Beer Pong as a DDR Tool...

[BrandonKea]

In the latest issue of the DDR Newsletter (http://www.capnhq.gov/news/DDR_Apr_May_2009_Newsletter.pdf) there is an article that talks about how a squadron showed their members the dangers of playing Beer Pong by playing "several rounds of “Beer Pong”, using of course water instead of beer in the cups."

Does that strike anyone else as.... odd?

[Westernslope]

Not if you read the article.

[BrandonKea]

Not if you read the article.

I did read the article. I think it's a bit much to go so far as to teach the cadets how to play beer pong. There's a difference between that and doing something like having someone come in with those "beer goggles" that simulate what your vision becomes as you're intoxicated.

[Always Ready]

<rant>I can't believe a squadron would go as far as to teach a drinking game to underage cadets. This crosses a line IMO. While I think it is a fun game, and as the article pointed out so did the cadets, I don't think teaching anyone a fun way of doing something possibly dangerous and illegal is going to steer them away from it. If anything, it is going to steer them towards it.

Why do most college students who drink play beer pong and other drinking games? Not because they want a hangover in the morning, but because it is fun. Almost every high school and college student has had to sit through DARE and countless other classes that teach us the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption (which this article emphasized as the point of this exercise). How does teaching a fun method of doing something possibly dangerous to a bunch of 12-20 year olds help the solve the problem? Especially since most of them won't pay attention to the dangers part when they can focus on having fun. </rant>

BTW-Whenever I have played beer pong, the cups had water in them too...

[Eclipse]

Not to mention the fact that we now have a publicly available photo of a senior and cadet playing beer pong in uniform.

Kids don't need to be introduced to the culture of alcohol, they need to be steered away from it.

"Where'd you learn to play Beer Pong so great?"

"CAP!"

[BrandonKea]

Not to mention the fact that we now have a publicly available photo of a senior and cadet playing beer pong in uniform.

Kids don't need to be introduced to the culture of alcohol, they need to be steered away from it.

"Where'd you learn to play Beer Pong so great?"

"CAP!"

That was my very first thought. That picture doesn't show water in the cups, it shows a Cadet and a Senior Member, playing beer pong.

[Gunner C]

There is so much about DDR that is just plain strange.  I've been to several DDR activities.  The stuff is "cute" but not very relevant.  I think it's just a vehicle to use AF money. 

The DDR advisor at national has a full sized pickup truck with a "cadet wrap" paint job.  I believe she still tows a trailer and spends a GREAT DEAL of money going around the country. 

I don't see this as a program that's making a large impact on cadets.  Sure, they get to play with the beer goggles and see how they're impaired, but then they go downstairs to the SM area at the wing conference and watch their role models drinking beer.

Showing them how to play beer pong is just another strange DDR activity.

[AlphaSigOU]

What the... 

I guess Quarters, Thumper and Slush Fund are next... oy gevalt!

[Pumbaa]

We are planning on having a chug-a-lug demonstration.  Also Jell-O shots and of course we are bringing in some strippers so we can do belly button shots, with the Lime and salt lick too!

Of course we won't be using Vodka, Tequila, or beer... But I really want my cadets to have fun fun fun while learning DDR.

[BrandonKea]

Also included is a "Mocktail" recipe for an Arnold Palmer. That was before the Beer Pong Article

C'mon DDR...

[AlphaSigOU]

Also included is a "Mocktail" recipe for an Arnold Palmer. That was before the Beer Pong Article

C'mon DDR...

YGBSM! They musta run out of ideas...

[Big_Ed]

I've always thought DDR in CAP was a bit redundant. 

Isn't the CAP a DDR program as a whole?

My $.02

[Pumbaa]

Another thing we plan to do when school is back in session for our DDR.

We have a local university that is know to hold GREAT drinking parties.  We are going to bring our cadets to the party and have them wear beer goggles.  They will walk around and participate in the party sans drinking. 

Of course the college students will be doing their thing.  You know the girls stripping off, the special displays and activities they are want to perform.

This way our cadets can get an idea of what it is like at a college party.

I mean they are learning about beer pong why not this?

Any objections?

[a2capt]

* a2capt feels left out.

.. I never played beer pong. Maybe I better read the article just to confirm it is what I think it is ..  the ball, if it goes on the floor, etc- and falls in a cup, you drink it?

