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Boy Scouts Bully Hacker Scouts Into Submission

b1tbkt writes "Youth-focused Maker organization 'Hacker Scouts' has announced their decision to surrender their name due to bullying by the Boy Scouts of America. It appears that BSA has interpreted their federal charter to include a claim on any and all use of the term 'Scout' in an organization's name. The litmus test for such a claim, so far as I'm aware, is the likelihood of causing confusion. The term 'Scout' is sufficiently generic, though, and by this reasoning most every airline in the world would need to eliminate 'Airlines' from their name."

289 comments

  1. Letter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Letter from Camp

    Dear Mom,

    Our scout master told us all write to our parents in case you saw the flood on TV and worried. We are OK. Only 1 of our tents and 2 sleeping bags got washed away. Luckily, none of us got drowned because we were all up on the mountain looking for Chad when it happened. Oh yes, please call Chad's mother and tell her he is OK. He can't write because of the cast.

    I got to ride in one of the search & rescue jeeps. It was neat. We never would have found him in the dark if it hadn't been for the lightning.

    Scoutmaster Webb got mad at Chad for going on a hike alone without telling anyone. Chad said he did tell him, but it was during the fire so he probably didn't hear him. Did you know that if you put gas on a fire, the gas can will blow up? The wet wood still didn't burn, but one of our tents did. Also some of our clothes. John is going to look weird until his hair grows back.

    We will be home on Saturday if Scoutmaster Webb gets the car fixed. It wasn't his fault about the wreck. The brakes worked OK when we left. Scoutmaster Webb said with a car that old you have to expect something to break down; that's probably why he can't get insurance on it. We think it's a neat car. He doesn't care if we get it dirty, and if it's hot, sometimes he lets us ride on the tailgate. IT gets pretty hot with 10 people in a car. He let us take turns riding in the trailer until the highway patrolman stopped and talked to us.

    Scoutmaster Webb is a neat guy. Don't worry, he is a good driver. In fact, he is teaching Terry how to drive. But he only lets him drive on the mountain roads where there isn't any traffic. All we ever see up there are logging trucks.

    This morning all of the guys were diving off the rocks and swimming out in the lake. Scoutmaster Webb wouldn't let me because I can't swim and Chad was afraid he would sink because of his cast, so he let us take the canoe
    across the lake. It was great. You can still see some of the trees under the water from the flood. Scoutmaster Webb isn't crabby like some scoutmasters. He didn't even get mad about the life jackets. He has to spend a lot of time working on the car so we are trying not to cause him any trouble.

    Guess what? We have all passed our first aid merit badges. When Dave dove in the lake and cut his arm, we got to see how a tourniquet works.

    Also Wade and I threw up. Scoutmaster Webb said it probably was just food poisoning from the leftover chicken, he said they got sick that way with the food they ate in prison. I'm so glad he got out and became our scoutmaster.
    He said he sure figured out how to get things done better while he was doing time.

    I have to go now. We are going into town to mail our letters and buy bullets. Don't worry about anything. We are fine.

    Love your son,

    Cole

    P.S. How long has it been since I had a tetanus shot?

    1. Re:Letter by sabri · · Score: 1

      Mod parent up. Is funny, not troll.

      --
      I'm not a complete idiot... Some parts are missing.
    2. Re:Letter by Mitchell314 · · Score: 1

      That last line cracked me up.

      --
      I read TFA and all I got was this lousy cookie
    3. Re:Letter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      jojo, you just describe part of my youth...

      What a great time!!!

      (no kidding... you just describe part of my youth... )

    4. Re:Letter by Garridan · · Score: 0

      That's what I call a false dichotomy. The post is clearly offtopic.

    5. Re:Letter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That reminds me about scout trips and trips with the school.
      This is pretty close to reality.

  2. Well... by Phs2501 · · Score: 0

    They could embrace gender equality and rename themselves the Hacker Guides.

    1. Re:Well... by Valdrax · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yes, because no one would use "Scouts" for girls, would they?

      --
      If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").
    2. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Scouts are already girly. That's why the Sailor Senshi were renamed the Sailor Scouts in the english adaptation instead of using a more accurate translation.

    3. Re:Well... by Frobnicator · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The hacking group claims they are creative. They should prove it --- the next creative work should be a creative new name.

      Any businessperson knows you must have your own creative and unique names and marks. You cannot ride the coattails of another organization's name without the risk of a lawsuit. A quick search of TESS shows the word "Scout" by itself has multiple trademarks on it. Since this is the name of a youth group and the BSA and GSA have trademarks on "Scout" in youth groups, there is a clear trademark case to be made, and fought about in the courts.

      But it gets more complicated than that.

      Both the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of America have a charter from the United States congress. Their charters give them additional power beyond traditional copyright law. Specifically, they include "exclusive right to use emblems, badges, descriptive or designating marks, and words or phrases" for their organizations which extends beyond traditional

      So first off, all organizations MUST sue when they discover other people using their marks. It is not an option. Trademark holders are required either to defend the mark in the courts or risk losing the mark. So the BSA really doesn't have much of a choice in the matter. The marks they use are also boosted by the congressional charter, so any fight brought by the "Hacker Scouts" will face both the traditional trademark battle (which is difficult) and a congressional charter (which is also difficult).

      The group did something any business lawyer would have warned them about --- avoid using any names that are already trademarked. They chose to pick a word that is already trademarked, and are now facing the inevitable consequences of it.

      --
      //TODO: Think of witty sig statement
    4. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      That's why the Sailor Senshi were renamed the Sailor Scouts in the english adaptation instead of using a more accurate translation.

      No, it isn't. Rather, the idiocy of American marketers and translators is entirely to blame.

      Or are you telling me we got "Neon Genesis" Evangelion by some method other than someone sniffing a hell of a lot of glue?

    5. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Since when is BSA a "Mormon" organization? Sure the Mormon church has partnered with BSA, but so have hundreds of other churches and community organizations all across America

    6. Re:Well... by Nemesisghost · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      I think you're completely disregarding that the BSA is a Mormon organization.

      Umm, NO! I'm both an Eagle Scout & a Mormon. And yes, I did Scouting as part of my church youth activities. But at no point is one organization beholden to the other. We Mormons do hold a huge sway over the BSA. But we aren't the only ones, nor do we want to be. We have our own things to worry about, and our own ways of spreading our beliefs. Heck, knocking doors in a white shirt & tie is a heck of a lot easier way to spread a spiritual message than trying to do it through rowdy teenage boys.

    7. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, don't let your free thinking kids hear certain ideas that you don't like. It would be a shame of the free-thought differently than you.

    8. Re:Well... by He+Who+Has+No+Name · · Score: 1, Funny

      The BSA is the official boy's youth program for the Mormon church (as selected by the Mormons, not the BSA). Salt Lake City has a disproportionate and unhealthy influence on BSA national policy as a result.

      Basically, when the Boy Scouts were on the verge of disappearing into history a few decades back, the Mormons stepped in and said "we'll give you a big shot in the arm but we get the reins". And the BSA said "sure, anything, where do I sign? Right here under where it says 'consent for transference of soul?'"

    9. Re:Well... by Obfuscant · · Score: 2

      The BSA is the official boy's youth program for the Mormon church (as selected by the Mormons, not the BSA).

      "All apples are red, therefore anything that is red must be an apple." That's how you are defending the claim that the BSA is a Mormon organization. No, not even "all apples", "some apples", since only some Mormons are member of BSA.

      "Some racists buy Fords, therefore Ford is a company run by racists." There's the car analogy.

    10. Re:Well... by jythie · · Score: 1

      While not a mormon organization, that specific church has, over the last decade or two, managed to wield increasing power over the BSA, which to a degree has turned the BSA into an arm of their organization.. or at minimal they wield significantly more (and more organized) power over the whole group then the other religious organizations that support the BSA.

    11. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      NOoooo. It's totally different because this way it's with computers!

    12. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This group was a marketing venture, done under the guise of political correctness. They intentionally tried to capitalize on the BSA program, and got bitchslapped.

      The only harm done is that they'll sell a few less merit badges in the maker shedd.

    13. Re:Well... by rolfwind · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Both the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of America have a charter from the United States congress.

      Maybe having those charters should subject them to being subject to certain civil rights laws as a public organization rather than allowed to be discriminatory like a private group has the perogative to be.

    14. Re:Well... by sycodon · · Score: 2

      Almost all Boy Scout Troops are hosted by churches. The Boy Scouts embrace religion as the foundation for building a good citizen.

      --
      When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
    15. Re:Well... by AK+Marc · · Score: 2

      So first off, all organizations MUST sue when they discover other people using their marks. It is not an option. Trademark holders are required either to defend the mark in the courts or risk losing the mark.

      100% wrong. If they do not defend it they can luse it, but you don't have to sue to defend it. You could issue a $0 license, and that would be a successful "defense" so far as trademark law is concerned.

      But suing is not a requirement, it is a last resort. Or the first resort of scoundrels.

    16. Re:Well... by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      Who "runs" it? If those who run it are members of or influenced by an organization, saying it's "run by" them isn't incorrect.

    17. Re:Well... by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      What role did LDS play in excluding gays?

    18. Re:Well... by SQLGuru · · Score: 1

      Yeah, Pepsi Cola can't ride the coat tails of Coca Cola (which I believe is riding on the coat tails of Royal Crown Cola).

    19. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sort of. If you give a $0 license to everyone who asks (and especially if you grant them to people who previously infringed) this can count as abandonment of one's interest in the mark.

    20. Re:Well... by AK+Marc · · Score: 2

      second only to that of JROTC.

      As part of my JROTC I got to shoot an M-60. The Boy Scouts had me camping in the parking lot of a church.

    21. Re:Well... by Will.Woodhull · · Score: 0

      Since when is BSA a "Mormon" organization? Sure the Mormon church has partnered with BSA

      Since the Mormon Church began co-opting the BSA, starting back in the 70s or 80s. (I'm sure someone else can detail the time line. I gave up on the situation very early when I began to see just how sexist and racist my Boy Scout experience of the 60s had been.)

      --
      Will
    22. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The hackers were trolling and now they're getting burned for it. They didn't need to troll either but they did. Serves them right as far as I'm concerned.

    23. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

      Girl Scouts has not had the same sort of homophobic and religious policies that boy scouts does. They figured it out years ago before it became an issue

    24. Re:Well... by cusco · · Score: 1

      BSA always did that, and expelled any scouts or scoutmasters who were ever outed. At one time I believe they tried to take away merit badges previously earned as well. I'm not sure when they started actively excluding atheists as well, but it was always a Christian church-based organization so any atheists who were involved were probably pretty well in the closet until the 1970s.

      --
      "Think about how stupid the average person is. Now, realise that half of them are dumber than that." - George Carlin
    25. Re:Well... by Obfuscant · · Score: 2
      I guess I should have just said it outright instead of thinking an analogy would suffice.

      "Some members of BSA are Mormon" doesn't mean "BSA is a Mormon organization" any more than the fact that some Mormons drive Fords makes Ford a branch of the Mormon Church.

    26. Re:Well... by Valdrax · · Score: 2

      I think you're completely disregarding that the BSA is a Mormon organization. Keep your unsexist, non-racist, scientific minded, freethinking kids far far away...

      Right, because enlightened people don't want to be around narrow-minded bigots who stereotype others and advocate excluding them from activities they participate in because of a lack of decent values like... hmm... waitaminute.

      ... unless you're all for all the oaths and honors and other mindless appeals to duty and unquestionably of authority, second only to that of JROTC.

