Breaking the Geek-FIRST Bias

[plutonium83]

What is it about FIRST makes people bias it with Geeks? We are trying to get more people to join robotics this year (especially females). How can we break this geek-FIRST bias?

[Jack Jones]

Why should we care? If someone’s so shallow as to let prejudice stunt their own growth, then who needs them; who needs them to pretend to stunt ours? :confused:

[Cory]

I havent been offended by anyone calling me a geek for years now.

I really dont see what the big deal is...

[rocknthehawk]

haha half of my friends dont even know i'm on the team.

to break the prejudice, have a kid with a mohawk, or your class president join the team, and tell everyone how awesome it is. :) i've got both on my side :D

[plutonium83]

Thanks Aaron for you suggestions.

We really need more people this year because 1/3 of the team are seniors. If we dont recruit and educate new people now, we will be facing a giant vacuum of members and skills.

[Koko Ed]

One thing that would help is to open up registration to the team to the whole school and activly recruit all students. Not just honor roll. Other than that it's really up to them. If they are so threatened by FIRST that all they see is stuck up geeks playing with expensive toys than thats their loss.

[Ali Ahmed]

Don't emphsize so much on robotics. Tell them about other things that your team does, especally trips. And I haven't seen a bigger group of cool people then in comps.

[Koko Ed]

Don't emphsize so much on robotics. Tell them about other things that your team does, especally trips. And I haven't seen a bigger group of cool people then in comps.
Yeah but remeber back when FIRST was at Disney and teams reported problems with kids joining the teams just to travel to Disney and not really wanting anything to do with the robots? That isn't good for FIRST niether. i think the best thing a team can do toi spread the word of FIRST is to show pictures and video of what the build process constitutes and also show that there is more to FIRST than just building the robot. You are also building the team and yourself. The robot is just a tool to accomplish that goal.

[Bharat Nain]

Proudly Wear bright ugly yellow hawaiian shirts and thou shalt not be called a geek

Ok in all seriousness, make a job list of the team and hand it out or something of that sort, include all possible jobs and let them find a suitable position for themselves on the team.

-B-RAT(As curry says)

[Stephen Kowski]

Geek?!? I think you should take that as a compliment....that means you are going to be someone's boss later on in life ;)

[JoeXIII'007]

Geek?!? I think you should take that as a compliment....that means you are going to be someone's boss later on in life ;)

You are referring to Bill Gates Rule #11

Be respectful to nerds. They will probably be your boss one day.

I have to applaud you. But anyway, yeah, why even bother with the 'Geek-FIRST' Bias? Nerds and geeks are what we are, and even though things may look uneventful now, just wait. Gates did it, Jobs and Wozniack did it, we can do it! Be happy. :cool:

Now for the question at hand. Just be open about what your team is, who you are, and what you do. That means announcing your adventures/victories over the PA or some other way, and making PR second nature. What I mean by that is to make sure that your team and its members are representing the team well, anytime. That can be done by members wearing the team shirt a certain day consistently, or some other way of showing that your team exists. Then you get people who may come to you or you may be talking to them and they say, "Hey, I used to work (or do work) at that plant," or "I know robotics teams like that."

[Max Lobovsky]

I don't think any one technique is going to help you recruit people. If you want to get a particular involved, talk to them, be friendly, and find out what they are interested in. That way, you don't waste his or her time, and possibly turn them off to robotics. Try to think like he or she would, what would he or she find interesting?

Though by numbers, our team is largely people who volunteered without knowing much about our team, many of the key and most active members were personally recruited.

[karinka13]

Our team has been trying from the beginning to get a reputation for robotics above that of "geek", but we're still trying. A large part of this is because we get no support from the school. The one year they did support us, we got plenty of interest, but it's only been decilining ever since. We currently have about seven dedicated members on our team, because people either don't know we exist, or they assume that our club isn't cool. If you go to a jock school, this is definately the case. I mean, seriously, FIRST robotics is mainly like a sporting event, only with robots doing the labor instead of people. Yet we get no support, while the administation are always encouraging everyone to go support the athletes. I think support is mainly what makes and breaks a team.
As far as getting females involved, the Firebirds are an all-female team, since we go to an all-girls school. I'd say focus on financial, personal, artistic, and social aspects of the team when trying to get them involoved. That's what new people usually want to start out with for us, until they get into it at least.

