That's What Little Boys Are Made Of - The false wisdom of a "dangerous" book [semi-barf]

Reason Magazine ^ | June 18, 2007 | Cathy Young

[ZChief]

I am getting ready for another day of day camp for Cub Scouts (archery leader). What a flaming bunch of chuckle-heads! Fortunately, the predominately female leadership appears to have no problem with these boys being boys, but the one den with two dads as leaders operates much differently than the ones with moms.

[Right Wing Assault]

We used to put big green tomato caterpillars in a bag and put the bag in the street and try to guess which car was going to squash them. Then we’d open the bag for a look.

[Right Wing Assault]

I would write chapter 37 but unfortunately there is no statute of limitations...

That makes the point. What former little girl could say that?

[GatorGirl]

Let me just take a wild guess here and speculate that Ms. Young has never written an article criticizing the whole “American Girl” series of dolls, books, movies, clothes, stores, etc....

Give me a break—I just bought the book for my son and I am reading it. I love it!!! BUY MANY COPIES OF THIS BOOK IF YOU HAVE BOYS (OF ANY AGE) IN YOUR LIFE!!!

[aruanan]

Yet the gender-specific nature of the message, which includes a chapter on how to deal with the alien creatures known as girls, is quite deliberate. Indeed, The Dangerous Book... is being treated as something of a political manifesto—a repudiation of the idea that boys and girls are basically alike.

Yeah, they're both bipeds. End of similarity. Anyone who knows kids who is also not a strident sexist ideologue (or an idiot) knows that they are fundamentally different and the difference isn't merely a reflection of societal attitudes.

[Crolis]

Thanks for these suggestions...I may have to pick these up at my local bookstore.

Heck, some of the stories my Dad told about his childhood adventures would have a modern kid locked away faster than you can say Ritalin for even talking about the same stuff.

[-YYZ-]

Yep, that’s what the world has become - everything is co-ed, except what’s for women only. I notice locally that they now have girls in the Cub Scouts. I don’t know if they allow boys in the girls’ equivalent, the Brownies, but I doubt if any boy would want to, anyway.

[SamuraiScot]

I notice locally that they now have girls in the Cub Scouts.

That's a shocker to me; we don't see that here in upstate NY (yet). But the trend is a testament to the conviction of girls (and especially the parents of girls) that anything female is worthless.

[American_Centurion]

Bought the book for my 9 year old, along with the SAS survival handbook which I owned previously. He loves both of them immensely and every weekend we have done a project from each book together. Excellent (man training) quality time.

[American_Centurion]

girls in the Cub Scouts

HUH!!? I've been a Cub Master for 2 years and I've never heard of that.

[Running On Empty]

Marking

[-YYZ-]

Canada. Wolf cubs. The particular troop I saw this in was on a news report from Nova Scotia, I think. I’m guessing, but don’t know for a fact, that it’s probably Canada-wide. They noted participation by boys was dropping precipitously - gee, I wonder why?

[American_Centurion]

Oh, Canada. Um, well, you know.... ; )

[Pietro]

"....but argued that girls should be included in the fun as well."

Yeah, and ruin it for everbody else!

Remember this: Kid sister: I wanna play too>

Big bro: No.

Sis: I'm tellin' Mom

Mom: Let your sister play!

Sis: I get four strikes, no five stirkes,and you have to through w/ your left hand and wear your glove on your right hand, and oh yeah throw underhanded when I bat.

Bro; forget it, I quit.

[landorepub]

i’m a boy, i’m a boy
but my mom won’t admit it
i’m a boy, i’m a boy
and if i say i am i get it...

(put keith moon solo here)

[Theophilus]

...he was carrying a baby bag and pushing a baby carriage.

Hey! I resemble that remark.

At least he got to make one. I've made eight!

[HerrBlucher]

My name is Bill, and I’m a head case
They practice making up on my face
Yeah, I feel lucky if I get trousers to wear
Spend evenings taking hairpins from my hair

[winner3000]

(but nothing is said about the possibility of accepting help from a girl, or losing gracefully if bested by a girl at some “boy” activity.)

Somehow, I doubt that this book would have become a best seller if it taught boys how to LOSE! There are enough books in public schools to teach them how to do that...or they could turn on CSPAN and listen to some Democrats “supporting” our troops.

[super7man]

I just ran across your post of the chapter headings for your book. We must have grown up in the same neighborhood.
Oh, what memories. I was able to reach adulthood with both eyes and ten fingers and toes. A few of my friends did not.

Possible other chapters:
5 ways to get through a barbed wire fence at full sprint.
Hitting up tramps and hobos for money.
3 good sources for tree house materials.

[Altura Ct.]

This a great and fun book! I have bought several copies for my own family and as gifts. Of course there are differences between boys and girls. We celebrate these differences. It certainly doesn’t mean anybody is less valued just something that most people instinctively know. Is a shame people like Ms Young must find fault and sow her seeds of discontent. Her own life must be a constant battle of comparison.

Here is her e-mail if anyone is so inclined to share your thoughts with her.

cathyyoung63@aol.com