      Yeah, no. Scouting tends to focus a lot more on both self-reliance and on helping others, in my experiences as a kid. I also find it kind of sad that you consider the words "honor" and "duty" to be contemptible things to teach to kids. The world would be a much better place if there more people felt a duty to their fellow man than to just themselves.

      --
      If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").
    27. Re:Well... by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      What if 95% of the board of Ford are members of the KKK? Would that suffice in calling it a "racist organization"?

      Your indefinite statements seem to indicate that you agree in fact, but wish to argue the details.

    28. Re:Well... by AK+Marc · · Score: 2

      I was a closet atheist scout in the '80s. The church/scout links were so tight, there was no non-church troop anywhere near me. And joining one at a catholic church made me an automatic member of that church. They didn't even have a don't ask don't tell policy, like they developed later. They just had an "assume Christian" policy.

    29. Re:Well... by varmfskii · · Score: 0

      I am sorry, but the Girl Scouts did no have to deal with the (incorrect but at one time widely held) belief that there was a correlation between (male) homosexuality and pedophilia.

    30. Re:Well... by varmfskii · · Score: 3, Informative

      I don't know where you get this Christian crap. I was active in the BSA from 1975 until 1995 as both a youth and an adult. While it has always been clear that they support the belief that religion was important for good citizenship, I never saw any indications of an implication toward specifically Christian. The Synagogue that sponsor scout troops would also be rather surprised about this. I know that the books on religion included a number of non-Christian religious medals.

    31. Re: Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They should just say that they're all gay.
      Then people would get bored hating on them.

    32. Re:Well... by Rolpa · · Score: 1

      Hmm... should they call themselves the Maker Rangers? Or is the Army going to sue them too?

    33. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hi,
      Please do not lump Girl Scouts in with the practices of Boy Scouts. Girl Scouts works to be open to girls* regardless of orientation or religion. Boy Scouts might have their practices, but both policy and my own experience in Girl Scouts is that it strives to be welcoming.

      Thank you.

      *as of 2011: "If a child identifies as a girl and the child's family presents her as a girl, Girl Scouts of Colorado welcomes her as a Girl Scout"

    34. Re:Well... by slick7 · · Score: 1

      Yes, because no one would use "Scouts" for girls, would they?

      Scout Willis?

      --
      The mind conceives, the body achieves, the spirit manifests.
    35. Re:Well... by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      You could issue a $0 license, and that would be a successful "defense" so far as trademark law is concerned.

      Letting someone use something very similar to your trademarked name in the same market as you might be a good legal defense of the trademark but it would be a very ridiculous practical defense. If you don't want another group in the same market using a name that would be confused with your trademark, the right answer is to not allow it, not to give it away for free.

    36. Re:Well... by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      What if 95% of the board of Ford are members of the KKK?

      That still doesn't make Ford a branch of the Mormon church. And just because some Mormons drive Fords won't force Ford to appoint anyone in the KKK (or the LDS church, for that matter) to the board of directors. That's not how companies work.

      "Some scouts are Mormon" does nothing to make BSA a branch of the Mormon church.

      Your indefinite statements seem to indicate that you agree in fact, but wish to argue the details.

      Agree in fact with what? Your ridiculous implications that Ford has a bunch of KKK members on their board, or that BSA is an organization run by the Mormon church, or what? You've got no facts, just "some X are Y, thus all Y are X" logic to back up supposition.

      The claim was that BSA was a Mormon organization because some Mormon churches host scout troops. That's the "fact" I'm refuting, and if you can read what I've wrote and come up with some idea I'm "agreeing in fact" with that, you're looney.

    37. Re:Well... by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      which to a degree has turned the BSA into an arm of their organization..

      So THAT'S why the latest addition to the list of merit badges was one for baptizing living people on behalf of dead ones, and why all those elders on mission trips wear BSA uniforms. I'd heard that the stock in companies that make white dress shirts and black suit pants was tanking, and now I know why. I'm still seeing a lot of white shirt/black pants well-dressed young men walking around my neighborhood (there's a study center across the street). Maybe they just haven't gotten the word yet?

      Perhaps, just maybe, the Mormons being a group that thinks religion is important, and BSA being a group that thinks religion is important, and Mormons having young people they want to reinforce that belief in, maybe Mormons might be hosting scout troops even without it being run by their central church? Just a thought.

      But I guess if you hate religion so much, you'll lose the ability to distinguish the players on the other team and they'll all start to look alike after a while. It's a conspiracy, after all.

      or at minimal they wield significantly more (and more organized) power over the whole group then the other religious organizations that support the BSA.

      You know, I actually heard that a local Explorer Post hosted by the Catholic church was using the baptismal fount during their week-night meetings to baptize each other to save people whose names they are pulling from the phone book. And that the priest in charge of the church was helping them. He couldn't help himself, the local stake was controlling his mind with penetrating electrical waves acting upon his hypothalmus.

    38. Re:Well... by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      As part of my JROTC I got to shoot an M-60. The Boy Scouts had me camping in the parking lot of a church.

      So, one group introduced you to violent ways of killing others, the other gave you tools to help you survive as a homeless person. Yes, I can see why you love one and hate the other. They made you camp out. The bastards.

    39. Re:Well... by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      I answered the question of what it takes to defend the trademark. The "desirability" of it is unrelated.

    40. Re:Well... by Wycliffe · · Score: 2

      Even ignoring sexual orientation both organizations are openly sexist. Neither allows someone of the
      opposite sex to join. Why shouldn't a girl who likes to camp be allowed to join Boy Scouts or a boy
      be allowed to join Girl Scouts. The both should drop gender from their names and create programs
      and policies that allow boys and girls with similiar interests to both join.

    41. Re:Well... by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      What did I say to indicate that one was "hated" and the other "loved"?

      Someone else equated the two, so I shared my experience with both.

    42. Re:Well... by AK+Marc · · Score: 0

      "Some scouts are Mormon" does nothing to make BSA a branch of the Mormon church.

      I never said anything that disagrees with that, so I can't figure out why you disagree so vehemently.

      The claim was that BSA was a Mormon organization because some Mormon churches host scout troops. That's the "fact" I'm refuting, and if you can read what I've wrote and come up with some idea I'm "agreeing in fact" with that, you're looney.

      You've not addressed the "influence" of the church on the BSA. You've only said "nuh uh" in a variety of ways, ignoring all logical arguments you encounter.

      Some racists buy Fords, therefore Ford is a company run by racists."

      Your words. I just asked what if there were actual racists running Ford? How many to make it a company "run by racists"? Note, I'm not addressing the buyers, but the people that run it.

    43. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry, I don't want some boy camping with my daughter just because he can tuck his junk between his legs.

      I thought the Girl Scouts were sensible, but if they allow the freak show to join, I'll pull my kids out of the scouts.

    44. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So first off, all organizations MUST sue when they discover other people using their marks. It is not an option. Trademark holders are required either to defend the mark in the courts or risk losing the mark.

      100% wrong. If they do not defend it they can luse it, but you don't have to sue to defend it. You could issue a $0 license, and that would be a successful "defense" so far as trademark law is concerned.

      But suing is not a requirement, it is a last resort. Or the first resort of scoundrels.

      Cause you're a lawyer and you know the relevant law.... I'm guessing NOT!!

    45. Re:Well... by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      If you aren't, then how did your comment add to the discussion?

    46. Re: Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or the Texas Rangers, or the New York Rangers. While we're on hockey, is this why the Kansas City Scouts changed their name to the Cleveland Barons?

    47. Re: Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oops, I mean Colorado Rockies

    48. Re:Well... by Stan92057 · · Score: 1

      No girls are not wanted nor are boys wanted maybe you should talk to some kids and ask them what they want. And its not wrong to have a male only group or a women only group why would i want to invade someone else group that doesn't want me? im glad there wore no girls in the boy-scouts when i joined at the age of 13 didn't want girls there either. And would have quite if forced to allow girls and gays.

      --
      Jack of all trades,master of none
    49. Re:Well... by Stan92057 · · Score: 1

      They did thats right but as of now? i dont know if the new BSA allows gays then the church will not be involved nor host a group that has gays Im talking catholic here who knows what the other religions allow disallow. I should duckduckgo it. lol

      --
      Jack of all trades,master of none
    50. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Some scouts are Mormon"

      You've restated your straw man how many times now, and still failed to knock it over?

      The claim isn't that a few scouts are Mormon therefore Mormons run the place, the claim is that the people at the top of the organization (what, master scoutmasters?) are Mormon, therefore Mormons run the place. Maybe the claim is wrong (is the master scoutmaster a Mormon?) maybe the claim is overstating the importance of the master scoutmaster's religion. But your argument is weak and pathetic, which is why you are losing it.

    51. Re: Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was a scout from 1981 to 1981... Was told I wasn't welcome unless I was a christian. So I never went back.

    52. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      HOORAY!

      P implies Q

      BUT Q DOES NOT imply P!

      YOU GOT IT!

    53. Re:Well... by Wycliffe · · Score: 1

      I know plenty of girls that would rather join boy scouts than girl scouts.
      Would it really change anything if it was "family scouts" instead?
      They advertise it as "family camp" but it's not really. My daughter would
      love to join boy scouts. She enjoys the same type of activities as her
      brothers as do many girls I know.

    54. Re:Well... by Wycliffe · · Score: 1

      As an additional note, in our local group she is allowed to attend
      all the meetings with her brothers and do all the activities, she's
      just not allowed to earn any merit badges, etc... so girls are still
      present at every meeting and activity they just don't have the
      same rights as the boys.

    55. Re:Well... by Stan92057 · · Score: 1

      I dont know what the BSA bylaws are anymore i haven't been in the scouts since i was 17. You might be breaking the BSA rules/bylaws by allowing girls to be a part of the meetings.

      --
      Jack of all trades,master of none
    56. Re:Well... by Nemesisghost · · Score: 1

      Initially? Nothing more than any other church did(ie pull the program from their youth activities). In fact it was the initial dispute over this in the 90s that prompted my church to come up with an official young men's program should scouts ever lose it viability as a program to bring our young men up in. It's what we now use outside the US, and in conjunction with scouting in the US.

    57. Re:Well... by Wycliffe · · Score: 1

      This is primarily done because of single parents and working parents
      where the younger siblings are there anyway. My point is that not only
      are girls already there and are generally allowed to watch and/or
      participate but that it would make it easier on the parents of multiple
      kids, would help promote the "positive family values" they are suppose
      to stand for, etc.... It doesn't make sense any more sense to have a
      group a single gender as it does to have an occupation as a single
      gender. Yes, more boys are going to want to join scouts and football
      and more girls are going to want to join gymnastics and ballet but you
      shouldn't disallow a kid from joining just because they happen to like
      an activity that has traditionally been for the other gender.

    58. Re:Well... by Stan92057 · · Score: 1

      Doesn't matter what the reason is and if the girls are not soposta be there what are you teaching our kids? dont like the rules so just break them? Make your own Family Scout group dont force unwanted girls to a BSA group that doesn't/ want them.

      --
      Jack of all trades,master of none
    59. Re:Well... by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      I never said anything that disagrees with that, so I can't figure out why you disagree so vehemently.

      Because I didn't originally reply to you, I replied to someone who said that, and you are jumping in apparently defending that position.

      You've not addressed the "influence" of the church on the BSA.

      I don't have to. I wasn't responding to "influence". I was responding to a claim that BSA was run by the Mormon Church. Every member of an organization has influence over that organization. So what?

      ignoring all logical arguments you encounter.

      "Some A is B means All B is A". That's the "logical argument I'm "encountering". I haven't ignored that, I've pointed out that it is a logical fallacy.

      Your words.

      Several articles back. The one you replied to talked about Mormons driving Fords making Ford a Mormon company. You decided to switch back mid-stream for some reason, and yet I dealt as well. It doesn't matter, KKK, Mormon, the fact the some X drive Fords does NOT make Ford a company run by X. Live with it.

