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Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

reuters.com

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Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#71

Post by erk__ »

randyrand wrote: post #42
makewavesnotwar wrote: post #36

Nothing about the Boy Scouts is really gender specific, beyond their requirement to be male that's set to be amended in February. I don't understand how "Scouts BSA" is a violation of any trademarks that the Girl Scouts might hold. Especially considering the Girl Scouts came after BSA had already been established. If anything I would say that Girl Scouts are encroaching on the BSA's brand identity by calling themselv…

I don't have a strong opinion either way (I'm an Eagle Scout), but the decision to include girls will fundamentally change Scouting. Guys act differently when around girls. Girls act differently when around guys. This is doubly true for ages 12-17. Whether this is a change for the better or worse is subjective but there is no doubt it is a drastic change. There is benefit to boys interacting with girls. There is bene…

Can you explain your thoughts behind this a bit more, I am a scout in Denmark and we have not had separation by gender since 1973.

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#72

Post by toomanybeersies »

randyrand wrote: post #42
makewavesnotwar wrote: post #36

Nothing about the Boy Scouts is really gender specific, beyond their requirement to be male that's set to be amended in February. I don't understand how "Scouts BSA" is a violation of any trademarks that the Girl Scouts might hold. Especially considering the Girl Scouts came after BSA had already been established. If anything I would say that Girl Scouts are encroaching on the BSA's brand identity by calling themselv…

I don't have a strong opinion either way (I'm an Eagle Scout), but the decision to include girls will fundamentally change Scouting. Guys act differently when around girls. Girls act differently when around guys. This is doubly true for ages 12-17. Whether this is a change for the better or worse is subjective but there is no doubt it is a drastic change. There is benefit to boys interacting with girls. There is bene…

I don't know how different Scouting in the USA is to the rest of the world, but New Zealand, Australia, and the UK (and probably others) Scouting movements have been co-ed for decades. I was a scout for a while, and I don't think it would've been fundamentally different if it wasn't co-ed.

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#73

Post by em-bee »

taeric wrote: post #53
AuthorizedCust wrote: post #50

I am the Cubmaster of a large Cub Scout pack (>150 kids). Admitting girls has been a non-issue, except to local Girl Scouts USA activists (long story, and it wasn't pretty). Girls have always been in Boy Scouts: sisters have ALWAYS been coming to meetings. Now they get to earn badges, too. My son still picks boogers and giggles at farts even with girls around. This lawsuit is but the latest in GSUSA's petty-ness. I d…

As a counterpoint, I've actually been kind of annoyed with the local boy scouts for getting somewhat active trying to recruit my girls to their scouts. I get that they likely mean well, but my kids are already quite happy in the girl scouts. No need to try and confuse things by trying to "turn a new leaf." I confess I assumed you were both the same organization years ago. Found out you weren't, and largely didn't car…

ugh, yeah, active members for one group should be off limits for recruitment by the other. the goal should be to get more kids into scouting, not to poach each others membership.

i hope this kind of behavior is not common.

greetings, eMBee

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#74

Post by Cd00d »

randyrand wrote: post #42
makewavesnotwar wrote: post #36

Nothing about the Boy Scouts is really gender specific, beyond their requirement to be male that's set to be amended in February. I don't understand how "Scouts BSA" is a violation of any trademarks that the Girl Scouts might hold. Especially considering the Girl Scouts came after BSA had already been established. If anything I would say that Girl Scouts are encroaching on the BSA's brand identity by calling themselv…

I don't have a strong opinion either way (I'm an Eagle Scout), but the decision to include girls will fundamentally change Scouting. Guys act differently when around girls. Girls act differently when around guys. This is doubly true for ages 12-17. Whether this is a change for the better or worse is subjective but there is no doubt it is a drastic change. There is benefit to boys interacting with girls. There is bene…

You need to state evidence that acting differently around other genders is a _bad thing_, rather than a net good.

In the era of #metoo, maybe we need to check "boys will be boys" earlier in the process...

