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Boy Scouts Introduce Merit Badge For Not Pirating

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the think-of-the-children dept.

The_Slaughter writes "The MPAA has recruited the boy scouts of America to do their dirty work. Scouts will now be able to learn a merit badge for anti-piracy related activities, including creating public service announcements urging others not to steal movies or music. No word yet on if that includes helping the MPAA file lawsuits against 80-year-old grandmothers."

6 of 731 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Scouts Honor.... by OS24Ever · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I wasn't in the boy scouts, but I was in the Explorer portion and that's how I got my private pilot license at 18.

    However, I feel that the scout organization has fallen so far from its original intended roots that it's nothing but a special interest shadow of its former self. It's very sad, because what once was an organization that helped kids learn about skills and camping and other simple yet vital tasks for a well rounded person have been hammered away into anti-gay, christian centric whored out to any group that wants type of thing.

    --

    As a rock-in-roll Physicist once said, No matter where you go, there you are.

  2. It will when I teach it by swillden · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The article isn't clear if this is a regular BSA badge or just something cooked up by the local council, but if it's official, I'm going to sign up to be a merit badge counselor (I'm already a counselor for a dozen other merit badges).

    My version will focus on understanding all of copyright law, including (especially) Fair Use, the Doctrine of First Sale and the historical and constitutional basis of copyright law.. I think I'll substitute the "Make a Public Service Announcement" for a 200-word essay on Why the Digital Consumer's Bill of Rights is a good idea".

    --
    Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
  3. I concur and remember one patch... by Chagatai · · Score: 5, Interesting
    In the 1980s, I remember seeing in Boys Life magazine, the publication for Boy Scouts, that they were offering a "Donor Awareness" patch that would go on the chest pocket of the uniform, which is the spot usually reserved for various summer camp logos or other incidental merits. This patch required the scout having a conversation with his parents, and then sending in a form that said something along the lines of, "I have talked with Mommy and Daddy about who will get my kidneys when I die," plus shipping and handling. The badge looked pretty fruity overall, too. I imagine that this is what the "Anti-Piracy" patch would replace. Both merit badges and belt loops (remember those?) had sets of goals that had to be attained across several disciplines. This sounds like a one-step patch, and not a badge.

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    --Chag
  4. Re:Scouts Honor.... by Greventls · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The quality of the Boy Scouts depends on where you are. I was in the Boy Scouts in the Westmoreland Fayette Council up until 4 years ago(I turned 18). I was openly atheist and recieved Eagle. I knew of a couple openly gay members who also made it through to Eagle. No one cared. Everyone was openly accepting of everyone. I think these are select councils or troops run by extremely socially conservative people.

  5. Re:Scouts Honor.... by robyannetta · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Scouts also must choose one activity from a list that includes visiting a movie studio to see how many people can be harmed by film piracy.

    The scouts can drop by my microcinema studio and see how I release all my movies for FREE under a Creative Commons licence.

    Will they still get their badge?

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    - Just my $0.02, take with a grain of salt, your mileage may vary.
  6. Re:Scouts Honor.... by Alchemar · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The boys scouts are "Jesus Camp":

    Can't be atheist http://www.komotv.com/news/story.asp?ID=21204

    But lets get their belief on their "Duty to God" strait from their legal department
    http://www.bsalegal.org/faqs-195.asp

    I am all for letting everyone practice whatever their beliefs, but I am for letting them practicing equally. I have a personal beef with the schools system for only allowing religious organizations that they personally find acceptable. The local school even states in their policy that the only uniforms allowed are for ROTC and Boy Scouts. I am a humanist, I believe in Peace and Getting support from other human being instead of waiting for divine intervention (on a personal note, I think I have made an involentary exception to that for the upcomming elections), why can't I have an organization advertised in the school by allowing the children to wear a uniform?