[George1902]

I don's think you should be telling people that FIRST isn't for geeks. I think you should convince people to embrace their inner geek!

::ends the post before it sounds like a monologue from Revenge of the Nerds::

[karinka13]

Well, I'd have to agree 100%...but unfortunately, that would rid ourselves of half the people we manage to scrape up on our team...so I guess we'll just have to lead the cool nerd party on our own...

[Dorienne]

I honestly don't find it to be attracting only geeks.
I'm not even close to being a geek, really. I'm more of an outgoing business person with serious PR skills. As many people may have found out. ;-)
But really, FIRST attracts all kinds of people; nerds, geeks, dorks, preps, techies, PR people, financial persons, etc. It's a wide range of people, and that's the amazing thing people hardly recognize. FIRST attracts everyone. It appeals to so many different people.
What we need to let people know is that there's something in FIRST for everyone. Not just engineering skills for geeks. There's PR skills, financial skills, CAD skills, Animation, Website building, etc. The list is practically endless!
That's the message we need to convey. FIRST can appeal to all. We just need to show that to them.

[OZ_341]

First of all, I just want to say that the Firebirds Rock!! We are looking forward to seeing you at Ramp Riot!

My advice is, just make your team fun. Dream up some school event or reason to demonstrate your machines. Sometimes our team will just practice in public areas of the school just to watch confused people scratch their heads. Kids will always come up and ask questions. Also be open to diverse groups of recruits and keep the faith. Everything else will follow.

As far as the stigma of geekdom goes, we laugh at people that laugh at our team. When people try to stereotype our team, we get in their face. We love our geeks, but we also recruit athletes, artists and business oriented people.
FIRST is NASCAR, FIRST is a Sport, FIRST is an adventure! I go crazy when anyone on our team calls it the Robotics "Club". We are a TEAM!!!

I guess what I am saying is get some attitude. What you are doing is amazing! We have grown through word of mouth. Friends recruit friends. It is amazing how far a little attitude goes.

In terms of female recruiting, we are about 40% female. We have strong female role models, both in terms of mentors and students. Nothing makes a student want to join more than seeing someone like themselves being successful and supported.

[Alex Pelan]

I honestly don't find it to be attracting only geeks.
I'm not even close to being a geek, really. I'm more of an outgoing business person with serious PR skills. As many people may have found out. ;-)
But really, FIRST attracts all kinds of people; nerds, geeks, dorks, preps, techies, PR people, financial persons, etc. It's a wide range of people, and that's the amazing thing people hardly recognize. FIRST attracts everyone. It appeals to so many different people.
What we need to let people know is that there's something in FIRST for everyone. Not just engineering skills for geeks. There's PR skills, financial skills, CAD skills, Animation, Website building, etc. The list is practically endless!
That's the message we need to convey. FIRST can appeal to all. We just need to show that to them.

Exactly. Each FIRST team is like a mini corporation, and it needs people and trains people for all walks of life. I'm sure that if it was mandatory for freshman at schools that the teams would be huge, with some schools requiring more than one team. The problem is getting kids to committ the time necessary and the interest.

[rocknthehawk]

definetly do not promote robotics based on the trips and such. at least half of our team doesnt do squat, and ends up getting into trouble at the competitions.

To recruit people, use word of mouth, and show off the bot. We put ours in the school cafeteria and show it off, it actually helped out a lot. also, try showing them how it was built, lots of kids think it is really cool using the tools in a machine shop and such. A lego team would also probably help out a lot with kids coming into the school.

[IMDWalrus]

One thing that would help is to open up registration to the team to the whole school and activly recruit all students. Not just honor roll. Other than that it's really up to them. If they are so threatened by FIRST that all they see is stuck up geeks playing with expensive toys than thats their loss.
Honor roll? What team follows that rule? I think that 818 has a minimum GPA requirement, but I've never heard of it being enforced...

I go to a magnet school for math and science classes. We refer to ourselves as geeks all the time. Who says that being a "geek" is a bad thing? :)

[Koko Ed]

Honor roll? What team follows that rule? I think that 818 has a minimum GPA requirement, but I've never heard of it being enforced...

