Latest Boy Scout merit badge: Respecting Copyrights

For reals.

I've seen it all now.

Check, please. I'm all done with the world.

http://mpaa.org/newsStand.asp

 

Next merit badge: Observing MPAA ratings at movie theaters...

 

Is there one for not looking at Internet porn?

 

Next merit badge: Not using cheat codes in video games

 

Uh, guys.......this is not a merit badge. There is a huge difference between patches earned and merit badges. This is something which is specific to Los Angeles -- a merit badge is standard throughout the country.

If this were a merit badge, I would have already heard about it since I am VERY involved in our area Boy Scout troop (currently immersed in POPCORN HELL!) :'(

 

Rosie --
OK, Den mama.
Still, though, yikes.

 

At the risk of being sent to my room...

It's stupid no matter whether it's a merit badge, patch or award. Though it would be funny if they'd require Scouts to have a Copyright chit before allowing them to take MP3 or DVD players on trips.

http://www.eff.org/IP/fairuse/

 

I admit when I clicked on the link and read the press release my first thoughts were, YIKES as well.

But then I stopped and thought about it a bit.

We didn't grow up with music available to download at the click of a button. Many of us didn't grow up with VCRs available to tape shows on TV (for me, that was after high school.) We didn't grow up with youtube or any of the rest of this electronic smorgasbord which for today's teens is as common as a high school letter jacket.

WE know about copyrights and plagiarism -- some of us (myself included) have had others steal our work.

But if no one teaches these kids what copyrights are, what pirating music is, then how will they know?

 

My fear is that it's not an objective look at copyright laws. Every one of us who ever did a mix tape in high school was guilty of violating the copyright ... according to the record labels.

 

For what it's worth, my kid's troop doesn't allow the Scouts to take electronic devices on camping trips. Kind of defeats the purpose of the whole outdoors thing.

 

Next for hollywood's collaboration with the Boy Scouts:

Watch 10 dick joke/T&A/teen grossout movies, earn a patch.

 

It's just a specific method of stealing.