      I just asked what if there were actual racists running Ford?

      And I say, so what? It's irrelevant. They weren't put there because some racists buy Ford products. Companies do not appoint their board of directors that way. I told you that already. Come up with something else that proves that BSA is run by the Mormon church or admit that the claim is ridiculous.

      Note, I'm not addressing the buyers, but the people that run it.

      And the claim I'm talking about is that since Mormons are "buyers" of BSA products they are in control of BSA. If you're not defending that claim, stop defending that claim.

    60. Re:Well... by Outta_the_way_peck! · · Score: 1

      I was expecting a link for "To Kill a Mockingbird".

    61. Re:Well... by Valdrax · · Score: 1

      I am disappointed I didn't think of that too.

      --
      If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").
    62. Re: Well... by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      I was active both before and after that. I was perfectly welcome as a non-Christian, so long as I joined the church that hosted the troop (all Christian in my area). So Yes, All-Saints Catholic Church, Dallas was happy to accept atheists as full members, so long as they were also members of the scouts.

    63. Re:Well... by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      Come up with something else that proves that BSA is run by the Mormon church or admit that the claim is ridiculous.

      Oh no, Someone used my own analogy against me! Quick, grab the ball and run!

    64. Re:Well... by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      Oh no, Someone used my own analogy against me!

      First you claimed that the "racists running Ford" analogy was MY words, now you're claiming that it is your analogy being used against you. Seriously? Have you bothered paying attention to the discussion at all? You didn't seem to know that the claim I was responding to wasn't written by you, now the analogy authorship is slipping your mind.

    65. Re:Well... by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      What did I say to indicate that one was "hated" and the other "loved"?

      Hyperbole. Billions of slashdot posters use it every day. You should be used to it by now. So you don't fully love one and don't fully hate the other. You like one and dislike the other. You smile when one is mentioned and frown for the other.

      Pick your level and then deal with the concept that one teaches you to kill and the other to live when faced with limited resources, and that you prefer the one that taught you how to kill more efficiently.

      Someone else equated the two, so I shared my experience with both.

      Yes, we got that part. Your experience with scouts was that they forced you to camp out. Those bastards. Good thing Kenny wasn't a boy scout, the experience would probably have killed him.

    66. Re:Well... by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      I didn't particularly like either. JROTC got me out of gym. The camping was on a concrete surface surrounded by buildings and campfire stories had to be shouted over the sounds of traffic (the "campfire" was a propane stove). Almost like a traditional camp out.

    67. Re:Well... by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      " more than the fact that some Mormons drive Fords makes Ford a branch of the Mormon Church." is your words http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=4265047&cid=44954055

      The analogy (what it takes for a car company to be racist) is yours. I used it against you. You read my words as me talking to you. I wasn't talking to you, I was mocking you. You've come up with an analogy, and when that analogy is explored to try to gauge the thresholds to then compare to the original situation, you play dumb (or aren't playing).

      What *would* it take for Ford to be racist? You seem to indicate the answer is "nothing can make it racist, I win!". But your arguments don't make sense. If 100% of the directors, executives, and employees and 100% of the buyers were members of the KKK, would that make it racist (presuming the KKK is assumed to be de facto racist)?

    68. Re:Well... by Wycliffe · · Score: 1

      That's basically what I did for my family. I got the book and am teaching my kids (both boys and girls)
      how to camp, make fires, archery, etc. as I realized that you're right that girls are "unwanted" and
      "unwelcome" and it's very hard to tell my daughter that she isn't allow to participate and it's easier for
      me and takes less time to teach my kids together than to have my boys learn at boy scouts and still
      have to find the time to teach my girl on my own.

    69. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What? What does this even mean?

    70. Re:Well... by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      The analogy (what it takes for a car company to be racist) is yours.

      First, you failed to quote all the words of the analogy. I doesn't start with the word "more". Second, it is not an analogy that says what it takes for a car company to be racist, it is an analogy about what DOES NOT MAKE A CAR COMPANY RUN BY A CHURCH.

      You read my words as me talking to you. I wasn't talking to you,

      You replied to something I posted, so I guessed you were talking to me. You wrote about "my words" without attributing that statement to anyone else, unquoted, presumably referring to yourself. And you talked about an analogy being used against you, which is what I have been doing continually - using it against you. My bad for not reading your mind instead of your words.

      You've come up with an analogy, and when that analogy is explored to try to gauge the thresholds to then compare to the original situation, you play dumb (or aren't playing).

      Your question asking if Ford did have racists on their board would they be run by racists is not a "threshold", it's asking "if Ford was run by racists would they be run by racists" without dealing with the issue of how those racists got there. It's a worthless question, and I'm not playing the game you want to play. The issue I've been responding to is a claim that BSA is run by the Mormon church because some Mormon churches host BSA troops. That's the game of the day.

      Here's the fact. The fact that some Mormon churches host BSA troops does not mean BSA is run by the Mormon church. Period. End of sentence. That's the claim that I replied to, that's what you need to disprove if you want to argue with me about it. I'm sorry the analogies confused you, especially to the point that you need to keep referring to Mormons as racists. I apologize to my Mormon friends for giving you that opening to vent your hate.

      What *would* it take for Ford to be racist? You seem to indicate the answer is "nothing can make it racist, I win!".

      That's nowhere near what I said and you know it. I "seem" to indicate that "the fact that some Mormons buy Fords does NOT make Ford run by the Mormon Church." "A does not mean B". That you're pretending I argued "A does not mean B thus B can never happen" says more about your logic and reading comprehension than mine.

      But your arguments don't make sense.

      Perhaps because you're making them up and trying to stuff them into my mouth and you're deliberately trying to not make sense?

      If 100% of the directors, executives, and employees and 100% of the buyers were members of the KKK, would that make it racist (presuming the KKK is assumed to be de facto racist)?

      Once again, FMC does not appoint its board of directors based on the fact that some racists, (or Mormons in the actual analogy) buy their cars. They appoint directors based on business acumen and management ability. So, in terms of the original issue, you're assuming because Mormon churches host BSA troops that BSA has automatically appointed the Mormon Church as their board of directors, and then asking if that doesn't mean BSA is run by the Mormon Church. If you can't see how that is assuming the result you need to prove, then I can't help you.

    71. Re:Well... by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      Your question asking if Ford did have racists on their board would they be run by racists is not a "threshold", it's asking "if Ford was run by racists would they be run by racists" without dealing with the issue of how those racists got there.

      Yeah, mainly because it's funny to watch you say things like that how a racist gets into a position of power changes whether they are a racist in a position of power. You are so interested in "proving" your opinion of BSA/LDS that you've shown you are unwilling to discuss the issue impartially.

  3. Change it to "Hacker Sc0uts" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Aha, worked for my pr0n folder too

  4. a better name by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Could they change their name to Boy Hackers Of America?

    1. Re:a better name by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They should just change it to BSA Are Douchebags. Checkmate.

    2. Re:a better name by Jimbob+The+Mighty · · Score: 1

      Could they change their name to Boy Hackers Of America?

      No, I think Jeffrey Dahmer's fan club has that trademarked.

  5. No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    No, learn how copyright law works. The BAS is forced to do so by interpretations from the last few decades. Further, it's a deliberate re-use of their brand name; not just "scout" as in the dictionary definition, but in the specific context of non-profit national youth organization.

    1. Re:No by N1AK · · Score: 4, Insightful

      This AC is exactly right. There's no way the name "hacker scouts" wasn't inspired by the boy scouts and frankly it could well mislead people into thinking their is a relationship between the two organisations. It isn't bullying when you rip off someone else and they ask you to stop.

    2. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

      That's because inspiration is illegal in this country.

    3. Re:No by h4rr4r · · Score: 4, Informative

      You mean trademark law.
      Copyright law has no such provision.

    4. Re:No by sunderland56 · · Score: 1

      Then why aren't they going after the Girl Scouts? That is a competing organization with an extremely similar name and siimilar product.

    5. Re:No by stewsters · · Score: 0

      Hopefully they never hear about the "Girl Scouts of America".

    6. Re:No by Golddess · · Score: 1

      siimilar product.

      Can't say I've ever thought of popcorn as being similar to cookies. But I suppose they are both junk food.

      --
      "I'm not sure I like the fugnutish tone you used in your post!" -RogL (608926)-
    7. Re:No by i+kan+reed · · Score: 0

      On the other hand, the people you ripped off and are asking you to stop are horrible bigots with no reputation left to protect.

    8. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I guess the worldwide scouting movement should send a cease and desist letter to the BSA then.

    9. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gee, maybe it's the fact that it is a completely different demographic? Parents can choose to send their sons to Boy Scouts or Hacker Scouts, but not even very effeminate boys can join the Girl Scouts of America.

      I agree that Hacker Scouts was trying to coattail on the established brand of Boy Scouts, and changing their name was the right thing to do.

    10. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Camping trips and little badges.

    11. Re:No by Obfuscant · · Score: 2

      For those who are still living in their parent's basement and haven't run into any of these yet, "girls" are different than "boys", and most people understand that the two are (almost always) mutually exclusive. This is different than "hacker" and "boy", which through an odd twist of STEM inequities, are closer to synonyms than antonyms.

    12. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Insightful??? No, this has nothing to do with copyright law, nor is it how copyright works. First off, you are confusion copyright with trademark law. Second, the Boy Scout were using their charter to bully, not copyright or trademark laws.

    13. Re:No by Obfuscant · · Score: 1, Insightful

      On the other hand, the people you ripped off and are asking you to stop are horrible bigots with no reputation left to protect.

      It's ok to steal from people whose political and ethical standards are different than yours. Check.

      I dare say that the reputation of the Boy Scouts is considerably better than "hacker" for most of the public. Most people don't hate them quite as much as you do, and there are still a lot of people who would prefer to hire an Eagle Scout than someone who makes it a life ambition to break into computers. That's how most of the people view this.

    14. Re:No by b1tbkt · · Score: 1

      Forced to do this? Could you expand upon that please? If they want to retain claim to the term 'scout' as part of their brand then perhaps they are 'forced'. Would the average person conclude that any 'scout' organization is affiliated with or endorsed by BSA (open-ended question)? If I'm overlooking something from Copyright Law 101, please feel free to engage in constructive dialog. Otherwise, we're all left to believe that you lack sufficient grasp of the relevant laws to convey their applicability simply and with clarity.

    15. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      Girl Scouts is not a competing organization due to the 1) gender bias of the respective organizations 2) the biologically bifurcated gender system that we all come from* 3) Each organization already formally recognizes the other as non-competing entities (see #'s 1 & 2).

      * I am talking about most of society - not the small number of exceptions nor folks that think they are exceptions.

      As for the origins of the GS and BS... The Girl Scouts / Girl Guides, the parent worldwide organization of the GSA were formed by Agnes Baden-Powell. Wife of Robert Baden-Powell. The founder of the Boy Scouts, and subsequently BSA.

      Both were formed at roughly the same time. BS 1909, GS 1910.

    16. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Parents can choose to send their sons to Boy Scouts or Hacker Scouts, but not even very effeminate boys can join the Girl Scouts of America.

      Actually, that's not strictly true. The Girl Scouts has a rule allowing a transgendered child - meaning if the child identifies as a girl and the family treats him (her) as such, then yes, she can join the Girl Scouts.

      The Girls Scouts of America are much more right on than the BSA.

    17. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Where did you get the idea that they're competing organizations?
       
      Right from the get-go your argument is flawwed.