I go to a magnet school for math and science classes. We refer to ourselves as geeks all the time. Who says that being a "geek" is a bad thing? :)
What I mean is that only the "smart kids" join up and the not as bright feel like they don't belong when in truth FIRST is tailor made to encourage them.

[tiffany34990]

honestly in my school I'm not considered a geek or nerd-- just an ib student and person involved in robotics-- a s.p.a.m. gal-- but then again my high school isn't a typical high school where there are real cliques--there isn't that most popular girl or most popular guy- it's a different world compared to martin county -- really we are respected at south fork-- people are like that's way cool u'r in robotics-- wow! :ahh: you guys made that-- and the whole geek nerd dork thin well it is what we simply say- we are proud to be like a band dork, robotics geek, ib dork/geek--whatever-- nobody takes offense to it nor really cares-- it's like a really cool thing--well this is how i see things in my high school-- sf is just not typical what can i say--so all and all being a "geek or nerd" or whatever name you want to refer to isn't bad :D
our team is made up of different ppl of course like all the teams-- it's not just the smart ppl aka AP and ib students-- but we have honor and on level students-- everyone contributes in their own way like in society-- we each shall make a difference-either it might be big or small but the size doesn't matter cause we all make a difference :)

[Matthew_H]

Our team name is Ubergeeks so it would be hard for us to fit what we really are. I found found it is easier to make geek cool than to distance yourself from your inner geek.



Get your geek on!

[Kristina]

Here's another way of looking at it:

Maybe people aren't concerned as much with the "geek-bias" as much as they are worried about being excluded from another clique. A lot of you may be scratching your head or just thinking that I'm crazy but the "popular crowd" is not the only group of people on campus who can be exclusionary. I'm not saying that this is universally true, but many times a group such as the robotics team can be consciously or subconsciously exclusive, or even just appear that way to others.

It's easy to say that it's people's loss if they can't figure it out and how great FIRST is, but isn't the purpose of FIRST to inspire people in science and technology? Why is this subject so near and dear to me? Because I would have been one of those people who didn't get it. It's not that I was afraid of being labeled a geek, I already know that I am, but rather that the robotics team at our high school was a really tight-knit group, and they all seemed to be like the same type of person...the type of person I couldn't identify with. However, after some active recruitment by my friend, the team leader, I joined in and realized how unique the personalities were and how many different opportunities FIRST provided.

So in my humble opinion, I think that FIRST should not be a passive club in terms of recruitment. Sure you can have the mentality of "they can come, and we will be here when they're ready to accept our geekness" but I think if you want a spectrum of ideas and talents, you have to go out and get people. It's great for FIRST to be a training ground for people who have already decided to be engineers but wouldn't it be even better if you get more people interested in science and technology, and the different ways that people can use their talents in that field?

[karinka13]

Our team name is Ubergeeks so it would be hard for us to fit what we really are. I found found it is easier to make geek cool than to distance yourself from your inner geek.



Get your geek on!


your team name definatley wins the best team name ever award! :yikes:

[Phil 33]

I have fought for years to control the perception of "robotics kids" as geeks. Not because I have any problem with being a geek, but because I want other students to realize that FIRST is something that anyone can do.

Despite my best efforts, things aren't going to well. It's not that we haven't tried. We've done demonstrations, displays, announcements, and all types of recruting stuff. But we still don't generate enough student interest. I still take crap from EVERYBODY (students, teachers, even janitors) about being on the robotics team. It's kind of depressing. You work so hard to recruit people to FIRST, or to at least improve their understanding of FIRST, and get nowhere. I have found there are some fundamental problems.

1. It's extremely difficult to explain to people what exactly the FIRST experience is all about. You can show them your robot, you can show them video, you can make fancy displays, catchy advertisments, and make some really good presentations, and still not be able to explain what FIRST is all about. My point: You really don't "get" the FIRST experience until you've done it, until you've worked 5 late nights in a row building a robot, until you've traveled to a regional, until you've gone on some 12 hour road trips with your team, until you've spent a day in the pits. Maybe you can bring people to a competition, if you're lucky, but you still cannot really make them understand what FIRST is all about.

