As it turns out “Honey Boo Boo” is not a Girl Scout, which I think makes the story that much more comical. She is just helping a local troop sell Girl Scout Cookies. There has been considerable criticism from Girl Scouts of the USA because she is selling them through Facebook. She was asked to remove her banner from her official Facebook page, which advertised the cookie sales.
According to Fox.com, Girl Scouts of USA made a statement saying, “Through an online sales approach, a girl doesn’t have the personal experience of asking someone to purchase her product. She doesn’t have to learn the responsibility of handling the money and personally delivering the order. When you have canvassed your neighborhood and manned cookie booths for hours, you learn the value of a hard day’s work. There is also a strong feeling of accomplishment when you are personally engaged in the activity.”
“Honey Boo Boo’s” mom in response to the Girl Scout’s criticism said, ”If I can raise more money for a troop, whoever they are, especially in an area where they don’t get a lot of money, and parents can’t afford to buy a ton of cookies, why wouldn’t I help? We’re doing nothing wrong.”
I totally understand where Girl Scouts of USA is coming from. Girl Scouts is about learning valuable life skills. If girls are selling them online, it makes it less personal and they are not learning communication skills. I also think that she is taking sales away from hard working Girl Scouts. Even though I do agree with the Girl Scouts and do not necessarily agree with what she is doing, I think that “Honey Boo Boo” has a heart and was just trying to give back.
I think it’s a wonderful thing that Alana and her family want to assist and raise money for the Girl Scout troop and I don’t see the harm in Alana participating. I have somewhat of an issue with the online sale approach. The purpose of Girl Scouts is to provide young girls with the skills of leadership, cooperation, communication, and trust. I don’t see the online sales as being more fulfilling and the same caliber of experience as selling them door to door or outside of a grocery store. Girls who have that personal contact while selling cookies are learning the skills that the Girl Scout Organization pride themselves on. I know that the online sale technique does not replace their personal exchanges and it might be easier to sell more cookies or spread the name of a local troop, but I feel that overall, it takes away from the qualities that make the Girl Scout experience a foundation for a young girl’s life.
I totally agree with you.