    18. Re:No by azadrozny · · Score: 1

      The Girl Scouts of the USA were founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912. Also, I am not sure that they can't be considered non-competing entities. The BSA has a co-ed Venturing program.

    19. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You misspelled "Trademark."

    20. Re:No by drevange · · Score: 2

      Get facts straight, not bullying at all. Is part of the trademark application process that Hacker Scouts is trying to go through. It is in the "Publication for Opposition" period and the BSA response is according to that procedure.

    21. Re:No by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      Would the average person conclude that any 'scout' organization is affiliated with or endorsed by BSA (open-ended question)? If I'm overlooking something from Copyright Law 101, please feel free to engage in constructive dialog.

      You're overlooking two things. Firstly, it should be trademarks 101. Secondly, the test case isn't the average person, it's a moron in a hurry.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    22. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The definition you are using for the word hacker, is not the same definition that most "hackers" agree with. Someone who breaks into computers is more aptly called a cracker.

      Here are some examples.
      Hey Timmy, how did you get the broken car working again? Oh, I just hacked something together.

      Hey Billy, I saw you have been able to crack that safe open.

      Do you see the difference?

      See here for another explanation: http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/hacker

    23. Re:No by Obfuscant · · Score: 2

      The definition you are using for the word hacker, is not the same definition that most "hackers" agree with.

      I see you missed the part where I said that this is what most people think. I didn't say it was my definition. Most people don't care what "most hackers agree with", they think hacking is breaking into computers to create havok.

      Someone who breaks into computers is more aptly called a cracker.

      To most people, a "cracker" is what they take out of a Ritz or saltine box. Please, really, do read all the words and the context that they create. That would keep you from wasting everyone's time preaching to the choir.

    24. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not as much rapey-ness, though.

    25. Re:No by rolfwind · · Score: 3, Informative

      Learn some history, BSA lobbied for a charter from Congress specifically to get the competition out of business:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_Scouts_of_America#Federally_chartered_corporation

      Paul Sleman, Colin H. Livingstone, Ernest S. Martin and James E. West successfully lobbied Congress for a federal charter for the BSA–partly as a way to deal with competition from the Lone Scouts of America,[24] which President Woodrow Wilson signed on June 15, 1916

      Good old capitalism, when you can't deal with competition, you bribe, er, "lobby" various legislative/government officials to put them out of business.

      The BSA is not some poor group that is "forced" to do anything here by big bad government copyright law.

    26. Re:No by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      There's nothing stopping the BSA from offering a $0 license that would protect their trademark as much as suing them does.

    27. Re:No by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      Girl Guides (the international girl scout organization) pre-dates GSA, and follows the history previously mentioned.

    28. Re:No by mythosaz · · Score: 1

      Speak for yourself.

    29. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then they're idiots. I'd prefer to hire someone who had demonstrated a set of skills relevant to the 21st century than someone who didn't have the personal integrity to walk away from an overtly homophobic group.

      If the BSA really cared about this, how's about they try suing girl scouts, cavalry scouts or just the scout ?

    30. Re:No by Seumas · · Score: 1

      I completely agree. They have a legitimate concern that someone might confuse boys building 3D printers and setting up wireless networks for the homophobic religious organization full of child molesters. They are obligated by law to defend their bigoted child-fiddling reputation.

    31. Re:No by Seumas · · Score: 1

      Likewise, you wouldn't confuse two groups with "scouts" in their name, when one is for making stuff and the other is for camping in the woods and survival stuff (well, theoretically -- when I was in scouts, we had women den leaders and we spent our time making christmas ornaments and mother's day cards).

      There is no confusion to be had and confusion only to be *asserted* by a biased affinity for the BSA.

    32. Re:No by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      Likewise, you wouldn't confuse two groups with "scouts" in their name, when one is for making stuff and the other is for camping in the woods and survival stuff

      There is nothing "camping in the woods" specific to the word "boy", and for most people there is nothing inherently "making stuff" in the word "hacker". In fact, as I've pointed out, due to the inequities of STEM education, "hacker" and "boy" are much more like synonyms than antonyms (like "boy" and "girl"). That's where the confusion comes in.

      Nobody who was really familiar with Apple Records would ever possibly confuse the Apple iTunes store with Apple Records; it's only those who aren't (and they are the majority). Same here. Here, it would be the parents who are looking for a worthwhile afterschool activity for their kids and come across "Hacker Scouts" (who have absolutely no "scout" activities involved) and think it may be another part of BSA (like cub scouts and Explorers.)

    33. Re:No by dwillden · · Score: 1

      Can camping and survival skills not be considered Hacking/making. I go into the woods with just my knife and hatchet and make a shelter, I make a fire, I get some rope and make a bridge across the river. I use my knife to carve out all kinds of stuff. Indeed scouting involves a great deal of using available resources to accomplish your goals and needs. Why do hackers/makers make stuff?

      --
      I'm too lazy to compose a creative sig.
    34. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts pretty much grew up together, work together, and play together well. Though they are separate entities, they coexist and cooperate. And, I think it mostly has to do with both organizations being founded prior to petty trolls and people trying to make some ridiculous statement like this lame-o so-called hacker scouts party.

    35. Re:No by chrismcb · · Score: 1

      The BSA is not some poor group that is "forced" to do anything here by big bad government copyright law.

      I'm struggling to understand what BSA and their trademark has to do with copyright law?

    36. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This AC is exactly right

      No he isn't. Copyright law has nothing to do with this. This is about trademarks.

    37. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The BSA does not have a right of exclusive usage of the term, in Europe there are many scout organizations in the same country and they don't sue each other out of it, and they all use the equivalent translation of scout (except UK et al. that use scout).

    38. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We really need to stop protecting the morons that would confuse the BSA with the Hacker Scouts. The BSA are bullies. If you don't believe that, you will once they come to your place of employment and start looking for all of your software licenses.

      LOL

    39. Re:No by weweedmaniii · · Score: 1

      Possibly they don't go after the Girl Scouts of the USA (look it up not GSA) because Lady Olave Baden-Powell (Robert Baden-Powell's wife, he is the founder of Scouting) was an early proponent of Girl Guides as girl scouts were known in England. She helped Juliette Low found Girl Scouts in the US, just a few years after Boy Scouting was started. You don't mess with the founder's wife's organization.

      --
      "If stupid things work...then they are not stupid."
    40. Re:No by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      You mean in addition to making motorcycles and air rifles?

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  6. Re:I'm shocked by Quantus347 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Wow, bullying, in the boy scouts? I'm utterly shocked. Who would have though an organization full of teenage asshole testosterone pumps would be susceptible to bullying?

    Just because the national management is regrettably old-fashioned and very very conservative does not mean the youth themselves are assholes. At that age they more often actually live up to the public Ideals.

    --
    Common Sense isn't as Common as people think...
  7. Re:I'm shocked by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 2

    Wow, bullying, in the boy scouts? I'm utterly shocked. Who would have though an organization full of teenage asshole testosterone pumps would be susceptible to bullying?

    This was bullying by the boy scouts, an even less shocking phenomenon.

    (If anything, the boy scouts, and similar organizations in other countries, have actually chilled out considerably since the bad old days in the fires of psychotic European ultra-nationalism. They still skew right on god and gays; but the 'direct feeder into the armed might of The State' vibe has been toned down considerably)

  8. Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Licensing/Protecting%20the%20Brand/Boy%20Scouts%20of%20America%20Trademark%20Listing.aspx

    They have to defend their trademark, or they will lose it. IMHO, "Hacker Scouts" is confusing and when I first heard it I thought it was a Scout-related computer group.

    1. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by drevange · · Score: 2

      Agree, I also though it maybe was a related group. The need to defend is there. They also were not bullying - it was a response during the normal trademark application process. I like both Boy Scouts and the "maker" community and agree there would be a high level of interest. Unfortunately the Maker Scouts was a pretty blatant infringement, even in how they were structuring things.

    2. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by thaylin · · Score: 1

      And the girl scouts?

      --
      When you cant win, ad hominem.
    3. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by MobileC · · Score: 1

      http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Licensing/Protecting%20the%20Brand/Boy%20Scouts%20of%20America%20Trademark%20Listing.aspx

      They have to defend their trademark, or they will lose it. IMHO, "Hacker Scouts" is confusing and when I first heard it I thought it was a Scout-related computer group.

      They have a trademark on "* Scouts"?
      Baden-Powell would be surprised...

      "* Scouts of America", I could understand...

      --

      Fran
      :):):)
      1st 1st Poster of the new Millennium!

    4. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by h4rr4r · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      No need to defend, the Hacker Scouts should gladly change their name so they are not assumed to be involved with those bigots.

    5. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just looked over the page. There's no trademark they hold on 'Hacker Scouts' or even just 'Scouts' (though they do hold a trademark on 'Scouting').

    6. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by azadrozny · · Score: 2

      When the BSA changed is policy in May with respect to gay scouts, several groups began to organize Boy Scout-like programs (sans the gays). Several of these groups initially tried to use a form of the word "scout" in their name, or the trademarked Fleur-de-li as part of their logo. I think it is safe to assume that the BSA has stepped up enforcement of its trademarks and copyrights, in an effort to keep these groups from building on their name.

    7. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by jeffmflanagan · · Score: 1

      Agreed. I can't seem to come up with any reason a hacker group would have anything to do with scouting in the general sense, unless the hacked tech is exclusively used to scout new territories.

      It only makes sense if they're trying to ride on the coattails of the Boy Scouts, presumably believing it's a respectable org because they don't realize that bigots have had control of that organization for a while.

      I was a Boy Scout long before they started spewing Conservative hate, and have been really disappointed by decline of the organization.

    8. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's unfortunate that you're so easily confused.

    9. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by drevange · · Score: 1

      Hey coward - Just plain wrong.

    10. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by drevange · · Score: 1

      The acceptance policy had been the same since the beginning. Those that may have been bigoted are mostly leaving for other organizations, and good for Scouts.

    11. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by ZombieBraintrust · · Score: 1

      People assume there is a relationship between the Boy Scout organization and the Girl Scout organization because of their names. I assume they have an agreement on sharing the mark.

    12. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by JMZero · · Score: 1

      you do know they have decided to let homosexuals join don't you?

      That's not true in any meaningful sense. From Scouting.org:

      While the BSA does not proactively inquire about sexual orientation of employees, volunteers, or members, we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals

      --
      Let's not stir that bag of worms...
    13. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by tibman · · Score: 1

      Sounds like they took that from the US military's old "Don't ask. Don't tell." policy.

      --
      http://soylentnews.org/~tibman
    14. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

      Neither "Hacker Scouts" nor "Scouts" is on the list, making your claim that they need to defend their non-existent trademark rather ironic, don't you think. Also, I was unaware that this vehicle was manufactured by the BSA. I'm also wondering why they haven't gone after this organization, when it's a pretty well known fact that many of the BSA adults hate pussies.

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    15. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      A $0 license is defending it. There is no requirement to harass or sue.

    16. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by AK+Marc · · Score: 2

      I happen to be an Eagle Scout. I find your statement to be highly offensive and very uninformed.

      As would any properly-indocternated Eagle Scout.

      I suspect you're referring to the whole "Gay Scout" thing, you do know they have decided to let homosexuals join don't you? Soooo, why do you call them bigots?

      Do they allow openly gay scoutmasters?

      Is it the emphasis they place on morals and doing the right thing, trying to become the best person you can be?

      So long as that "best person" conforms with their parameters.

      Is it because you wouldn't have cut it?

      I don't know about the original poster, but I did cut it as a scout, but found more interesting and fulfilling things to fill my time before getting to Eagle, though at the time I grew up and moved on, I was well on target for Eagle. How many times did you go to Philmont Scout Ranch? I've been a few times, stood on the top of Baldy Mountain, and all that.