2. Since it's next to impossible to really make someone understand the FIRST experience, they have to actually join the team if they will ever "get it." Joining the team involves taking a risk, doing something they know nothing about. People are reluctant to make this risk. They know what football is, they know what soccer is. It's much "safer" to join a sports team that you know something about, than it is to join a "robotics team."

3. In order to make this risk something that was worth doing, they have to get something out of their FIRST experience. Some people will join the team, and really not get much out of it. How much a student gets out of FIRST depends on what they put into it (like a lot of things in life.) Many people don't realize this. FIRST doesn't impact them the way it does to many of us because they've put nothing into it! You will only have a worthwhile expeience in FIRST if you put some work into it (yes, work. Of course, you'll also have tons of fun)

4. Many people don't want to put this work into it. Point made. No matter how much you push some people, they don't want to do any work. As such, they will not benefit from the FIRST expereince. A great thing about FIRST is that there is always something to do, if you are motivated enough.

When I first joined my school's robotics team as a freshman, all I knew was that I was joining a robotics team, I knew nothing of what FIRST was. The obvious fact that the robotics team build robots appealed to the geeky side of me. I wanted to build robots, because it sounded like fun. When I was first introduced to the FIRST/Dean Kamen idealology, I didn't really think to much of it, I just brushed it aside and ignored it. But I have come to realize how true it actually is. I look around school and the students and the teachers all GLORIFY the sports teams. The robotics team is just something there to be made fun of. And Dean Kamen is absolutly right about this, it is a fundamental culture problem. Once you realize this, you want to change it. I have tried, and continue to try A LOT. But you have to understand the forces you're working against. They are powerful, because people are stubborn, and they don't like to change their opinions.

And at some point you realize this: FIRST is not for everyone. You have to pick your battles, and aim for small victories. Don't try to win everyone over. Talk to your friends, talk to indivdual people one on one. Anyone who expresses some interest, talk to them. That's how you get people to join FIRST. Giving presentations to the whole school is great (and our team has done it) but like I said, small victories. You can give your presentation, but most people walk away without thinking about it. But if two people come up you you after the presentation you gave to 800 people, those are the people you've got to aim for.

And as for that whole "geek" perception of "robotics kids" at some point you stop caring. People will make their comments, and take their cheap shots, but I've really stopped caring. Never let what other people think stop you from doing what you love. We all know that FIRST is not just a geek thing. But there's a lot of people who you will never be able to convince. So here's my advice: Don't even try for these people, because those are the type of people you don't want on you team. Let them think what they want.

The whole issue that you brought up, about changing people's perception of FIRST and recruting team members is a complex one. There is no right answer. But I've already given you my advice (which many people disagree with): Don't try to change everybody's opinion, it's impossible. Let some people think we are geeks, don't let it bother you. Aim for the individuals. I know FIRST is all about changing society. But my approach is one person at a time. Of course, the realistic side of me realizes we will never "win" this way. But I don't care. I don't want to win everyone over, because there are a lot of jerks out there, who I really wouldn't want on my team. Focus on the indivuals, recruit, inspire and you won't have changed society as a whole, but 1) You'll have a great team with great people and an experience you'll remember for the rest of your life. And 2) You will have inspired at least some people. It's still worth it.

Sorry for the long rant. The thoughts just kept on coming...

[SarahBecker]

definetly do not promote robotics based on the trips and such. at least half of our team doesnt do squat, and ends up getting into trouble at the competitions.

To recruit people, use word of mouth, and show off the bot. We put ours in the school cafeteria and show it off, it actually helped out a lot. also, try showing them how it was built, lots of kids think it is really cool using the tools in a machine shop and such. A lego team would also probably help out a lot with kids coming into the school.

Yes, Aaron makes a VERY good point! Make sure that people earn their spot at the competition. Don't just let people go because they showed up!
And by the way Aaron... was it not your team that got in trouble for surfing at Bash? ;) :yikes:

[JakeGallagher]

In my school, none of our team cares whether people call us geeks or nerds, or those robotics kids. We have pride in our team and that's all that matters. When someone gives me a hard time, I just break out the fact that my team is the only one that has gone to the National Finals, won a Regional Competition, placed 3rd in another, and will secure me a place in a good college, as well as a good job later in life. Then I ask them what football or hockey is going to do for them. o.O

As for recruiting more people, ask to get your meeting times posted on the announcements, or talk to your friends about it. The easiest way to recruit people is by telling them what you do, how fun it is, and about all the cool people they can meet (like me ;) ).


