Before I get on to my rant, I have to tell you this story:

Awhile back, maybe when I was 11 or 12, I went to a girl scout camp. I was on a lake, in a canoe with another girl with about 4 other canoes in the general area. The wind started to pick up and all of us were losing control of our canoes. We were all blown to the edge of the lake, right by the marsh. The girls started to get scared that they would never reach land and they were crying. I was the only girl who wasn't crying because I wasn't scared. (technically, I cried a little bit out of mere frustration when I couldn't control the canoe, but I wasn't scared.) The camp counselors had the girls sing "you are my sunshine". I fucking hate that song.

I felt like barfing when I heard that song because I realized how the parents raise their daughters-

As weak little wusses who don't know how to take care of themselves.

If this happened at a boy scout camp, the boys might have either made it into an adventure or gotten bored waiting for help. Parents in general raise their boys to be independent and tough.

Most parents raise their girls to be dependant and shallow and scared of everything.

I am grateful that my parents raised me the way they did. I grew up digging for bugs in the garden, I climb trees, I am not afraid to sleep outside under the stars. All the other girls at GS camp were afraid to do so (I will tell you the story if you want). I took shop class in eighth grade and I took metalshop this year.

I'm not trying to be rude, but I would like to tell this to parents who haven't done so already:

Get out of the fucking victorian age

Don't force your daughter to play with Barbies-- Get her an action figure for a change

Let your daughter climb trees, play with bugs, and get dirty, and have fun

Raise her to be a woman

Posted by monster Raise her to be a woman

Well put!

Posted by monster Before I get on to my rant, I have to tell you this story: Awhile back, maybe when I was 11 or 12, I went to a girl scout camp. I was on a lake, in a canoe with another girl with about 4 other canoes in the general area. The wind started to pick up and all of us were losing control of our canoes. We were all blown to the edge of the lake, right by the marsh. The girls started to get scared that they would never reach land and they were crying. I was the only girl who wasn't crying because I wasn't scared. (technically, I cried a little bit out of mere frustration when I couldn't control the canoe, but I wasn't scared.) The camp counselors had the girls sing "you are my sunshine". I fucking hate that song. I felt like barfing when I heard that song because I realized how the parents raise their daughters- As weak little wusses who don't know how to take care of themselves. If this happened at a boy scout camp, the boys might have either made it into an adventure or gotten bored waiting for help. Parents in general raise their boys to be independent and tough. Most parents raise their girls to be dependant and shallow and scared of everything. I am grateful that my parents raised me the way they did. I grew up digging for bugs in the garden, I climb trees, I am not afraid to sleep outside under the stars. All the other girls at GS camp were afraid to do so (I will tell you the story if you want). I took shop class in eighth grade and I took metalshop this year. I'm not trying to be rude, but I would like to tell this to parents who haven't done so already: Get out of the fucking victorian age Don't force your daughter to play with Barbies-- Get her an action figure for a change Let your daughter climb trees, play with bugs, and get dirty, and have fun Raise her to be a woman

Did the experience turn you into a lesbian?

I'm 80% man. This is a fact.
My boobs count for 5% each, and my vagina counts for 10%.
The rest of me is all man.

And for the record, I grew up collecting bugs. I kept spiders in my room in jars as pets. I'm an army cadet (a damn good one,) and I don't know what I'd do without my automotive class.

Hail to the tough chicks! The rest of them I'll just step over.

Sounds familiar. It really does.
When I was a kid, I lived on a street that bordered a pretty large forest area. Not huge, more of a berm type thing that went on for a few miles in two directions. I live there again now. We'd spend all day running through the woods, climbing trees, etc.
The only real fear I have is of spiders/insects. I had some pretty bad experiences with spiders and insects, like bees, when I was a kid, but snakes, mice, none of the other things that should bother a girl bother me. In fact, if porcupines weren't so spiny, I would have taken one home with me last weekend when Samurai and I were out.
But you are right...girls need the scout camps and other stuff, if only to stop them from being froofroo poodles.
Sad thing is, Girl Scouts isn't the same as when I was a kid. We didn't cook or do any of the girly things, instead, most of us had butterfly collections and raised chinchillas, mice, guinea pigs and ferrets for badge projects. Must be the area of the country or something.

Shael

you don't want to know the fate that awaited most of the Barbies in the neighborhood.

Hannibal Lecter meeting the Unabomber.

Posted by Samurai you don't want to know the fate that awaited most of the Barbies in the neighborhood. Hannibal Lecter meeting the Unabomber.

I swear I didn't know the stove was on.