    17. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      So long as that "best person" conforms with their parameters.

      Every person believes that the best people conform to "their parameters". What normal people would call ethics, but you need to cast in negative terms. I bet even you feel the same way.

      Otherwise why would you have those "parameters"? Don't YOU want to be the best person YOU can be? If you have "parameters" that you don't think help you to be the best person you can be, then you'd get rid of them, wouldn't you? Or do you settle for being the most mediocre person you can be and hold on to an ethical belief system that takes you there? "Slouching Towards Gomorrah" is the best path?

    18. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      The "liberal" stance is to be the best you can be at what you want to be. If that's the best grunge rocker making $10 a month in tips, so be it.

      The "conservative" stance is to be a banker, lawyer, doctor, and be the best at that. "Alternative" life style is to be a good astronaut or fireman, but those are too much like manual labor to be top-tier jobs (and you can't buy your way in).

    19. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by Your.Master · · Score: 1

      They might, given that the boy scouts and hacker scouts have in common the fact that they are not scouts at all, but youth groups.

      Just like Apple is trademarked, despite the fruit.

    20. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I miss the slashdot of the old days. There was a time when celebrating your ignorance of a subject would be mocked instead of upvoted. You're ignorant enough that the term "scout" is obscure to you, congrats.

    21. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by h4rr4r · · Score: 1

      So is my brother and I was one project away from it at one time.

      I find my statement highly informed and truthful. They are not really allowing gay members, more like don't ask don't tell. I remember lots of kids being picked on for their race or socioeconomic standing. I have seen non-protestant families run out of troops. We had the head of our lodge of the OA kicked out for merely stating he thought homosexuals should be able join the boy scouts. Mind you he was gay too, but he never told anyone until after he was kicked out.

    22. Re:Unfortunately I have to side with the Scouts by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      The "liberal" stance is to be the best you can be at what you want to be. If that's the best grunge rocker making $10 a month in tips, so be it. The "conservative" stance is to be a banker, lawyer, doctor, and be the best at that.

      There is no difference between the two. Both statements are trying to define "best person" by the occupation and not by the person himself. And that is why your attempt at bringing politics into this fails miserably, because you are simply wrong. You don't see liberal bankers sitting around wishing they were $10/month grunge rockers, they think about how to make more money. It ain't a liberal/conservative thing.

      But I wasn't talking about being best at some specific occupation, because Boy Scouts isn't involved in trying to make anyone the best at a specific occupation, and most ethical systems (what you call "parameters") aren't, either. They deal with the person as a whole and not with what how well they do what they do for a living.

      So, I'll ask again, since you managed to bypass the question by changing the context -- do YOU not think that your "parameters" are a basis for YOU being the best person YOU can be? Not the best belly dancer or the best banker or the best musician, but the best person. If so, then it is hypocritical to denounce Boy Scouts for believing their "parameters" are what leads people to be the best they can be. You think your parameters are best, they think theirs are. You can argue with what those parameters are (and now that I've opened the door you will probably try to twist this discussion that direction) but to claim that they are bad people because they think their parameters are best and not realize you do the same yourself is not honest.

  9. what about girl scouts? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I wonder what the Girl Scouts of America would think about giving up their name?

    Not that I think much of 'em. I was a Boy Scout when I was kid for a few months before I was thrown out for being a girl. Hiking & similar activities were far more appealing to me than baking cookies...

    1. Re:what about girl scouts? by Attila+Dimedici · · Score: 3, Informative

      The Girl Scouts of America were founded as a sister organization to Boy Scouts of America. That is, at one time they were two separate arms of the same organization (at least in a de facto sense if not a de jure one).

      --
      The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
  10. In this case there is merit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In this particular case I think there is some merit. The goals of the organizations, how they operate, and the "user base" are similar. "Scouts" is nowhere near as generic as "airlines". Obviously the Hacker Scouts is specifically named after the Boy/Girl Scouts.

    It's more like me marketing a cereal called "Apple Loops" or something. Generic words but I wouldn't last 2 seconds in court against Kellogg's because I'm targeting the same audience just like Hacker Scouts is targeting the same people as the other "Scouts".

    1. Re:In this case there is merit by drevange · · Score: 1

      Agree. Very good and succinct explanation.

    2. Re:In this case there is merit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Scout is an extremely generic word.

    3. Re:In this case there is merit by onyxruby · · Score: 1

      Which is why in applications that have nothing to do with non-profit youth based organizations the BSA doesn't do anything. You'll find the word Scout used from Navigation systems to International off road vehicles. It is the context of the word that makes all the difference in the world.

      It's how Apple got away with ripping off their name from Apple records (Beetles publishing company). They didn't have any notable legal issues over the matter until they went into the business of selling music. For the same reason you could safely make a car called the "Apple" but you would be sued without hesitation if you tried doing anything in the computer industry with the name of "Apple".

    4. Re:In this case there is merit by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      Scout is an extremely generic word.

      Are saying they're being a little too selous?

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  11. It's due to the trademark law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Like any company, they have to try to (at least make an appearance of) defending any and all trademarks or service marks, else they lose all protection from the law...

    The scouts themselves most likely couldn't care less about what another group calls itself, and many would most likely love to be part of the hacker scouts... It's the corporation that is the National BSA Office that is leading this, as would any other company / corporation...

    my 2c worth as a long-time BSA leader...

    1. Re:It's due to the trademark law by drevange · · Score: 0

      True - the need to defend is there. They also were not bullying - it was a response during the normal trademark application process. I like both Boy Scouts and the "maker" community and agree there would be a high level of interest. Unfortunately the Maker Scouts was a pretty blatant infringement, even in how they were structuring things.

    2. Re:It's due to the trademark law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      God forbid they'd use structure that was first created in the UK 10 years before the BSA even existed.

    3. Re:It's due to the trademark law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      NOT true. That is a myth. They can simple license the other group to use the name. They don't need to sue or lose their trademark.

  12. Having BEEN in the BSA... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Let me just say they as a whole live up to their 'grown up' acronym sharing fellows as far as their attitudes go.

    I'm sure there are good and nice groups among the BSA, but it's because of the individuals not the organization.

    They've got cliques based on religion, school, probably what part of town you live in. (I got firsthand experience in the former two thanks to changing schools. It really opened my eyes as far as prejudices go. Especially among groups supposedly espousing otherwise. Also: WTF girls can't join, gays can't join, but female 'Pack Leaders' are ok? I'd always found that a bit iffy.)

    1. Re:Having BEEN in the BSA... by drevange · · Score: 1

      There are many different troops, etc. sponsored by many different organizations. The ideals are very good, there are always people who are exceptions to the rule. At the Cub Scout level it is more family oriented, boys and their siblings (male or female) go camping, etc. and women leaders are OK. At the Boy Scout level it is strictly for boys. At the Venture & Explorer Scout level it opens up to boys and girls.

    2. Re:Having BEEN in the BSA... by Talderas · · Score: 1

      Female Scoutmasters are permited, unless there's been a recent rules change. There's just fewer in Boy Scouts because the women are more likely to be involved during Cub when higher counts of parents are involved and camping is the exception rather than the norm for activities.

      --
      "Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
  13. Re:I'm shocked by immaterial · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yes, this was done by a bunch of 13 year olds from troop 26 in Spokane, WA - not the adults that run the national organization. There's no way THOSE guys could be a bag of dicks.

  14. Summary and article are vague on details by mark-t · · Score: 1

    What bullying tactics were employed beyond "change your name or we'll sue"?

    Because if that's it... I'm not sure why they caved. "Scout" is a pretty generic word.

    1. Re:Summary and article are vague on details by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      [...] "Scout" is a pretty generic word.

      No, it's not - at least not when it's about a youth organization.
      The trademark laws permit an organization to use the word "scout" if it's in an unrelated field but not if it's also a youth organization - in my opinion that is right since otherwise people may thing that the newer youth organization is related to the... "real" scouts!
      I am a "scout" because i served in the Greek marine special forces as a scout, but when it comes to youth organizations i am not - in my country (Greece) we have the similar to USA boy scouts called "proskopi" (and the movement "proskopismos") and no other youth organization will name themselfs similary because it's an obvious attempt to mislead parents.
      So... only real scouts can be named "scouts"...

  15. Scouts isn't exactly generic... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh come on. If you say 'Scouts', especially in reference to a youth group, in the US, people associate that with Boy Scouts. Hacker Scouts were intentionally borrowing on that association and got busted. Besides, for hackers? They can't keep a web server up.

    1. Re:Scouts isn't exactly generic... by mark-t · · Score: 1

      In the 1970's, there was a hockey team called the Scouts... They are defunct now, but afaik it wasn't because of their name.

    2. Re:Scouts isn't exactly generic... by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      Rate on a scale of "they look identical if you're so drunk you're legally a munition, from Kansas, and had no sleep for 72 hours" to "Einstein, Hawking and Feynman couldn't tell them apart) the likelihood of confusing a youth movement with a professional sports team.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    3. Re:Scouts isn't exactly generic... by mark-t · · Score: 1

      Not very...

      But then I wouldn't be likely to confuse a youth group that focuses exclusively on specialized technical skills that are not really relevant without modern the conveniences of that electronics provides with a youth group that focuses on outdoor and other life skills either.

    4. Re:Scouts isn't exactly generic... by Farmer+Tim · · Score: 1

      You wouldn't confuse the activities, perhaps, but taking the names on face value it would be easy to assume that the Hacker Scouts are affiliated with the Boy Scouts simply by being in the same field (youth groups), and that's precisely what trademark law is aimed at preventing. Put it this way: if you opened a sushi bar called "McDonalds" you'd get sued by McDonald's, because even though you're serving unmistakably different food, that name is trademarked in the restaurant business. A restaurant is a class of organisation, a youth group is a class of organisation, the little details like what's on the menu or what activities they offer are largely irrelevant as far as trademark law is concerned.

      --
      Blank until /. makes another boneheaded UI decision.
    5. Re:Scouts isn't exactly generic... by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

      "Oh come on. If you say 'Scouts', especially in reference to a youth group, in the US, people associate that with Boy Scouts."

      Not necessarily. I usually associate it with NAMBLA.

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
  16. Re:I'm shocked by interkin3tic · · Score: 2

    One would think that the BSA could use this to their advantage. Among their demographic, hackers have better public opinion than boy scouts.

    Kid: Yeah, I'm here for the scouts. I brought my laptop.
    Scoutmaster: Welcome, here's your manual of how to tie knots, a pamphlet on why you should always vote republican, and your assigned times to go to church! Watch out for the troop leader of group 40. Lets just say you'll need your pocket knife for more than carving bears.
    Kid: Wait... what?

  17. It's social engineering by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The "hacker scouts" are just trying a social engineering tactic for more attention. I mean, come on, "hacking" and "scouts" go together? I'm thinking something more like: Junior Hackers League, or Cult of the Sick Cow, or DefCon 4 (not completely at peace). The planned activities just aren't a natural fit:

    05:00 - 06:00 PM - Campfire dinner - make and eat foil dinners
    06:00 - 07:00 PM - Clean up camp and gather wood for bonfire
    07:00 - 09:00 PM - Bonfire - roast marshmallows, hot dogs, make s'mores, and drink hot chocolate.
    09:00 - 10:00 PM - Tell ghost stories and tales of great 'sploits
    10:00 - 03:00 AM - Pwn some Chinese kids playing Warcraft

    Mmmm, I just don't see them as "scouts."

    1. Re:It's social engineering by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 1

      They are scouting for gay guys and alerting their scoutleader when they find them.

  18. Re:Dumb reasoning from Slashdot, per usual by AlphaWoIf_HK · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Techies don't understand legal reasoning or the law.