And who says being called a geek is a bad thing?

[Mike Schroeder]

And at some point you realize this: FIRST is not for everyone. You have to pick your battles, and aim for small victories. Don't try to win everyone over. Talk to your friends, talk to indivdual people one on one. Anyone who expresses some interest, talk to them. That's how you get people to join FIRST. Giving presentations to the whole school is great (and our team has done it) but like I said, small victories. You can give your presentation, but most people walk away without thinking about it. But if two people come up you you after the presentation you gave to 800 people, those are the people you've got to aim for.



oh my poor misunderstood friend, here lies your problem, FIRST is for everyone, its for the "athlete"(human player) its for the "computer nerd"(autodesk inventor, 3dstudiomax, and robot programing, webpage design) its for the (and this is just my opinion) really really scary way to peppy people (no offense) ( Public relations, Cheering) its for the "Englishmajorextrodinare"'s(award submissions), is for those that are handy with tools(that whole building robots thing) there are hundereds of jobs for anyone who wants to do anything on a team
I think FIRST teams have evolved from just a group of kids building a robot, they now have to be thier own business and in most business their are jobs for everyone
i try to stress this every year to everyone who joins our team, THERE IS A JOB FOR YOU you just have to find it

by the way when someone calles me a dork or geek, i tell them to look up dork and geek in the dictionary, and that i would rather be called nerd :)

[Yan Wang]

At open house this past Thursday, I found that the most effective recruiting tool was to go right up to a person and start talking about robotics and what a great learning experience it is. I got about 3 girls to apply for the team through this method and met a whole lot more.

I thought the highlight of the evening was when the wife of a Cornell law prof came up to me and started talking animatedly about engineers. One quote sticks out: "If I had to do it over again, I'd marry an engineer. You guys learn to work together instead of arguing... I married a lawyer... Plus, engineers are smart and good problem solvers." She then hailed over the wife of the Dean of the Law School @ Cornell and told her to get money for our team. I was ecstatic.

Another high point came when Steve Squyres discussed FIRST with me. He really seemed to be impressed by the program. "A lot of the things you guys are asked to do have real life applications." He has two daughters at the high school but I haven't been successful in recruiting them yet. Wish me luck.

[DCA Fan]

With all the exhibitions a team can do, you can only do so much. I really find it effective to take new members, especially mentors/school administrators to an offseason competition or a regional to get them involved. Once they have been to a competition, they're hooked.

[n0cturnalxb]

Once they have been to a competition, they're hooked.


That is so true.. I was hooked ever since the first scrimmage we went to.

[rocknthehawk]

And by the way Aaron... was it not your team that got in trouble for surfing at Bash?

haha yes that was us.

[av11d]

If you want to get a diverse group of students to join, read this. It works. If you are too lazy (like me, sometimes) to read the entire post, I've bolded the important statements in my post.

I attend a really typical suburban multicultural public school. From what I observe (and feel personally), people are no longer trying to be cool, they're trying to be 'individuals.'

Therefore, the hard part is not trying to lobby the 'coolness' factor, but the 'this team won't make people stereotype you' factor. In previous years, we had really focused, constant recruiting. It didn't work.

As captain this year, I decided to abandon all of the old recruiting techniques. We no longer do a demonstration of the robot in the school. We no longer make the word "robotics" prominent in our posters. It's not because we don't want those so-called geeks; it's because the geeks will find a way to join the team no matter what. I don't feel it's necessary to campaign hard to get those kids to join. If they enjoy robotics, they will join.

Our team focused all of it's recruiting effort on word of mouth this year. The result was the most diverse turnout of students in our club's history. It was also the largest show of females. Yes, we got the 'geeks.' But we also got the PR people, the artistic people, and the athletic people. This sets a base for future years, because now all these different groups of people can reach out to their PR-driven, artistic, and athletic friends in the future.

Hey, and I know this sounds corny, but it's alright to say: "This club isn't just for geeks." Don't trust the facial reactions of the the high schoolers when you say this. They may roll their eyes, but in their heart they are listening.

