Snacktime
We'll call him Chris as that's fairly easy to follow. This is the man whose stupidity combined with mine on holiday generated 12k hits on a photography site. But he was a well grounded and resourceful fellow, and happened to be a Scout leader.

There was the usual lark that goes with teenage scouting (especially with the girls) and big camping trips with massive marquee-type tents. 20-odd boys, 10-14 years old all on their own for the first time.

12 year old boy comes up to Chris with a packet of crisps. He asks:

Kid: "Can I have a pack of crisps?"
Chris: "Sure, go ahead. You can help yourself to anything in the snacks trunk"
Kid: "er, ok."
Kid hands the crisps to Chris. Chris is a bit confused at this point.

Kid: "Er, can you open the pack?"
"Can't you do it?"
"Er, my mum says I'm not allowed to."
*slightly stunned 19 year old ginger blokey stammers for a bit, then composes self*
"Really?"
*kid looks a bit hurt at not being believed* "Yes!"
"Well, you're allowed to open packets of crisps here."
"Er, ok. Can you do it anyway?"
*smile* "If you want those crisps enough, you'll get them open."

And apparently he managed it.

Scouting 1. Overprotective parenting: 0. Yay!
(mmmm curry doesn't really understand this sig lark, Thu 10 Sep 2009, 18:07, 8 replies)

Couldn't have been THAT overprotective.
They let him join notorious club For Nonces, the Scouts.
( Amorous Badger NAKED BEA ARTHUR PHOTOS 4U, Thu 10 Sep 2009, 18:34, closed)

Fair
But the leader was a hefty volunteer at the local church, and thus a pinnacle of respectability.

*Not* the catholic church, obviously...
(mmmm curry doesn't really understand this sig lark, Thu 10 Sep 2009, 18:38, closed)

Was this 'scouts' or was this 'disabled camp'?
or 'made-up camp'
(Richard Earl of Cambridge Cruel, Savage, Thu 10 Sep 2009, 19:01, closed)

See, this amuses me
The ones people always doubt me on are the ones I haven't had any artistic license with.

Note to self: Concoct something completely fictional for next week: that way I'll get clicks-ahoy if it's well written!
(mmmm curry doesn't really understand this sig lark, Thu 10 Sep 2009, 19:19, closed)

On a slight tangent
Inflating empty packets of crisps and popping them with a clap of the hands was quite popular in my youth, but totally verboten in my family. Apparently my father used to be quite an fan of the sport as a young boy, until a crumb from one packet got stuck behind his eyeball, and was only removed when the doctor skilfully popped the eyeball out of its socket.
(Vice Admiral Sir Charles Cockbrush KCB MBE DSO, who is finding it increasingly difficult to log into b3ta.com wants to duck your aunt and kick your puppy, Fri 11 Sep 2009, 9:39, closed)

oiks
not sure if its over protective parents or simply lazy as fuck kids but the number of kids who attend Scout camp and are totally confused when you give them a tin opener never fails to make me die a little on the inside. as a race we are probably doomed.

All paedo joking aside, frankly I think Scouting or another "structured" youth group (cadets, guides but not just generic "youth clubs") is the best thing possible for kids, gives them so much independance, confidence and life skills. We also teach them how to (safely) use axes and (safely) make fuck off big catapults and fires which has got to be good.
(cornishbob is going to hell on, Fri 11 Sep 2009, 11:03, closed)

^This^
My most hallowed memories from school were courtesy of the cadets; running around in the mud with your mates, building stuff. And the skills you learn are damned useful as well.

Curiously, a lot of people had odd sleeping habits; one guy used to sit bolt upright, cough his guts out, then fall gently back to sleep. Another guy used to have terrible bouts of tourettes, but only in his sleep...
(tarbin tarbis, tarbit, tarbamus, tarbimus, tarbant, Fri 11 Sep 2009, 12:36, closed)

Yup
I think it is actually a great shame that the reputation of Scouting is somewhat tarnished in the public's eye. It does a helluva a lot of good.
(Captain Skippy pooed in a bag and left it on your doorstep, Sun 13 Sep 2009, 16:21, closed)