Overly politically correct?

[ar_wahan]

I just got a cute email from a Brownie Scout (I'm sure her mother typed it) saying she is selling Girl Scout cookies. She included a list of the cookies, with photos and descriptions (a list clearly snagged from the Girl Scouts organization), and said she would call this week to see if we want any.

For years, "Samoas" have been a favorite of many folks. Now they're called "Caramel deLites."

And "Tagalongs" have become "Peanut Butter Patties." Well, that one I can better understand -- it would be very hard for anyone NOT to know there is peanut butter in them (an important thing to know if a child has peanut allergies), and "Tagalong" really doesn't tell you anything about what's in them.

but to rename Samoas ...Did someone from Samoa complain?

There is also a new cookie (I think it's new) called "Thanks-A-Lot" -- "Heartwarming shortbread cookies dipped in rich fudge and topped with an embossed Thank You message in one of five languages. Maybe one will be Samoan?

At least "Thin Mints" stayed the same.

Comments

[pegasi1978.livejournal.com]

I can tell you what has happend just by looking at the names. Your local Girl Scout district is no longer using the Little Brownie Bakery to provide their cookies. Instead they are using ABC/Interbake Foods. Each bakery names their own cookies and it's the one way to tell them apart (aside from subtle taste differences). Thin Mints are the staple Girl Scout cookie so it's the only cookie whose name doesn't change between the two bakeries that provide cookies for Girl Scouts.

[pegasi1978.livejournal.com]

Oh and I'm 99% sure from looking here that the Brownie or her mother should not have sent you that email about ordering Girl Scout cookies. Speaking from my experience as a Girl Scout I find it lazy. I went door to door in my neighborbood, took my order form to church, our vet's office, our bank, several car dealerships and anywhere else I could think of to sell cookies. It's not too hard to get out and do it, but people seem to have lost the willingness to ask people face to face.

I did hear recently about a (local to me) Girl Scout who was robbed while selling cookies by a 12 year old. If I understand the story right she was taking orders so she should not have been taking any money since it is only collected when cookies are delivered. So I don't understand why she had any cookie money with her, but for some reason she did. When I caught the clip on tv about it they had someone for the local Girl Scouts on and said, "This is why we don't encourage the girls to go door to door anymore." I find it very sad that she said that because selling door to door is an important part of selling cookies. True I never got very many orders that way, but still it was the experience...not the sales that made it important to me.

[ar-wahan.livejournal.com]

I know the Brownie Scout and her mother personally, and was not offended. We live in a very rural area... we don't even have sidewalks, so for a small child to go door to door, especially in late afternoon when people are home and it is already dark, would be difficult and even dangerous.

She wanted to bring the order form to our church and approach people at Social Hour, but our board objected.

[pegasi1978.livejournal.com]

I can understand that. It seems harder in some ways to sell Girl Scout cookies than it did when I was a Girl Scout selling them.

It's a shame your church board objected to her taking the order form to church. I'll admit I never thought to approach the Session (board) at my church, but no one ever complained about several Girl Scouts taking orders. I think there were, at most, three of us, and different people would order from different girls, with the occasional cross over. I tended to get orders from the members who would go to the early service (which I would attend) and the others tended to get orders from the late service. I always made sure to have extra boxes on hand when I was delivering them though because there would always be someone who missed placing an order who would want a box.

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's just what I was going to say.

Now, while they SAY that ABC's versions of the favorites are the same, I say NAY! Carmel De-Lites are NOT as good as Samoas!

*ahem*

[thoughtsbykat.livejournal.com]

You got an explanation above but I'm with you maybe someone complained about the name Samoa and Tagalongs. Isn't Tagalong a language?


It used to be girl scout training to get out there & sell the cookies. Times have changed, sad isn't it?

[ar-wahan.livejournal.com]

The language is Tagalog.

As I told the first commenter, we live in a rural area. Houses are very far apart, there are no sidewalks, and it would difficult, even dangerous, for a small child (even accompanied by her mother) to walk door to door, especially in late afternoon (when people are likely to be home), when it is getting dark and commuters are on the roads.

[el-jefe59.livejournal.com]

At least "Thin Mints" stayed the same.

As an overweight person, I object! I demand they also make a cookie called fat mints!

[el-jefe59.livejournal.com]

As an overweight person, I object to my previous objection. Fat mints sounds insensitive. I demand they be called full figured mints!

[ar-wahan.livejournal.com]

Or maybe, BMInts (Body Mass Index Mints).

[el-jefe59.livejournal.com]

Even better!

[lurkitty.livejournal.com]

Actually, I was mentally applauding the girl for being a good salesman and using all means at her disposal to sell her product. Believe me, I sold my share of cookies, too!

If you are a regular customer, I can see no harm in contacting you by email. I find it more annoying to have someone ring my doorbell and disturb whatever I was doing. An email is something I can answer at my leisure. I get tired of kids constantly wanting to sell me things, too. Heck, even the Avon lady uses email with regular customers!

I, too, was going to offer the change in bakery explanation.

[ayeamspartacus.livejournal.com]

I'm offended! Where are the FAT mints???

[ar-wahan.livejournal.com]

See el-jefe's preceding comments!

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

Hey, at least they are not wah-fer theen mints!