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#75

Post by taeric »

SOLAR_FIELDS wrote: post #66
mdasen wrote: post #34

It's amazing how times change. Just a few years ago, the Boy Scouts wouldn't allow gay kids to join (2013) and wouldn't allow gay leaders (2015). Back then, people were applauding the Girl Scouts for their progressive stance on gay rights and transgender youths. Today, the Boy Scouts are leaning into a more gender-neutral membership. Ultimately, I think the Girl Scouts are worried about their membership. If Scouts BS…

I also came here with a similar sentiment that I was expecting would be echoed by someone else in this thread. As an Eagle Scout who participated in a co-ed Venture Crew, I think it’s a good step forward for the BSA organization. People in the thread have mentioned some possible issues with co-Ed integration, and while it has its issues, I firmly believe on the whole that it’s a net good for the organization. I won’t…

Comparing to the church is.... Interesting. Aren't the boy scouts more associated with the church?

More to the point, if they really want to embrace change, embrace their name. Don't dilute it to a generic one that also has reputation with another organisation.

I say that as someone that believes in redemption. Hiding behind another banner doesn't strike as redemptive behaviour. :(

Edit: similarly, deceptive tactics such as pretending this is about something other than the name dilution doesn't scream good faith.

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#76

Post by ApolloFortyNine »

Cd00d wrote: post #74
randyrand wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't have a strong opinion either way (I'm an Eagle Scout), but the decision to include girls will fundamentally change Scouting. Guys act differently when around girls. Girls act differently when around guys. This is doubly true for ages 12-17. Whether this is a change for the better or worse is subjective but there is no doubt it is a drastic change. There is benefit to boys interacting with girls. There is bene…

You need to state evidence that acting differently around other genders is a _bad thing_, rather than a net good. In the era of #metoo, maybe we need to check "boys will be boys" earlier in the process...

>Guys act differently when around girls. Girls act differently when around guys. This is doubly true for ages 12-17. Whether this is a change for the better or worse is subjective but there is no doubt it is a drastic change.

Didn't say it was a bad thing.

>In the era of #metoo, maybe we need to check "boys will be boys" earlier in the process...

But as long as we're over reading things, are you implying boys spending time alone with other boys encourages rape, or that the BSA encourages rape?

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#77

Post by CobrastanJorji »

EpicEng wrote: post #65
CobrastanJorji wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Girls have always been in Boy Scouts. Now they get to earn badges, too. Yes, and before 1920, women were frequently allowed into statehouses. They just didn't get to vote. Turns out that was a pretty important distinction.

Yes, those two things are pretty much on the same level. The OP was speaking in regards to how boys act around girls, not making a defense of any policy.

"Admitting girls has been a non-issue" is very much a policy statement. It implies that Boy Scouts weren't doing anything wrong before because women have always been a part of it. There was never a problem. Allowing girls to formally join is just the icing on the cake.

But there WAS an issue before. Despite the fact that Johnny's sister was allowed to watch the knot-tying lessons, refusing to give her a uniform and a badge was very much an issue to her, and saying it wasn't should be called out.

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#78

Post by mgleason_3 »

crazygringo wrote: post #62

It's strange to me that Girl Scouts were able to have that name in the first place, once Boy Scouts already existed -- there's so much trademark confusion, for a long time I'd always assumed they were two branches of the same org, and trademarks aren't supposed to allow for this kind of confusion. I totally understand why Girl Scouts doesn't want to allow Boy Scouts to drop "Boy" because it feels unfair (neither shou…

It seems to have more to do with protecting the cookie sales that provide their livelihoods than it does with providing leadership growth for the girls.

We have s friend who worked with GSA for a couple years and came away utterly disgusted with the amount of pressure that’s applied on all the local chapters and how much of the proceeds is extracted back to the mothership while providing essentially no services in return. Where is all the money going?

She seemed to think it was ripe to be the next big scandal - similar to the RedCtoss.

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#79

Post by fusiongyro »

I feel like I always hear about girl scout fundraising (not just the cookies) but never about girl scouting. In contrast, I hear a lot about camping and whatnot with the boy scouts, yet they never seem to be in my face raising money. What's all that girl scout money going towards? More fundraising?

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#80

Post by watwut »

fusiongyro wrote: post #79

I feel like I always hear about girl scout fundraising (not just the cookies) but never about girl scouting. In contrast, I hear a lot about camping and whatnot with the boy scouts, yet they never seem to be in my face raising money. What's all that girl scout money going towards? More fundraising?

Depending on country you live in, girl version may do different activities then boy version. In some places it is more crafting and similar thing. The history of boy vs girl versions are different. Boy version evolved from "boys need activities/guidance and to be better prepared for next war with activities inspired by special unit" and packed with proper boy activities, while girl version started off with proper girl activities.
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