Perhaps the most important step in getting people to join is approaching them in a one-on-one setting. Students are much more willing to listen and consider what you have to say in a one-on-one setting as opposed to a group setting.

As for females... word of mouth is THE only way to get them to join. At least in my experience. We had the sister of one of our previous members get all of her friends to join this year. They're already hooked after a few meetings!

Someone also mentioned this earlier... have an attitude. Act confident. Don't give into the preconceived judgments. Consistently say: "Hey! Robotics is pretty cool." I know this sounds corny, but it's effective.

Yeah, geeks are cool!!!! So are jocks :-P

[Rafi A]

"Geek. You are or you aren't. Be proud either way."
- ThinkGeek.com

[Denman]

you say your gunna have a vacuum of people as all your people are first years . . .

We only have people in our team for 2 years, as we are based at a 6th form college. This means we only ever have people in year 12 and 13 (ie 15/16-18 yr olds)this makes it very hard for us to get enough people with skills and we basically have something like 1 month to train the lowers up for next year, and they have to do the same the year after etc.. .. ..

if your colllege has like a societies listing/fair or something, then you can make sure you get more people by having the most attractive female and one of the really clever people maning hte stand, making a point of the team needing (to use an awful phrase)"non-geeks"

i agree with av11d

[phrontist]

Don't try to make them think we're not geeks (we are) instead make them want to be geeks. Only then have you succeeded.

[KelliV]

I don't think that we should try to appeal to people just by shaking off the "geek" title... If someone wants to join FIRST they should do it becuase they want to... not because the team travels, gives you extra credits ( at least at my school it does),or offers a chance to be on a winning team, unlike most of the others at RMHS. Why should FIRST be flooded with people that do not want to work and just want to ride along on the other team members coat tails. Who cares if we are geeks, dorks, or nerds.
Being in a club won't change a status title. For example I was the cheerleading captin for two years and a FIRST team leader but even with the cheerleading title I am still pegged with the geek name.
Geek in our school has become accepted... being a geek is better than being a jock, cheerleader, or a loaner in our school. I like to think that FIRST has had a part in changing this. After our team started to win way back in '95 the school shifted gears and became more accepting of people with the geek name. My teacher even has a stamp that reads geek. The clubs that are being signed up for are no longer cheerleading and football although those are still very respected people have started to join debate, speech, student council and our now 67+ member FIRST team.
I guess what I am getting at is for people to try and make people accept the "geek" name... not try and change it, you never know what might happen!

[suneel112]

There should be some "cool" activities if it really was worthwhile to prove yourself.
I like the IRI talent show (deferred, wha wha!!), especially Dean Simmons and the Kamens, and even though I spent most of my time laughing at them, there was one good solo.
There should also be a rap-off. One thing geeks are stereotyped as is being "polite" and not using vulgar language. We have to be graciously professional, but a good, semi-clean FIRST rap (without bad language) would instantaneously break the image of Geeks and Nerds.
Then again, we should show some geek pride. wha wha!

[tribotec_ca88]

Wow this is quite an interesting thread...very controversial...

The world to me seems such a false, shallow, and hypocritical place. Many people (such as FIRSTers) are victims of this negative stereotype, because we're portrayed in such a bad manner. Life's already complicated, and having to face this kind prejudice is just insulting. And unfortunately we live in a society where success isnt based on skill or dedication, but almost entirely on your "social status". Not that sociability is a bad thing, but the rest of us people that are focusing our efforts in different areas are literally excluded and ignored. And when society decides it doesn't want our type in, simply because our brains function differently and we have different interests, we end up coming last, because their influence is great. This whole "model" human form (mental and physical) thing is nonsense. Unfortunately theres not much that can be done. What we need to do is learn to cope with these people. Although we may never be respected or acknowledged, we will find our inner peace, something all of us desire and search for throughout our lifetimes. They're the ones that lack confidence, the ones that spend their lives disguised as someone they're not, when in the end they'll come to find they'd been illuded and mistaken the entire time.