I guess if you are drunk.. it doesn't matter. But.. yuck. ;-)

[Pumbaa]

To me there is a sanitary way to play beer pong.  Use water in the cups, you don't drink out of those (the ball goes in), but your own chugging cup.

We did the same thing with playing quarters.  The quarter cup was filled with water.  When someone had to chug, we filled their personal cup fresh and they chugged.

[Inappropriate content removed.]

[DBlair]

I just read the article an I'm still not really sure how it is possible to justify the idea of teaching them to play beer pong. Most of that newsletter seems to be misguided- beer pong? mocktails? This only promotes to them how tasty alcoholic beverages can be (re: mocktails) and how binge drinking (re: beer pong) is fun and what they have to look forward to in high school and college parties. No matter how they may try to justify this, it is a bad idea.

I get the idea that DDR is one of those programs in place just for the sake of saying that there is a DDR program and as a method of getting more money from the government, without much in regards to substance or results.

[Pumbaa]

DBlair you mean my parties, playing quarters and such is not such a good idea to do at squadron?

Darn, there goes the dorm parties atthe local university!

[AlphaSigOU]

If they can find a way to create a squadron bar and exclude cadinks and underage seniors... 

[Eclipse]

I'd say this clearly falls into the "It seemed like a good idea at the time..." category.

[NIN]

We are planning on having a chug-a-lug demonstration.  Also Jell-O shots and of course we are bringing in some strippers so we can do belly button shots, with the Lime and salt lick too!

Of course we won't be using Vodka, Tequila, or beer... But I really want my cadets to have fun fun fun while learning DDR.

Admit it: You got that from my squadron. 

I love being a trend setter!

(of course, my recruiting and retention secrets are out now!)

[NIN]

If they can find a way to create a squadron bar and exclude cadinks and underage seniors... 

We have one. You don't?

[AlphaSigOU]

We have one. You don't?

If you wanna count our obligatory apres-CAP watering hole at a local restaurant as our 'unofficial' o-club...

[Always Ready]

So I sent this to one of my friends (former AF SP) who used to run DARE back before computers were in my first elementary school Anyways, his response was to immediately call me up and say a bunch of cusswords about DARE/DDR-type programs and how "they are trying hard to come up with new material to keep kids interested but failing on an epic scale". He was surprised CAP, as a whole, hasn't had a stand down or something because of this.

Fairly recently some of my former cadets had to sit through a DDR class put on by a friend of mine (who is very dull to begin with). They said the DDR class made them want to "Do Drugs Repeatedly!"

[NIN]

We have one. You don't?

If you wanna count our obligatory apres-CAP watering hole at a local restaurant as our 'unofficial' o-club...

We have three O-Clubs: The O-Club West (the Legion), the O-Club East (Dunkin's) and the O-Club Dining Room (Friendly's).

[Flying Pig]

Where I am in Central CA, we have abandoned DARE.  We now do career days though out the grades showing kids at an early age, and up through High School what careers are out there, what the requirements are, and what you can do to screw yourself out of ever getting that job you want.  Everything from local businesses, to the military recruiters, to Fire, EMS and Law Enforcement, you name it.  I dont really see the Beer Pong thing as a good idea.  I think someone meant well but didn't use sound judgement.

[EMT-83]

So I sent this to one of my friends (former AF SP) who used to run DARE back before computers were in my first elementary school Anyways, his response was to Fairly recently some of my former cadets had to sit through a DDR class put on by a friend of mine (who is very dull to begin with). They said the DDR class made them want to "Do Drugs Repeatedly!"

I was never any good at sexual harassment until I attended the mandatory training.

[Flying Pig]

HAAAAAAA....I just blew soda out of my nose! :clap:

[JohnKachenmeister]

When the police department sent me to "Sensitivity Training" I learned a whole bunch of new racial slurs that I had never heard before.

Thanks, Chief!

[notaNCO forever]

 I remember in a safety briefing having a senior member describe how to huff paint as part of his anti drug talk. CAP also had a poster about drugs that seemed to list all the benefits of doing them and not the negatives.

[RiverAux]

You guys missed the point entirely.  By learning the proper way to play and practicing at CAP meetings, our cadets are learning HOW TO WIN at beer pong, and those that win, don't drink!  So, we are reducing the overall amount of drinking done by our cadets.  Simple. 

[Eclipse]

I missed that, too!

That way they can be Pallbearers instead of passengers!

[MikeD]

* a2capt feels left out.

