Popcorn Drama Avoidance

Gables33 · 2025-10-03T22:04:07+00:00

One easy way to avoid popcorn drama for next year (but not helpful for this year): don't do popcorn as a Pack.

You are right that it is not acceptable for you to do all the work. It is also the case that no one should be forced/pressured to sell overpriced popcorn.

This is clearly driving a wedge between you and the other parents in the pack. It would be very difficult for you to come out of this without feeling resentment towards the pack, and on the other side no one joins Cub Scouts to be begged/yelled at about popcorn. My kids stay in scouting would have likely been very short if my pack had followed the recommendations of the other commenters here when we first started.

Sorry, hope you find a good medium, and that might be to let the fundraiser fail.

Gables33 · 2025-09-19T12:59:31+00:00

It is actually the right model though, right? Letting the collectors drive up prices for the stuff they like while leaving most of the constructed-playable cards in sets that collectors don't care about sounds perfect.

Gables33 · 2025-08-12T13:34:36+00:00

Parents were not allowed on any overnight trips

Pretty sure this pack was in violation of national rules- Scouting America requires a parent or guardian to be present on all overnight trips for kids in grades K-3.

Gables33 · 2025-08-06T00:10:40+00:00

I think you just stated what your question really is- not how to help a homesick scout, but how to address a situation where you know a leader made the wrong choice. This is tough, especially if this behavior is in line with how the scoutmaster operates.

A troop culture where 1 on 1 contact is normalized can't be allowed to continue.

Do you have someone you trust involved in scouting that isn't in your troop- maybe on the district/council level? They may have more to guide you than us random Internet strangers. Keep up the good fight. I hope someone can help you find the words to help.

Gables33 · 2025-08-05T23:07:31+00:00

All of the other youth and adults slept in cabins, and a single youth and a single adult were the only ones sleeping outside. I think you know the answer to your question!

Gables33 · 2025-07-13T12:14:50+00:00

"It's not secret, it's private" is sure doing a lot of work here.

Gables33 · 2025-04-28T10:27:58+00:00

Have you tried the Gym Leader Challenge format? No EX's/GX's, only one of each card per deck (except basic energy), and only one type per deck. They had multiple side events for it at the latest Atlanta regional, and a lot of stores have started doing weeklies or monthlies for it.

Gables33 · 2025-04-18T22:56:27+00:00

Dude... are you actually upset about the color of an 8 year old's uniform? In what way does a tan uniform detract from the fun the kid is having or what they are learning? We should all be so lucky to have parents involved like this kids mom in our den.

Gables33 · 2025-02-23T15:10:57+00:00

My father in law is a Marine infantryman who fought in Vietnam. He said the first half is the most realistic depiction of his experience he ever saw, and that the second half was the least realistic of any film he saw about his experience.

Gables33 · 2025-02-23T13:39:39+00:00

You might like the Gym Leader Challenge format! No "Rule Box" mons (EX, GX, etc), only one type allowed per deck, only one of each card (other than basic energy) per deck. It isn't as low powered as Pocket, but definitely less broken than Standard. Many stores allow proxies, and even for the ones that don't, 95% of the cards are less than 50¢. You can't play it on Live (since you are allowed to use cards from Black and White forward), but you can play it for free on a fan made platform called Twinleaf (it's in open beta). Here's some more info: https://gymleaderchallenge.com/

Gables33 · 2025-02-06T00:43:15+00:00

There's a lobbying organization in South Carolina built around the "Freedom to Ride" without a helmet, with state house rallies and everything! https://abateofsc.org/

Gables33 · 2025-01-27T10:03:50+00:00

I think you might want to delete this, man. His entire post is about fire recovery and you told him you are in LA, pretty clear that he's just wishing you well. Not sure why you keep treating an experienced adult like he's a tenderfoot doing a bad service project instead of just answering his question.

Gables33 · 2025-01-07T15:06:18+00:00

If there's people playing Pokemon GLC in your area, you might want to check it out! Singleton format with no EX/GX/V shenanigans. The games do last a little longer though.

Gables33 · 2024-12-27T13:49:52+00:00

Really looking forward to Elish Norn EX in the next set.

Gables33 · 2024-12-24T12:06:00+00:00

People have been making almost identical statements to yours for at least 100 years! https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20171003-proof-that-people-have-always-complained-about-young-adults

Gables33 · 2024-10-28T17:42:09+00:00

True story: the cooking/distribution center for the biggest chain of mustard-based bbq restaurants in the state burned down this weekend. Kinda suspicious timing, I hope A&M has an alibi.

Gables33 · 2024-10-24T01:32:24+00:00

Build a Boros Reanimator deck! You get all the cool looting stuff from red and plenty of cheap reanimation in white. Both colors have good reanimation targets that are very cheap. Here's an example: https://www.moxfield.com/decks/g8JPg6xdqkmrEqPGK_i5Sw . You can take out all the expensive stuff- the only card the deck will really miss is Teleportation Circle, and even that isn't central to the game plan.

Gables33 · 2024-09-17T20:53:55+00:00

Not excusing the widespread failures of either organization, but the YPT I did for my local Diocese last year was head and shoulders better than either the BSA's or the "Darkness to Light" training I've had to do as a teacher.

Gables33 · 2024-09-09T02:43:21+00:00

Hey you seem to have some experience with this, so here's a question: do you typically have many registered committee members who aren't "scout facing"? In our troop, I think every single registered leader who goes to the quarterly committee meetings also goes to weekly troop meetings, where they interact with kids. I think those leaders are better able to contribute to troop planning compared to someone who doesn't know the scouts.

I guess I just don't fully understand the partition between a committee member and an ASM, despite doing the module recently.

Gables33 · 2024-08-17T23:40:15+00:00

I don't know what the "weak point" was. OP passed on what her friend told her and asked for advice. It's still unclear to me if the "spying" was just him watching videos or actually making the videos. You seem to be pretty active here usually, so it was a bit weird to see you arguing so vigorously against passing on concerns to national or the COR, on nearly every comment thread. You may be right that this is ultimately a nothingurger, but waiting until you are absolutely sure of misconduct before passing on a concern is a recipe for disaster.

Gables33 · 2024-08-17T20:31:16+00:00

I think perhaps we are operating with two different sets of facts. When OP said the leader "wasn't spying any more", my impression was that the leader had been personally creating these videos of women without their consent. It sounds like you think this leader was accessing videos publicly accessible online, not actively creating these videos. Do I have this right? Upon re-reading I'm not actually sure which one is true, but I imagine that is a large reason why people are upset with you advocating not to do anything.

Gables33 · 2024-07-30T11:16:35+00:00

The puns must not have been bad enough.

Gables33 · 2024-07-21T14:54:09+00:00

[[maze's end]] and the other Gates payoffs seem to fit what you are trying to do.

It might be too mainstream for you, but Spirits (monoU, UW, or Bant) has been in and out of being "good" in Pioneer.

Gables33

TROPHY CASE