So...I would suggest trying to convince people one-on-one, and get personal. Make an attempt to describe FIRST as it really is. And if they can't see how advantageous and enriching it is, let it be. A 5-person team that is motivated, dedicated, and united will accomplish so much more than a 30-person team of students that are mildly interested. Of 1000 people there will be someone conscious enough to perceive this kind of discrimination, and despite of it, will be able to ignore it and focus on the positive aspects, and those are the ones that really matter.

[phrontist]

There should also be a rap-off. One thing geeks are stereotyped as is being "polite" and not using vulgar language. We have to be graciously professional, but a good, semi-clean FIRST rap (without bad language) would instantaneously break the image of Geeks and Nerds.
Then again, we should show some geek pride. wha wha!

That would be the most awkward thing ever.

[aaronbr28040]

I never really worried about the being called a geek. I'm in college now and try to help out with my former team when I can and I dont really care if people give me a hard time. I guess I got over worrying about being called a geek early on. In anything you do there will be sacrifices. I really dont see why people worry so much about what their friends and others will think about them if they join a FIRST team. If they are really your friends then it wont matter to them. I can honestly say that joining the FIRST team at my high school was the best thing that I ever did. It has already helped me in college and also helped me land a part time job here on campus.
-Aaron

[Avi_R]

Having a team of geeks is probably the best way to success. When we won the Canadian Regional in 2003, our entire school "discovered" robotics and we promoted the team with details about the trip to Houston etc. The next year, we had an overwhelming turnout at our annual recruiting assembly. As time passed we slowly realized that half of these people had no idea about science and technology, and it amazed me how some of them even passed through grades 6+. It turned out that these people tagged along for the ride, and did absolutely nothing, except for cause trouble almost every build night. In my opinion, a good Robotics team should consist of hard workers who are dedicated to their respective jobs.

[Andy Baker]

Viva la geek!

I am a geek. I work with many, as there are about 1000 engineers here at the Delphi plant in Kokomo. A few of my buddies went to GMI (now Kettering) for college and they tell stories of their sports teams always getting whacked by the other colleges. However, while they would be losing these matches, the GMI guys would often break into this cheer:

That's alright
That's OK
You'll all work for us someday!


Use it as you wish.

Andy B.

[Joe Ross]

That's alright
That's OK
You'll all work for us someday!


That's often heard at RIT hockey games, particularly against state schools. (We also tend to win our hockey games ;))


I like WPI's fight song.
E to the X,
D-Y, D-X,
E to the X,
D-X.
Cosine, Secant, Tangent, Sine,
3.14159,
E-I, Radical, Pi,
Fight 'em, Fight 'em WPI!

[av11d]

Viva la geek!

I am a geek. I work with many, as there are about 1000 engineers here at the Delphi plant in Kokomo. A few of my buddies went to GMI (now Kettering) for college and they tell stories of their sports teams always getting whacked by the other colleges. However, while they would be losing these matches, the GMI guys would often break into this cheer:

That's alright
That's OK
You'll all work for us someday!


Use it as you wish.

Andy B.

lol. Cool cheer. Just to add in though, it's important not be stereotypical of the so-called 'jocks.' I know some of the brightest kids in my school are also sports stars. While, this may be the exception rather than the rule, let's not forget there is two-way stereotyping.

Our school even has a "Scholastic Athlete Award" (I forget the exact name), that honors an athlete each year who is extremely smart.

I still like being Geek. It's definitely more fun than being an athlete! :)

[Matt Krass]

See my AKA for my stand on 'geeks'

I am a geek. A huge geek. It absolutely drives my parents bonkers when they hear me refer to myself as such. But ya know what? I am, so are some of my fellow team mates. But I can tell you a FIRST team is made up of so many types it's people, you can't imagine, nor list all of them.

FIRST isn't just for geeks, but purposefully or not, that's the most apparent attraction. I mean..ROBOTS! Sure they get attention from all kinds, but ask anyone in my school what they would call a kid who likes to build robots and you'll get "A geek" as an answer.

My suggestion? Don't toot your horn as geeks, you'll alienate everyone else. Find a way to show how everyone can be involved. At demonstrations make sure you have plenty of non-geeks talking about what they do, so people of all kinds get a good impression.

[JVN]

Viva la geek!
Andy is the perfect example of how to break the "stereotype".

Baker was a "big dumb jock" (football), a rockstar (singer), who is also a huge geek (robots).