    No one with a brain does.

    --
    Da derp dee derp da teedly derpee derpee dum. Rated PG-13.
  19. Bullying? by David_Hart · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "I don't think that word means what you think it means".

    Since when is protecting your trademarked name bullying? It's simply business. The law forces organizations to do this or they lose their right to their own name. Like the Boy Scouts or not, the problem here is the law.

    1. Re:Bullying? by minstrelmike · · Score: 1

      Absolutely. If you don't try to protect your trademark, you lose it.
      And I could definitely see the confusion with the general public.
      Most hackers are boys.
      And the general public imagines them as boys down in the basement of their house and never getting out except when going camping in the scary woods with the scoutmaster who snuggles them tightly inside his tent all night long to protect them from lions and tigers and bears and Oh My! And then they figure that's probably why all those lonely hacker boys in basements have those sexual p-p-p-p-p-p-problems.
      You can see why the Boy Scouts have to protect their trademark.

    2. Re:Bullying? by geek · · Score: 3, Informative

      I always know when Soulskill is posting articles because they are nothing more than inflamatory bullshit.

    3. Re:Bullying? by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 1

      bullying and business are not mutually exclusive. That IS the business model of some corporations.

    4. Re:Bullying? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      God, I'm sick of this myth! This is NOT true. An organization is never forced to sue. They can simple license the other group to use the name. They don't need to sue or lose their trademark.

    5. Re:Bullying? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except that the BSA doesn't have a trademark on either the whole, or any distinct part of 'Hacker Scouts'. The BSA was in no danger of losing their trademark on 'Boy Scouts'.

      The problem here is that people go, "That sounds kind of, vaguely, sort of similar if you squint hard enough. You can't use that name!", and then proceed to threaten with an expensive, baseless lawsuit (which the other, newly founded group can't afford to defend against) if the new group doesn't change it's name.

    6. Re:Bullying? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's where the page hits come from. Page hits = dollars. They're all about the dollars just like Phil Plait.

    7. Re:Bullying? by twocows · · Score: 1

      God, I wish I had mod points for you right now. I thought I was the only one.

    8. Re:Bullying? by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      Listen, Joe: just because they could license it, that doesn't mean they have to. So if they don't agree with what the other outfit do, what's left?

      This is why there isn't a condom brand called "Vatican". Probably.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    9. Re:Bullying? by David_Hart · · Score: 1

      Except that the BSA doesn't have a trademark on either the whole, or any distinct part of 'Hacker Scouts'. The BSA was in no danger of losing their trademark on 'Boy Scouts'.

      The problem here is that people go, "That sounds kind of, vaguely, sort of similar if you squint hard enough. You can't use that name!", and then proceed to threaten with an expensive, baseless lawsuit (which the other, newly founded group can't afford to defend against) if the new group doesn't change it's name.

      However much you argue that it's a bad thing, it proves that the problem is the law. It's how the law is written and applied with respect to trademarks. And the usage just needs to be somewhat close and be in a similar type of business, group, etc. Grumble all you want, until the law is changed this will continue, whether it's the Boy Scouts, Apple, McDonalds, etc.

    10. Re:Bullying? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And I'm sick of Slashtards acting like everyone should just hand over anything they've invested in because random Slashtards think that just because they want something to be open that everything should be open. I'd also like to note that these same Slashtards seem to be the ones with the least amount of skin in the game.

    11. Re:Bullying? by dissy · · Score: 2

      "I don't think that word means what you think it means".
      Since when is protecting your trademarked name bullying?

      Ever since they claimed "scouts" was their trademark when in fact it is not.

      Here is a listing of all of their actual real trademarks that begin with the letters "SC":
      â Scoutfitter®
      â Scout Gearâ
      â Scouting®
      â Scouting USA®
      â Scoutmaster®
      â Scoutnet®
      â Scout Shop®
      â Scout Stuff®

      Here is a listing of all their trademarks beginning with the letter "H" (as in hack/hacking):

      (Yes this list is empty, because they do not have any trademarks beginning with the letter "H" what so ever)

      It's simply business.

      OK, in that case I am now informing you I have a trademark on the word "David_Hart"
      Since you agree it's only business, you agree I must defend that mark or lose it, and you agree I don't actually need to have that trademark in the first place... I guess you have no choice but to license it from me!

      The law forces organizations to do this or they lose their right to their own name. Like the Boy Scouts or not, the problem here is the law.

      Darn. I was going to license you my trademark of "David_Hart" for $0.0001 per year, and not require payment until the total is equal to or greater than a penny.
      The law says I can do that and not have to worry about you making my mark generic
      The law also says the only danger is the mark becoming Generic, or causing confusion within your business category.

      Also quite worrying, the BSA does list the trademark:
      â Boy Scoutâ

      But the USPTO shows "boyscout" being registered to a completely different group (In Russia no less)
      Neither "boy scout" (with the space) nor either form of "boy scoutS" (with the S on the end) show as registered.

      Looking up one of the other trademarks the BSA does have registered, shows their business scope to be:
      IC 036. US 100 101 102. G & S: Charitable fundraising services, namely, the solicitation and management of donations to benefit an organization for youth.

      So yea...

      I'm sure it could possibly be argued that "hacker scouts" solicits donations, possibly even for charitable services, and as long as one person under the age of 18 has ever shown up, you can throw in the whole "organization for youth" on them as well.
      But I don't think it's quite that black and white.

      But since they have no marks on "hacker scouts", "hacker", or "scouts", it's pretty moot.

      The BSA self-claimed marks are at:
      http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Licensing/Protecting%20the%20Brand/Boy%20Scouts%20of%20America%20Trademark%20Listing.aspx

      USPTO lookup is session based so I can't give a permlink, but
      http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/
      Go to "trademark search" on the left, then "basic word search" (first option)
      "boyscout" is an interesting lookup, belonging to a Russian company.
      "boy scout" with the space will pull up the BSA company record, and you can work backwards from there.

    12. Re:Bullying? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can see by your low user id and your username that you're an OG slashdotter. No excuse to be a dick though.

      - An Anonymous Coward

  20. Gay Scouts. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well, I was hoping for my organization "Gay Scouts" to come into existence without legal challenge.

    1. Re:Gay Scouts. by VortexCortex · · Score: 1

      Well, I was hoping for my organization "Gay Scouts" to come into existence without legal challenge.

      Oh now you're just blatantly recruiting heteros to brainwash into same-sexiness!?

      What's wrong, the subliminal messages not working out so well anymore? Eg: Making "Gay" be synonymous with "happy" -- HA! Gotcha. And then you've got the gall to target our kids!?
      "We'll Have a Gay 'ol Time...." - The Flintstones, FFS?! Oh come on, its painfully apparent to anyone that Barney and Fred are "partners" in loveless marriages of convenience to Betty and Wilma. And all those dinosaurs being treated as appliances? Those are metaphors for exploiting minorities!

      Don't even get me started on "Shakespeare" -- Oh, Like anyone believes that's a real name, and not a euphemism for "sword fighting" wanker... "Shake Spear". ha! Heteros in love? (spoilers) Killed both Romeo and Juliet!

      Hogwarts is practically oozing with Harry and Ron's Queerdom.
      Oh, I think you've done Quite enough "Gay Scouting".

    2. Re:Gay Scouts. by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Why not just be the "Gay Outs"?

  21. Scouts? by phoenix_orb · · Score: 1

    I was a cub scout, and a boy scout.

    I was also a Cavalry Scout in the United States Army. MOS is 19D.

    "Scouts" as a term predates Baden-Powell (the founder of the scouting movement). He took the term from the definition of reconnoitering - "scouting".

    I don't know about the legal ramifications, but I know that they aren't the only organization to use the term "Scouts"

    --
    Blah Blah Blah.
    1. Re:Scouts? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except using the term scout for reconnoitering would not cause a trademark problem. The suit here is because it was used the way Baden-Powell redefined it, which is trademarked.

    2. Re:Scouts? by phoenix_orb · · Score: 1

      "I see!" said the blind man. Thank you AC :)

      --
      Blah Blah Blah.
    3. Re:Scouts? by tibman · · Score: 1

      Scouts out!

      --
      http://soylentnews.org/~tibman
  22. Re:I'm shocked by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The local leaders I'm familiar with (at the troop level) are a bunch of arrogant turds that think theirs don't smell.

  23. Turning in my Eagle Scout badge by sl4shd0rk · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I can remember a day when Boy Scouts of America would have been approving of something like hackerscouts.org because they would have shared a central theme; curiosity, experimentation, education, science -- all good things to interest young people. It's disappointing to see the BSA stooping to such douchenozzly levels. The have apparently lost enough positive virutue I would not want to be associated with them today.

    --
    Join the Slashcott! Feb 10 thru Feb 17!
    1. Re:Turning in my Eagle Scout badge by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 0

      I think the better reasoning for turning the badge is for discrimination, but that's just my opinion.

    2. Re:Turning in my Eagle Scout badge by drevange · · Score: 1

      They never would have approved of a separate organization that was confusing and conflicted. The better thing would have been to work with BSA to have Hacker Scouts be part of the same organization - not try to hijack the name and similar structure.

    3. Re:Turning in my Eagle Scout badge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      L. Ron Hubbard was the WORLD'S YOUNGEST eagle scout.

    4. Re:Turning in my Eagle Scout badge by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      Not the best idea. The BSA isn't entirely united right now. Their leadership is terribly conservative - they still do not permit atheists to join, because their official position is that it is impossible for a person to be morally right without faith. They only reluctantly allow non-Christians in, but many local chapters adopt an unofficial 'don't ask, don't tell' policy on that, and there is little chance of them allowing girls to join in the forseeable future.

    5. Re:Turning in my Eagle Scout badge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Make sure that when you get to your BSA regional office that you go into the Directors office and you put your badge and pocketknife on his desk in a very dramatic manner.

    6. Re:Turning in my Eagle Scout badge by Artifex · · Score: 1

      I can remember a day when Boy Scouts of America would have been approving of something like hackerscouts.org because they would have shared a central theme; curiosity, experimentation, education, science -- all good things to interest young people. It's disappointing to see the BSA stooping to such douchenozzly levels. The have apparently lost enough positive virutue I would not want to be associated with them today.

      So you held onto your badge while they were actively booting kids and scoutmasters for being gay and/or atheist, and during the child abuse scandals. But them trying to enforce their trademark gets you mad enough to do something?

      --
      Get off my launchpad!
    7. Re:Turning in my Eagle Scout badge by crc-check · · Score: 1

      Females can join the BSA at 14 - Venturing is Co-Ed - http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Venturing.aspx
      Scouting supports more than non-christian groups - http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/awards/religiousawards/chart.aspx

      Disagree with the politics, but don't distort the facts.

    8. Re:Turning in my Eagle Scout badge by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      Venturing isn't 'scouts proper.' It's just a small division within the scouts.

      The scouts did not permit any non-Christians to join until 1920. They have since broadened their standards to accept all major religions, but *a* religion is still a requirement: If you don't believe in some form of God, you can't be a member of the scouts. As previously stated, the official policy is ignored by many local troops - so long as you don't go around acting like Dawkins and say the oath when asked, they'll not pry.

  24. Not surprising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Look, the reason they called themselves "Hacker Scouts" was specifically to be associated (in people's minds, not officially) with the BSA. I find it reasonable that the BSA (which has been using the term "Scouts" and "Scouting" for a long time) would want to control their brand.

  25. All you see is their hand by magusxxx · · Score: 1

    Can't wait to see their new campaign, "There's a Badge for That."

    --
    Care killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.
    1. Re:All you see is their hand by TeknoHog · · Score: 1

      Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!

