Deleted by Sean

If some of the largest collaborative agencies and organizations in science and engineering aren't good examples of groups that have Gracious Professionalism, then what exactly will it take to prove to you that it exists?

(Also, by the way....in one of your previous posts I believe that you indirectly make Science and Engineering fields out not to be in reality....which they definitely are......)

Again, my words, not my team's...

Aaron Knight
Webmaster and Videographer
Team 891: Neverending Chaos....

BattleBot = RC Car
FIRST = Robotic Device

There is a difference between building a big metal car with hammers and wedges vs. a complex machine that plays a game. the software designs this year were outstanding. Using light sensors, data inputs and outputs, complex system processes constrained by control limitations...now that is a robot!

If you want to smash metal and see who can build a stronger RC car, have at it.

If you want to try and draw more people into the world of robotics, science, technology and yes REAL world applications mentor a team or two.

GP is a real wold everyday thing. If you want to see it in action come to Silicon Valley and spend a day with me. I'll point out to you how companies get started and GP is rule #1.

Steve Bronstein
Advisor
MVRT 115

I have to say that lots of robots this year were nothing more than large RC cars. Even if they did have something to operate, rarely was it used, most of the game was pushing matches and moving boxes, with conveniently shaped RC cars.

Deleted by Sean

*thinking of that psychological term projection*

I disagree. D'oh! Is that a perversion?

That is exactly the purpose behind Dean and Woodie's philosophies. If students can understand and make use of gracious professionalism on a regular basis, they will become the real world in the very near future, and will not hesitate to apply what they've learned while participating in FIRST. As I've said over and over, it's acknowledged the world has it's problems pertaining to company/market interaction, and at this point it can be quite cuthroat. The idea behind FIRST is to inspire science and technology to the point where people can respect each other, at least on those grounds. Rather than "your robot is better than mine," we see "that's a cool design! can you show me how it works?" There's much more "let me show you how we did this" than "We're better than you." If students maintain this level of integrity when they move into the real world, the real world will change for the better. However, it will not happen overnight. It will take years, even decades for the message to work it's way up the corporate ladder. Once it does, I believe we can expect a much less volitile market, and our civilization will advance even further with companies working together and sharing ideas/technology to better the world as a whole, rather than meet a certain product sales quota, or boost quarterly earnings. Imagine where our technology would be if companies did work together. This is what Gracious Professionalism means to me. That is where I hope the world is heading thanks to FIRST.

You reminded me of the unspoken "quota" required when I was undercover security arresting shoplifters at a major dept store.

Our director wanted to catch the attention of the west coast director, and asked us to start collecting customer service letters from those we arrested (cuz the rest of the store was "run" on customer service).

I was the only one with the chutzpah to do it.

I treated all with GP, unless it required something "more", and once they settled down, I would again treat them with GP.

Deleted By Sean

*puzzled* I don't think FIRST is embarrassed. I don't think the other posters are embarrassed.

re: Perversion to FIRST
 

The only embarrassment I see here is to Sean, perhaps, for his opinion being hounded. FIRST need not be embarrased by any of this.

We can't force Sean to change his mind, and after all, this thread is What is Your Honest Opinion.......

We can only show him the light. I'm not embarrassed by what's been written here.

Aaron Knight
Webmaster and Videographer
Team 891: Neverending Chaos....
Your Lucky Number: 3.141592653589793238964...

Deleted By Sean

Umm, Sean....
Every example here has been a clear thought out example of how GP IS and/or SHOULD BE. These are thoughts that mean something... and these are not by any stretch of the imagination random rantings between people. Cheryl just like you has the right to post things, and not necessarily does she by writing have to be an "awesome representative of her team".

By the way, you asked for our opinions by the name of the thread. I'm sorry you didn't get what you wanted.

Aaron Knight
Webmaster and Videographer
Team 891: Neverending Chaos....
Your Lucky Number: 3.141592653589793238964...

Guys,
Calm down...

Take 2 deep breaths, and repeat after me:

"Everyone plays the game differently, everyone has different thoughts on how the game plays. Everyone involved in this competition benefits in one way or another. FIRST and Battle bots are different. Differences are okay. Everyone likes different things. No one is right or wrong. No one needs to have his views changed."

I never thought I'd see militant gracious profesionalism...

How about everyone sleeps on this...

Remember folks... It's just a game!

No.

Ok.

see post 36

I thank you and my team thanks you (or could that sound I hear be my team thanking me?)