.. I never played beer pong. Maybe I better read the article just to confirm it is what I think it is ..  the ball, if it goes on the floor, etc- and falls in a cup, you drink it?

I guess if you are drunk.. it doesn't matter. But.. yuck. ;-)

Both teams have a full cup of water used to wash off the ball if it lands on the floor.
At least that's how I've always played it at school and how we play out here.  That said I'm amazed that a) they have the rules, complete with a diagram, and b) they have them slightly wrong (who plays with only one rerack?).

Even given that my last game was last weekend, I think doing this for cadets as a DDR activity is a really bad idea. 

What Flying Pig said about his squadron really makes a lot more sense then a typical DDR activity.

I'm almost wondering if it might be better to have a couple of SM's over 21 get super drunk in front of the cadets so they can see what kind of stupid stuff booze makes you do?  That at least can't be much worse then teaching them beer pong?

Can I get DDR funding to tour around and give my "There's a time and a place for everything and it's called college!" presentation? 

[C/MSgt Lunsford]

In the latest issue of the DDR Newsletter (http://www.capnhq.gov/news/DDR_Apr_May_2009_Newsletter.pdf) there is an article that talks about how a squadron showed their members the dangers of playing Beer Pong by playing "several rounds of "Beer Pong", using of course water instead of beer in the cups."

Does that strike anyone else as.... odd?

Yes that is odd. When encourage the game if you don't want them doing it in the first place?

[Rotorhead]

* a2capt feels left out.

.. I never played beer pong. Maybe I better read the article just to confirm it is what I think it is ..  the ball, if it goes on the floor, etc- and falls in a cup, you drink it?

I guess if you are drunk.. it doesn't matter. But.. yuck. ;-)

I'm almost wondering if it might be better to have a couple of SM's over 21 get super drunk in front of the cadets so they can see what kind of stupid stuff booze makes you do?  That at least can't be much worse then teaching them beer pong?

Nope, drunk people are frequently amusing to sober observers.

[BrandonKea]

Nobody is saying you can't amuse the Cadets in teaching them DDR, but this is straight up ENABLING them.

[BTCS1*]

Nothing more ammusing than seeing your command staff wasted! Don't forget the DDR officer! LOL

[C/MSgt Lunsford]

Nothing more ammusing than seeing your command staff wasted! Don't forget the DDR officer! LOL

That would be pretty funny. 

[Chief2009]

Nothing more amusing than seeing your command staff wasted!

WIWAC, I went to a wing conference and at the formal dinner, saw several higher ranking wing staff who were very inebriated. I have never understood why they even have bars at events where cadets will be attending when we're supposed to be teaching them not to use drugs/alcohol.

DN

[NIN]

I remember in a safety briefing having a senior member describe how to huff paint as part of his anti drug talk. CAP also had a poster about drugs that seemed to list all the benefits of doing them and not the negatives.

Is it sad that I was 21 years old and in the Army before I understood what "huffing" was?

Guy I knew in the Army had a video of a roommate huffing glue. I'm watching this and I say to my buddy "What the hell is he doing?"  My buddy says "He's 'huffing' glue.."  I said "Really? That's how you do it? I had no clue!"  And I truly didn't.  I grew up in the era where our model airplane glue had to have that nasty "orange peel" smell added to it to discourage inhalation. I always envisioned people "sniffing glue" as jamming the tube up their nose or something. I didn't care: I just wanted to build my model kits w/o that nasty smell..

[pixelwonk]

* tedda loved that smell

[wuzafuzz]

Nothing more amusing than seeing your command staff wasted!

WIWAC, I went to a wing conference and at the formal dinner, saw several higher ranking wing staff who were very inebriated. I have never understood why they even have bars at events where cadets will be attending when we're supposed to be teaching them not to use drugs/alcohol.

DN

Advocating complete abstinence has been a spectacular failure on a number of fronts.  Cadets will absolutely be confronted with alcohol related decisions as they grow older.  Prepare them for that instead of a fantasy future free of alcohol.

We shouldn't glamorize alcohol use, but we shouldn't paint it as the worst evil since Satan either.  Cadets will eventually realize we made it look worse than it is, at which point they may disregard the entire DDR message.  Save the "though shalt not" statements for the really scary stuff and teach RESPONSIBILITY on everything else.  Of course DDR messages need to be age appropriate.  I have very different conversations with my 18 year old son as compared to my 13 year old daughter.