      --
      Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
    2. Re:All you see is their hand by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!

      "We'll give you a merit badge in 3D printing -- the template for it anyway. You get to print it yourself. And once you can do that, you can print any other badge you want."

      And the better quote is "we don't need no steenkeeng badgers..."

    3. Re:All you see is their hand by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

      Good news!

      The group in Saskatchewan got their Kickstarter funded to develop a cheap 3D printer!

      --
      -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  26. WTF with the contact email by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If who get the Whois information for their website, the contact is leftyarble@gmail.com.

    Does "left yarble" not mean left testicle? My English not so good.

    1. Re:WTF with the contact email by themushroom · · Score: 1

      It's Nadsat and yes, yarbs are bollocks.

  27. Re:I'm shocked by jeffmflanagan · · Score: 2

    >teenage asshole testosterone pumps

    It sounds like you need a LOT of therapy for whatever dysfunction causes you to lash out at these kids.

  28. The true litmus test... by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 1

    ...is what organization has more lawyers. That's what US law is about.

  29. Re:Dumb reasoning from Slashdot, per usual by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

    Techies don't understand legal reasoning or the law.

    No one with a brain does.

    I guess you have to take that on trust.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  30. Queer Scouts by themushroom · · Score: 1

    This does exist in the Seattle area.
    http://queerscoutsofamerica.blogspot.com/

  31. Bullying? by Zalbik · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Wow, that's quite the bullying there.

    Once the BSA found out about the name, they sent some of their older members over to intimidate, physically threaten, and wedgie the heck out of the HS kids until they agreed to the name change.

    Wait...no, they didn't.

    Ahh, they verbally abused the HS group, calling them a bunch of whiny geeks with no right to the name.

    No, they didn't do that either.

    Oh....they sent a letter, asking that the HS change their name as they felt it may be confusing with their organization. If they failed to comply, they were willing to allow the courts (you know, that group your tax dollars go to partially in order to settle this kind of dispute?) decide on the matter.

    Yep, that's quite the "bullying" there.

    I've gotta start keeping score on Slashdot. 1 point for every misleading, sensationalist, or simply factually incorrect headline I see. At 10 points a month my reward is to quit reading this stupid site.

  32. Of course they're not above a bit of bullying. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They are an organization of pederasts, after all.

    1. Re:Of course they're not above a bit of bullying. by magusxxx · · Score: 1

      I had to look that word up. I thought it had something to do with bicycles.

      --
      Care killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.
  33. Trademark law...or not? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just a couple of points. First, use-it-or-lose-it isn't really an accurate description. If {blank} Scouts became common usage, those alternative constructions could be declared generic, not Boy Scouts of a America, or even Boy Scouts. BSA would still clearly have monopoly rights to those. The whole argument here is that many (especially Hacker Scouts) already view {blank} Scouts as generic, and not infringing on BSA's existing marks. More importantly, it's worth noting that that marking rights given to BSA are not governed (exclusively) by US trademark law. They are granted specifically under 36 USC 309 (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/36/subtitle-II/part-B/chapter-309). Whether the federal government should be enshrining individual organizations' markings is another matter altogether.

  34. Trademark Rule Requirement by kcbnac · · Score: 1

    BSA has Trademarks that are 'infringed' by this organization's name - which you are required to actively defend against anything that could be infringing - otherwise you lose your Trademark. (This is not true with Copyrights, just Trademarks)

    As a fellow Eagle Scout, I agree it isn't wonderful or ideal behavior - but if they want to keep their name (and with all the splinter-orgs as a result of their recent decision regarding Youth membership, there are plenty) and uniqueness in 'Brand Identity' they have to do this.

  35. While it's fun... by Dcnjoe60 · · Score: 2

    While it's fun to ridicule the boy scouts, from the Hacker Scouts own web site:

    Hacker Scouts is an inclusive, diverse, co-ed organization designed to support the next generation of makers, explorers, entrepreneurs, and leaders through an innovative program that blends creativity and technical skill through the study of science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). Every part of our organization is guided by the fundamental belief that children learn best when they are self-motivated and enthusiastic about a subject, when they have skilled mentors, and when the environment supports their social, emotional, and cognitive developmental needs. In Hacker Scouts, kids have the opportunity to explore new concepts and skills, focus on their individual goals, and create community. This makes us unlike any other program. In a quickly changing world, Hacker Scouts provides a relevant, consistent, well-rounded foundation of knowledge combined with an emphasis on values like resourcefulness, ingenuity, creativity, and persistance that will support our kid's ability to adapt to new technology, now and in the future.

    and

    While most of our activities are targeted at the 8-14 year old range, all ages are welcome at Hacker Scouts Open Lab. Because Open Lab is not a drop off program, parents and mentors are available to help modify projects for younger makers.

    It would appear that they target the same age groups as the boy scouts (including cub scouts) and even hold scout sunday events like the boy scouts. It's not too far of a reach to see why the boy scouts might say there could be confusion between the two. After all, in terms of official scouting, there are Cub Scouts (including TIger Scout, Wolf Scout, Bear Scout Webelos Scout), Boy Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Adventure Scouts and probably others. Who is to say somebody wouldn't think that Hacker Scout wasn't part of that group?

    Just saying, that in this case, the boy scout organization, might have a valid point.

  36. Re:Dumb reasoning from Slashdot, per usual by SuricouRaven · · Score: 2

    Techies understand it in a way a little different from lawyers. They tend to see it as they would a computer program: Clear, unambiguous, and occasionally exploitable if you can find something the law allows even if the writers obviously didn't intend to.

    In the real world, judges tend to frown upon people exploiting technicalities like that and rule against them regardless.

    One of my favorite legal 'exploits' is OFFSystem - a p2p file sharing network which functions only by transmitting random data. As no copyrighted information is ever stored or transmitted, the creators think it should be legally safe. Somehow I cannot imagine a judge agreeing, but it's too obscure to have been sued yet.

    Nasty overhead, though. It works by creating blocks of random data, then creating a new block by XORing that with the copyrighted file. Both blocks are thus random, of maximum entropy in themselves. The copyrighted data doesn't reappear until the two blocks are XORed together again, something that can only be done by the recipient who knows which blocks pair together.

  37. You're missing the point of a brand by Bruce66423 · · Score: 1

    The purpose of branding is to offer consumers information about the product - in this case if an organisation is branded 'Scouts', then it carries an assurance that it conforms to their rules, procedures etc. If the name is released from having that meaning, information for parents is lost. Therefore it is reasonable for the scouts national organisation to require the hacker scouts to use an alternative title.

  38. If you think hacker scout sounds cool.. by jd.schmidt · · Score: 2

    ...then you effectively are proving everyone knows what the term Scout is used for in reference to youth organizations. They could as easily been the Hacker Pioneers, the Hacker Navigators or the Hacker Pathfinders.

    I know this will be unpopular, but this is probably one of the less bad infringement cases I have heard of.

  39. not off topic by frovingslosh · · Score: 2

    No, I'm pretty sure it was a scout camp. At least some kind of scouts, and now that all falls under the BSA.

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
    1. Re:not off topic by Garridan · · Score: 0

      The topic is "BSA being asshats to the hacker scouts". An imaginary plagiarized shaggy-dog story about scout camp is not relevant to the topic.

    2. Re:not off topic by FatdogHaiku · · Score: 1

      He didn't tell the part about the shaggy dog... He was the camp mascot and went missing around the time of the fire. During the trip to town for bullets they had flyers made and placed them all over the area:

      Missing Dog!!!

      Lost black and white dog in the area of Camp Wannahhockaluggie.
      Three legged, missing right eye, recently castrated...
      Answers to the name LUCKY.

      --
      You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
  40. Re:I'm shocked by jythie · · Score: 1

    Yeah. While there are a lot of jerks in scouting (just like any group), the national management often bares almost no resemblance to the local or even regional troops.

  41. Next Up, American Literature! by FlipperPA · · Score: 1

    Dear Publisher:

    Please be advised that your novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird", violates the Boy Scouts of America's legal rights. We not going to say which ones, but if you don't change the name of the novel's protagonist, it'll mean a long and drawn out expensive legal battle. And you don't want to mess with us, because AMERICA, obviously.

    Warm regards,

    A Homophobic, Dated, Desperate Organization

  42. testosterone pumps? by frovingslosh · · Score: 0

    testosterone pumps? You're either kidding or not paying attention. Do you think anyone with testosterone pumping through their body would wear those silly uniforms and neckerchiefs? Scouting has finally openly embraced it's gay roots. But it seems that the gay scouts are not above bullying others. No wonder you were modded down as flamebait, suggesting that scouts had any testosterone!

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
    1. Re:testosterone pumps? by findoutmoretoday · · Score: 1

      Scouting has finally openly embraced it's gay roots

      For what it's worth, "several studies have found correlations between high testosterone levels and the frequency of homosexuality"

  43. Try to pull that on a Cav Scout. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Guess who wins this fight?

  44. and next we go after... by frovingslosh · · Score: 1

    Tonto's horse.

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
  45. Good move by Coeurderoy · · Score: 1

    Hackers should not call themselves scouts for fear to be seen as a paramilitary org...
    (disclaimer, I was a "ranger scout" for some time to the great distress of my parents, but really it's antiquated, and sex segregated ...

    Young Makers or something like this is much better, or maybe "Wizards" :-)

  46. Re:Dumb reasoning from Slashdot, per usual by westlake · · Score: 1

    No one with a brain does.

    That is just another lame excuse for the laziness and ignorance that is exposed in most of the geek's posts about the law.

  47. Fuck the BSA by 0xdeadbeef · · Score: 1, Funny

    They should change it to "Hacker Chariot Archers". Scouts are weak-ass units that die in almost any fight. Chariot archers will fuck their shit up.

  48. I am ok with it. by TsuruchiBrian · · Score: 1

    I think the word "scout" is synonymous with the BSA, and they should own that word. They, however, do not own the words "the", "boy", and "America", and should be forced to stop using those words in their name.

  49. Re:I'm shocked by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You were never a Boy Scout, I'll take it?

    While I'll gladly concede the kids themselves weren't behind his feat of assholiness, having been a Boy Scout, I can tell you straight-up that there's quite a few psychotic assholes there who can't wait to get their hands around the necks of woodland creatures, love carving crude weapons out of common forest material with a disturbing desire to "prove" they work, and will smuggle any manner of pornographic material they can onto any campout they think they can get away with it. I remember my troop, where the kids from the families generally in charge of most events always had an inordinate interest in staying up late to catch raccoons in their homemade traps (traps made with tons of attention to detail, too!), hazed the hell out of the new kids, and their personal favorite, catching frogs in swamps so they could drop-kick them.

    I knew these kids, buddy. I walked among them. "Teenage asshole testosterone pumps" is being nice to them. The major upshot of the Scouts is that they were out in the woods being horrible people and not doing so in their neighborhoods.

  50. Re:Dumb reasoning from Slashdot, per usual by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Techies understand it in a way a little different from lawyers. They tend to see it as they would a computer program: Clear, unambiguous, and occasionally exploitable if you can find something the law allows even if the writers obviously didn't intend to.

    In the real world, judges tend to frown upon people exploiting technicalities like that and rule against them regardless.

    One of my favorite legal 'exploits' is OFFSystem - a p2p file sharing network which functions only by transmitting random data. As no copyrighted information is ever stored or transmitted, the creators think it should be legally safe. Somehow I cannot imagine a judge agreeing, but it's too obscure to have been sued yet.

    Nasty overhead, though. It works by creating blocks of random data, then creating a new block by XORing that with the copyrighted file. Both blocks are thus random, of maximum entropy in themselves. The copyrighted data doesn't reappear until the two blocks are XORed together again, something that can only be done by the recipient who knows which blocks pair together.

