.












Killing rats is stupid.

Nice! I always enjoy the hidden text trick!

[Animate]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I'm so glad I put a stop to all that gaming early in my relationship with my husband...he'd literally spend DAYS playing the same game just building up "experience points" doing something stupid like killing spiders. He wouldn't eat anything but chocolate reisens (an entire bag or two) and drink diet coke! It's pathologic.

Put a stop to? So you don't allow your husband to play video games? I play WoW on a regular and if its not affecting his regular life then there shouldn't be a problem. Now if he was neglecting things like you and other aspects of his life then he has a problem. You just sound like you didn't like him playing video games for extended periods.

[agzg]

I would never be able to get live-in to stop playing video games. However, he only plays 1-2 evenings during weeks (mostly less) and maybe an afternoon on a weekend.

He does buy games that he thinks I would like or at least like to watch - I'm not someone who likes actually playing the games but I am one of the rarities who actually likes watching.

That post really has nothing to do with the OP. I wonder if Eagle Scouts can create a video game for their project? That might be really cool, actually, especially if it were educationally-based and could be used to teach reading to little kids or something.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Animate

Put a stop to? So you don't allow your husband to play video games? I play WoW on a regular and if its not affecting his regular life then there shouldn't be a problem. Now if he was neglecting things like you and other aspects of his life then he has a problem. You just sound like you didn't like him playing video games for extended periods.

Yeah. That's exactly the problem. My husband doesn't know how to play for a few minutes and stop. He plays nonstop for days on end. He doesn't just neglect me; he neglects himself. No food. No shower. Nothing but gaming until he beats it. He knows he gets like that so he chooses not to play any games unless he really, really wants one.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by agzg

I would never be able to get live-in to stop playing video games. However, he only plays 1-2 evenings during weeks (mostly less) and maybe an afternoon on a weekend.

He does buy games that he thinks I would like or at least like to watch - I'm not someone who likes actually playing the games but I am one of the rarities who actually likes watching.

That post really has nothing to do with the OP. I wonder if Eagle Scouts can create a video game for their project? That might be really cool, actually, especially if it were educationally-based and could be used to teach reading to little kids or something.

You may have just come up with my son's Eagle project. Something like that would be perfect for him since he wants to be a video game designer. Math might be easier than reading.. like memorizing multiplication tables via a video game. Hmmmm. The boy and I will have to have a chat about that!

[agzg]

Originally Posted by AGDee

You may have just come up with my son's Eagle project. Something like that would be perfect for him since he wants to be a video game designer. Math might be easier than reading.. like memorizing multiplication tables via a video game. Hmmmm. The boy and I will have to have a chat about that!

I was actually thinking of your son when I wrote that, believe it or not.