Practicing drinking games as a CAP activity?  FAIL.
Leaders getting drunk in view of cadets?  FAIL.  Bye bye CAP membership.
Teaching responsible behavior in the real world?  GOOD FOR YOU.

[Climbnsink]

There was some freshmen at Dartmouth last year practicing beer pong with water last year.  I guess there are stiff penalties for alcohol in the dorms so they were training in the dorms with water.  College made a big stink.  Whole thing is just sad/funny.

[Spike]

I have never understood why they even have bars at events where cadets will be attending when we're supposed to be teaching them not to use drugs/alcohol.

Is that what we are supposed to be getting across?  "Don't drink alcohol"

How about "Don't drink alcohol until you are old enough.....and then do it responsibly".  Our society is so bent on saying "don't drink until your 21", but we don't have anything about drinking responsibly when we turn 21.

Most if not all people learn about drinking responsibly from the "Surgeon Generals warning" on the back of the bottle of booze these days.  That is a huge FAIL on the part of Alcohol Education.

Alcohol is not the "BIG Evil" we are supposed to be telling our kids/ Cadets. 

As far as Beer Pong as a teaching tool for DDR..........Someone needs fired over that.

That is like passing around the crack pipe but telling them not to inhale.

[Gunner C]

Personally, I don't want anyone telling my kids that it's OK to drink alcohol after 21, either.  It's not CAP's job to teach lifestyle decisions to my children, or anyone else's for that matter - that's my job.

To say that exposing the cadets to drinking, responsibly or otherwise, teaches them that drinking responsibly after 21 is a good mentoring style is a good idea is just strange.  7.4 percent, or approximately 14 million Americans, experience alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence.  7 percent of those who wait to consume alcohol until 21 will become alcoholics. That's pretty crummy odds.

When we have booze at CAP functions, it tells the cadets that it's part of becoming successful.  In fact, in the RM, alcohol is being frowned upon - where getting a buzz on at a unit party was part of the deal before, it is now a no-no.  In fact, if you're seen having more than one drink, your commander will probably have a talk with you.  Sodas are now served at many functions.

[jb512]

We are planning on having a chug-a-lug demonstration.  Also Jell-O shots and of course we are bringing in some strippers so we can do belly button shots, with the Lime and salt lick too!

I am sooo there....

[flyerthom]

We are planning on having a chug-a-lug demonstration.  Also Jell-O shots and of course we are bringing in some strippers so we can do belly button shots, with the Lime and salt lick too!

Of course we won't be using Vodka, Tequila, or beer... But I really want my cadets to have fun fun fun while learning DDR.

Don't tell Colgan that Vegas has subverted all of CAP 

[Eclipse]

Is that what we are supposed to be getting across?  "Don't drink alcohol"

How about "Don't drink alcohol until you are old enough.....and then do it responsibly".  Our society is so bent on saying "don't drink until your 21", but we don't have anything about drinking responsibly when we turn 21.

Most if not all people learn about drinking responsibly from the "Surgeon Generals warning" on the back of the bottle of booze these days.  That is a huge FAIL on the part of Alcohol Education.

Alcohol is not the "BIG Evil" we are supposed to be telling our kids/ Cadets. 

"Don't drink alcohol" is fine with me.  I watched two parents drink themselves into an early grave, and I'd just as soon as not have my kids drink.  Ever.

It is not necessary for socialization, "loosening up", or any part of life.  Period. 

The fact that many on this board are capable of moderation doesn't mean we should simply accept it as a "given" part of life.  I am personally a tea-totaler, but not a prude.  A big night for me is a shot of Bailey's or Kahlua in my coffee, and then only for the taste.  I have no issue with my friends drinking, and they all know its BYOB at my parties (if they feel they must).  Somehow I have managed to eek my way through life in this manner.

This is what my children will see - alcohol is not "evil" or "verboten", its just not "necessary", nor should underage drinking or binge drinking be tolerated in any way.

This is akin to our schools essentially collapsing on the subject of abstinence before marriage in the spirit of "well the kids are going to do it anyway, etc., etc..."

[C/MSgt Lunsford]

We are planning on having a chug-a-lug demonstration.  Also Jell-O shots and of course we are bringing in some strippers so we can do belly button shots, with the Lime and salt lick too!

I am sooo there....

Thats worth a $500 plane ticket to fly out to your squadron.