    That... is the stupidest thing I've heard in a long time.

    You can't extract the copyrighted file from the random noise unless you already have a copy of it, so there is literally no point in this existing (if you already have a copy than receiving the stream and decoding the noise with your existing copy has no baring on the legality of that copy).

    If you turn it around and send the recipient the random noise and the random noise XOR-ed with a copyrighted work, that's called "one time pad encryption" and will not hold up as a defense for infringement (the recipient still made an unlicensed copy when they decoded it).

  51. GOOD. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They SELL MERIT BADGES, for fucks sake.

    Of course they're bullshit ones that don't involve any real curriculum, and there's no actual structure for issuance or finding out if someone actually learned and earned anything, other than buying kitch from the maker shed. This whole supposed group is a fucking marketing tool, and everyone said as much when they announced it.

    I'm glad the BSA kicked them in the teeth. They were asking for it.

  52. No you dont. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And no they wouldn't. It's a marketing campaign. To see one done right, go look at Adafruits educational endevours. This one is a bullshit knock-off, where they try to capitalize on the BSA program, but as a cheap marketing tool.

  53. Nouns and verbs by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

    Anyone else have trouble parsing this headline, thanks to multiple words that are both nouns and verbs? I first read it as "Boy Scouts (v.) [Bully Hacker] Scouts (v.)..." and it took another couple of goes before it made sense.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    1. Re:Nouns and verbs by PhxBlue · · Score: 1

      That's why most newspapers and news websites don't title-case their headlines.

      --
      !#@%*)anks for hanging up the phone, dear.
  54. Re:I'm shocked by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ah yes, the good old "Litigation" Merit Badge.

    That was a popular one.

  55. Little wonder... by erp_consultant · · Score: 1

    I did some IT work them at their Irving, TX headquarters a few years back. BSA is hyper sensitive to lawsuits. There have been numerous lawsuits against Scout "leaders" molesting children over the years. Their attorneys require them to keep files on everyone that has every worked there, in case they get sued. They have rooms full of files...boxes and boxes of files. So it's little wonder they are objecting to a hacker outfit using the Scouts name.

    I was a boy scout when I was a kid. Loved it. I think it's a good organization but they need to modernize. But they are beholden to conservative groups that donate a lot of money. Ross Perot gives them millions. In fact, he donated the land that their headquarters sits on. So BSA continues to toe the conservative line...not saying that's wrong, just an observation.

    Those uniforms need to go. I think a lot of kids would feel wimpy wearing them. When I see an adult wearing one it just looks a bit creepy. Then I immediately think of Higgins from Magnum PI and chuckle a bit :-)

  56. Allan Sherman did this better. by msauve · · Score: 2
    --
    "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
  57. Re:I'm shocked by daveywest · · Score: 3, Informative

    I know I'm replying to a troll, but the BSA has done tons to curb abuse and bullying. Youth Protection Training is the only instructional course leaders are required to complete prior to contact with any boys. It's freely available for anyone to take at myscouting.org, and must be renewed every 24 months. There have been coverups in the past, but the modern scouts have gone above and beyond to "think of the children."

  58. Re:Dumb reasoning from Slashdot, per usual by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

    A guy with a very high 7 digit SlashID finally says something well thought out that clearly reflects a high level of intelligence - possibly for the first time in the history of Slashdot - and you discourage him? He is dead on. If you are a lawyer then you are, by definition, an idiot.

    --
    Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
  59. Re:I'm shocked by sycodon · · Score: 1

    Heaven forbid that a private organization, built with religion as a core value, should encourage its members to attend a church of their choice.

    And politics was never part of my Scouting experience.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  60. Nobody tell the military by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

    They've been using Scouts for centuries. In fact, the BSA was formed as a quasi-military organization to provide trained youths for the British Empire, originally.

    But, what would I know, I was only a Venturer Scout (Canadian version of Eagle Scout).

    --
    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
    1. Re:Nobody tell the military by Maury+Markowitz · · Score: 1

      "They've been using Scouts for centuries"

      Ummm, Scouts were formed in 1907 (or 1908, depending on your definition). That's just over a century, certainly not something one can call "centuries".

      "But, what would I know"

      Apparently not much? Seriously, what did you expect to a leading question like that.

    2. Re:Nobody tell the military by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

      My points is the term Scouts has been used in the Military for centuries.

      BSA came much much much much later.

      I'll go tell Hammurabi he's in big trouble for sending Scouts out, shall I?

      --
      -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  61. Not Bullying, but still... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Look. They may have the right to call them on the use of scout. But, it doesn't make it any less jerkfaced to pull this crap. I mean, seriously. The BSA aren't exactly the pinnacle of light here. Not saying that the Hacker Scouts should have used Scouts in their name. But they're a small, non-profit group that is basically getting jerked around by a much larger, amoral organization.

  62. It wasn't just the name that was borrowed by buzzkill9282 · · Score: 2

    If you read through the HS site you will see that they did not just borrow the name. The organizational structure, rewards, ranks, and patch system are all borrowed heavily from BSA. So while it is convenient to label BS the bully here, HS does not pass the smell test of non-infringement. Not by a long shot. As a long time scouter, and maker, I fully appreciate what HS is trying to do. But creating a scene and yelling "but, we did it for the children" does not make it any more legit. You would need to be as ignorant as the poster to not see through the ruse. The act of "crying wolf" to twist the social media scene to falsely swing sentiment in your direction is getting old. I was happy to see the majority of posters see through the smoke screen and call it what it is.

  63. Lawyer Scouts of America by Maury+Markowitz · · Score: 0

    I want to start the Lawyer Scouts of America.

    Lets see them sue that.

  64. Bullying? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Since when is protecting your trademarked name bullying?

    When Apple Does it.

  65. Re:I'm shocked by ShieldW0lf · · Score: 2

    I was in Beavers for 3 years. I was in Cubs for 3 years, and I was a leader of Beavers in addition to being a Cub, and I was a Scout for 2 years and a leader of Cubs during that time.

    I'm the eldest son from a navy family, and my father was gone more often than not. It's hard to learn to be a man when you don't have a role model, and the scouting movement gave me one. Not because I fell into it by accident, but because he took steps to mitigate the loss his absence brought. I'm very glad that he did. My experience has a great similarity to that of young men I see from broken homes being raised by single mothers, and when I look on them, I can see the negative consequences that he protected me from, and I'm grateful.

    Boys and young men need masculine culture. It's important. The Scouting movement do the best they can to meet the need in a positive way, and they do a pretty good job. If you're not offering something better, you have no right to piss on them.

    --
    -1 Uncomfortable Truth
  66. I wonder what Baden-Powell would say. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Since "The Boy Scouts of America" was founded independently and after what is now "The International Scouting Movement" also known as "The Scouts", does not the mark and name rightfully belong to them?

    Perhaps only outside of America?

    So why not then affiliate "Hacker Scouts" with the international organisation and rename it "Hacker Scouts International - (Just not America)".

    1. Re:I wonder what Baden-Powell would say. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Also 28 other national scouting organisations were founded before the "Boy Scouts of America" Including Canada. So "Hacker Scouts" why not migrate north to the Land of the Free-er the home of the brave-er, or as Mr R.Williams describes Canada "A nice apartment over a Meth Lab".

  67. New web-sites starting up! by Biljrat · · Score: 0

    Toy Scouts
    Joy Scouts
    Koi Scouts

  68. has anyone look at their application? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I did. It was rejected by the trademark office as being to similar in name and possibly function to another organization with the name of "hackers"

    So the boy scout issue may be a non issue.

  69. Re:I'm shocked by interkin3tic · · Score: 1

    Not heaven forbid. I'm just pointing out that a lot of kids aren't really interested in church compared to "hacking."

    Politics isn't explicitly part of it, but the culture is, from my experience, conservative.

    Anyway, this was a joke, not a serious critique of the boyscouts.

  70. Thank you BSA by dprimary · · Score: 2

    For pointing me to an organization my kids would rather be in.

  71. Re:Dumb reasoning from Slashdot, per usual by mhotchin · · Score: 1

    Wow, that idea is about as old as dirt, and has been thrashed out long ago....
    A great post from 2004 talks about this and other ideas of Copyright in a digital age.

    What Colour are your bits?
    http://ansuz.sooke.bc.ca/entry/23

  72. Re:Dumb reasoning from Slashdot, per usual by AlphaWoIf_HK · · Score: 1

    Another lame excuse? No. There is a lot of illogical technicalities and corruption in law, and politicians and judges constantly try to get around the constitution by engaging in newspeak. They did this with the TSA and free speech zones, and they're trying to do this with the NSA. If you think there's a lot of logical thought put into this garbage, I can only hang my head in shame.

    --
    Da derp dee derp da teedly derpee derpee dum. Rated PG-13.
  73. Re:Dumb reasoning from Slashdot, per usual by AlphaWoIf_HK · · Score: 1

    In the real world, judges tend to frown upon people exploiting technicalities like that and rule against them regardless.

    In the real world, judges try to exploit technicalities to allow the government to get around the constitution, or sometimes just pretend it doesn't exist. Like, for instance, the TSA, the NSA (that crappy secret court), and that 'fire in a crowded theater' case people love citing so much.

    --
    Da derp dee derp da teedly derpee derpee dum. Rated PG-13.
  74. Re:Dumb reasoning from Slashdot, per usual by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

    If you are a lawyer then you are, by definition, an idiot.

    Rather unfair. Many of them are crooks.

    And don't say they aren't mutually exclusive. It's true, but irrelevant - crooks who are idiots tend to get caught rather quickly.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  75. Re:Dumb reasoning from Slashdot, per usual by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

    Whether or not you agree with it and whether or not it has any logic are totally orthogonal. And whether it's ethical/moral or not is orthogonal to both.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  76. Re:Dumb reasoning from Slashdot, per usual by AlphaWoIf_HK · · Score: 1

    Whether or not you agree with it and whether or not it has any logic are totally orthogonal.

    Well, I agree. But to say it's logical would just be foolhardy. I don't believe it's necessary for someone to delude him/herself into believing such things are logical.

    --
    Da derp dee derp da teedly derpee derpee dum. Rated PG-13.
  77. Re:Dumb reasoning from Slashdot, per usual by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

    It's more the legislators that do the exploiting, trying to get around the judges.

  78. Re:Dumb reasoning from Slashdot, per usual by AlphaWoIf_HK · · Score: 1

    I agree that it happens more often with legislators, but some judges do tend to try to find 'creative' ways around the constitution.

    --
    Da derp dee derp da teedly derpee derpee dum. Rated PG-13.
  79. Re:Dumb reasoning from Slashdot, per usual by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

    The two aren't mutually exclusive; that's true. The two are mutually inclusive though. A crook is, by definition, an idiot.

    --
    Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
  80. "Hacker Scouts" is confusing by ToddInSF · · Score: 1

    and when I first heard it I thought it was a Scout-related computer group.

    Not very bright, are you ?

  81. Sad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I remember a BSA that wasn't completely retarded. They could have made this group an offer - and stayed relevant - instead of alienating them. Sad to see that old ship slipping under the waters.

  82. Nothing new here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Daimler Chrysler did the same thing to all geep related websites.

  83. Re:I'm shocked by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Youth Protection Training is just lip service. I pointed out instances of bullying when my son was in scouts. The leaders saw it, and agreed that it was bullying. The Youth Protection Training says the scout in question gets three warnings, and must be expelled thereafter. This never happened. The scout leaders just threw up their hands when "discussing" the issue with parents didn't help. I pulled my son out when it became obvious that this was just the way it was going to be.