Well, the bigger problem is really that ALL kids are being raised as "sissies" now.

I think the mere fact that a child doesn't sit in a car without a form fitting cushion and 5 point harness for the first few years of life will have an effect on society all by itself, let alone the fact that toys have no sharp edges and playgrounds have fucking PADDED floors.

Playing with barbies doesn't mean anything.. I played with barbies when i small for a bit, but I still also had fun playing with bugs, toy cars, climbing trees, making forts, etc. Most of my friends from the time I was 4-8 were all guys. I'm not a wuss at all.
To this day, people are amazed at my abilities to climb brick walls of buildings 2-3 stories in height without use of a ladder or any other aid. ME STRONG WOMAN. lol

It's true. Lexi is more of a man than any of the men I know. She's basically a man with boobs. Yah. I think that's about correct.

Monster, are you a man with boobs too? I bet so.

Posted by vicexsquad Playing with barbies doesn't mean anything.. I played with barbies when i small for a bit, but I still also had fun playing with bugs, toy cars, climbing trees, making forts, etc. Most of my friends from the time I was 4-8 were all guys. I'm not a wuss at all. To this day, people are amazed at my abilities to climb brick walls of buildings 2-3 stories in height without use of a ladder or any other aid. ME STRONG WOMAN. lol

I like yer 'tude!

Posted by Stewie It's true. Lexi is more of a man than any of the men I know. She's basically a man with boobs. Yah. I think that's about correct. Monster, are you a man with boobs too? I bet so.

Right on!

This thread is kinda making me horny

The sexiest thing a woman has ever said to me was "ants taste spicy".

I agree with Mandias (because he's a freakin' genius, and classy to boot) that the problem is not just with girls. I remember two kids in my neighborhood, brothers, who would always get hurt on the 4th of July. Always. They'd shoot bottle rockets at each other or hold firecrackers in their hands a bit too long. It was okay then, because it was okay for kids to get hurt, but I imagine now someone would call Child Protective Services to "rescue" these two from the horrible parents who would allow them to handle explosives.

I think when the SuperFlu breaks out, and none of the antibiotics we have are able to combat it, we'll be able to blame all the parents out there with their ever present hand sanitizer and wipes, who just can't cope with the idea of their precious darlings being sick, and would put them in a bubble if they could.

Posted by SaraBellum I agree with Mandias (because he's a freakin' genius, and classy to boot) that the problem is not just with girls. I remember two kids in my neighborhood, brothers, who would always get hurt on the 4th of July. Always. They'd shoot bottle rockets at each other or hold firecrackers in their hands a bit too long. It was okay then, because it was okay for kids to get hurt, but I imagine now someone would call Child Protective Services to "rescue" these two from the horrible parents who would allow them to handle explosives. I think when the SuperFlu breaks out, and none of the antibiotics we have are able to combat it, we'll be able to blame all the parents out there with their ever present hand sanitizer and wipes, who just can't cope with the idea of their precious darlings being sick, and would put them in a bubble if they could.

i can only groan and shake my head in agreement.
where is the adventure in being a kid now?

Posted by Samurai where is the adventure in being a kid now?

Surviving in the post-SuperFluocalypse, of course. How awesome will THAT be!?!?!

Posted by SaraBellum I think when the SuperFlu breaks out, and none of the antibiotics we have are able to combat it, we'll be able to blame all the parents out there with their ever present hand sanitizer and wipes, who just can't cope with the idea of their precious darlings being sick, and would put them in a bubble if they could.

Your right on that one. Scientists are blaming people's weakening immunity on those products. I only use hand sanitizer if I have NOTHING else to use.

Posted by MutantMandias Surviving in the post-SuperFluocalypse, of course. How awesome will THAT be!?!?!

yeah, they get Red Dawn for reals.

I agree that the problem isn't only with girls. I too, spent a life of playing with Tonka trucks, collecting bugs and frogs, climbing tress, playing wiffle ball, etc. I also played with barbies and jumped rope. The point being, that I was always outside doing something productive. I left the house at 9:30 in the morning and came home when the street lights came on at night.

Now there are way too many kids that are in the house, playing x-box, spending hours on the phone, or playing on the computer. Which is fine to an extent; but GET YOUR DAMN KIDS OUTSIDE for some adventure and toughening up. Kids being spoiled and pampered is another thing that adds to this issue.

Another thing that bugs me are parents who let their kids hang around when adults are visiting. I couldn't get far enough away from my parents; now theres a whole generation of kids that are just hanging on mommies apron constantly.