We need more "big dumb jock" rockstar geeks like Andy!

I love ya buddy.

John

[Raul]

Andy is the perfect example of how to break the "stereotype".

Baker was a "big dumb jock" (football), a rockstar (singer), who is also a huge geek (robots).

We need more "big dumb jock" rockstar geeks like Andy!

I love ya buddy.

JohnThat's funny. So here is the Merriam-Webster definition of Geek:

Main Entry: geek http://www.m-w.com/images/audio.gif (javascript:popWin('/cgi-bin/audio.pl?geek0001.wav=geek'))
Pronunciation: 'gEk
Function: noun
Etymology: probably from English dialect geek, geck fool, from Low German geck, from Middle Low German
1 : a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake
2 : a person often of an intellectual bent who is disapproved of
- geeky http://www.m-w.com/images/audio.gif (javascript:popWin('/cgi-bin/audio.pl?geek0002.wav=geeky')) /'gE-kE/ adjective

Don't some rock stars bite the head off animals? That's why Andy thinks he's a geek.

Raul

[rocknthehawk]

Andy is the perfect example of how to break the "stereotype".

Baker was a "big dumb jock" (football), a rockstar (singer), who is also a huge geek (robots).

We need more "big dumb jock" rockstar geeks like Andy!

I love ya buddy.

John


i'm a rockstar geek!!!! i play bass in a band

[Dorienne]

i'm a rockstar geek!!!! i play bass in a band

haha as am I! I sing. =D

[av11d]

haha as am I! I sing. =D

I'm good with synths!! Er, I suppose that wouldn't make me a rockstar geek... more of a... double geek? :D

[Alaina]

I got voted "Biggest Geek" for Senior Bests, here at New Tech High...
It doesn't phase me any. I'm quite happy about it. Other people are happy for me, too...


I love geeks. I love being one. Because there are so many interests involved with being a geek, and they're so good for you. Math, science, Dungeons and Dragons, DDR, safety glasses, LAN parties, Rubik's cubes... How can you possibly think being a geek is a bad thing?!

Plus, geeks make such good teenagers. I mean, not to rat on other stereotypes. But do you ever here of people getting arrested for getting drunk and violent at a geek party? Do geeks ever get suspended for starting a fight or posessing an illegal substance at school? Seriously!

[Andy Baker]

Andy is the perfect example of how to break the "stereotype".

Baker was a "big dumb jock" (football), a rockstar (singer), who is also a huge geek (robots). We need more "big dumb jock" rockstar geeks like Andy!

I love ya buddy.

John


I have been trying to conjure up a reply to this, but I must've resorted back to my "big dumb jock" days. I am typing slowly. :)

Thanks, John, for the kind words.

As for the "geek" label, I admire people who embrace it. Personally, I am more proud of being a geek as opposed to a jock. I can easily shift gears from being a jock to a geek or even a hick. All are OK with me, but I prefer geek. Don't get me wrong, I am not biased against jocks or hicks... I just think that geeks have more importance in the world we live in.

I don't know about you all, but my heros tend to be geeks.

Andy B.


I yam what I am. - Popeye the Sailor

[JVN]

...or even a hick.
Doh!
How could I have forgotten hick?!?

He's a big dumb jock rockstar hick, geek.

...and he's one of my heroes.
Isn't FIRST awesome?

John

[Alaina]

Isn't FIRST awesome?



You bet it is.

I guess in my previous post I forgot to mention the quote in my signature from Dave Lavery. He said at San Jose this past season while talking about Mars. Go figure.
Dave's my hero. So is Mark Leon. I think it's safe to assume they're geeks.

[sure_smile]

The thing about FIRST being associated with geeks...well in a way, I was one of those people...if a year ago you told me I would be on a robotics team (and loving every minute of if) I would've laughed in your face, seriously.
but i think a lot of it is realizing that FIRSTies aren't 'normal geeks' we're actually really cool...i think people get over the whole 'geek' thing when they see the robot, they see what it can do, they see how much team members love robotics, and thats what its all about really. i mean, as much as i might have been 'ew geeky' a year ago, i would say that i am a proud geek now.
...though it might be a bit overpresumptous to label myself a geek, so i'll be a geek-wannabe for now :D