Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

I thought twice before posting this but wanted to send a serious message to some who may not think before they act. As a mentor I felt compelled to write as well.

At the team social in Arizona at the Arizona Science Center all was going well and it seemed as if the teams were all having a good time. At closing time my daughter (who is not a team member btw) was standing with a friend who is a team mate near the door to leave under a stairway. From above someone poured perfume or cologne down on her. It went all over her head and all on her shirt etc. I am sure some might think this was a funny prank but I have a little more news for you.

I am one of the team parents and a mentor for our team. I have a severe illness which is called Chemical Sensitivity. I get extremely ill from chemicals and something that makes me very ill happens to be perfume and cologne. I choose to mentor because I love kids and love to work in my community- despite the fact that I am very ill.

I want to point out how this prank could have been MUCH MUCH WORSE. Some people with my illness may have gone into analeptic shock or stopped breathing or other horrible things. I have extremely hard time thinking clear once something like this has happened. I was the person driving home and had my two kids and a student from the team with me. Had my child not had spare clothes and my husband to possibly have driven her home - whomever done this could have quite possibly put all of our lives in severe danger.

Luckily my daughter is a good sport and went into the bathroom and washed a huge amount of it out of her hair- but that doesn't take away from the fact that I was made incredibly ill by a really mean prank :( as well as what may have happened has this gotten poured on ME- I was with her not more than a few seconds before.

Everyone was a guest at the science center and should be on their best behavior (1) Because they are a guest and (2) Because they are a part of program that is focused on being a GRACIOUS PROFESSIONAL.

In closing I just want to say if you ever consider a prank like this- think again. This could have potentially been a very bad ending to a very good day and very good regional. I don't think you would want to be the cause of a very serious situation! Please be gracious and consider people's feelings and remember when you are a part of a F.I.R.S.T. Team to be a professional.

Thanks for listening and thanks to all the great teams who came out and had fun. Thanks to all the rest of you who were Gracious and Professional.

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

That is absolutely terrible. Whoever did it should be expelled from the FIRST program. I know someone with the same condition as you and it is everything you say and perhaps more. Some people can die from things that smell and they can't help it. Please think of all possible outcomes of any actions before you decide to do them. Even if there was no chance of any suffering or illness, what IDIOT! would go dump perfume/cologne on someone. There is no excuse for something like that. Idiots like that are not welcome here IMHO.

And I'm reminded by a quote from Andy Rooney (sp?), "the best smell to have is no smell at all"

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

I really hope you find out who did that, it's completely stupid and they should be kicked off their team.

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

does dumping perfume all over someone make your grandmother proud......... dont think so. whoever did this needs to find out what is wrong with their head and maybe screw it on a bit tighter. this kind of stuff is unexcuseable and shouldnt be tolerated. im sorry this happened to you!!!

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

If it is any comfort to you, I am sure that if that individual's team discovered their actions, they would be severely punished. On my team, damaging someone else's safety is the worst thing you can do.

I want to thank you for highlighting such an ungracious event in a gracious manner...it takes a lot to do that. Good luck in finding out what happened, and get well soon.

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

Though I don't really support the "man hunt mentality" of lets go find him and bring him to justice, who ever did this... come on...
This goes filed under the "don't-be-ueber-stupid-department".

Though apologize are always nice, that is not what is really needed here. What we need is this person to reconsider "was what I did right?" and "what did I get out if this?"

Come on, if was a prank it was a pretty bad one, some one needs to teach these kids a lesson on practical jokes... it is only funny if the person you plaid it on is laughing.

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

That's horrible, I can't believe someone on FIRST could do something like that. But that's only some individuals. I hope it never happens again. :(

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

Wow, that's horrid news. My mom is like that but with asthema, so I know how the smells can affect people. I can't wear any cologne or even certain deoderants around her or she can't breathe, because of how strong they smell. This was a bad idea! A bucket of water would have been a little better, but even still, that is bad enough...

What ever happened to the good ol' days of just playing hackey sack with other teams like at the FL regional? Good times those were, and great sports!

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

wow i am sorry for the actions of that person....that is one very un-gracious act and we don't need people like that in the FIRST community....i also hope the best for you and your illness and that you get well soon and stay in FIRST because without people like you (mentors) we don't have FIRST teams. get well and i hope the culprit either gets punished by his/her team, apologizes, or at least rethinks their actions.

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

This is really low...

I thought FIRST was free of people who this kind of stuff, but apparently I was wrong. If whomever did these stil has any dignity left in him/her, he/she should come out and apologize.

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

There are always a few people that ruin fun for everyone. These people are always around in some shape or form. I personally hope the person who poured it(Mean thing to do and also a waste of their money) is caught.

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

That is really horrible. How rude some people can be goes beyond human nature and goes against what FIRST is based upon. Our coordinator has also told us about how some teams at regionals havn't felt quite welcome and have never wanted to go to that regional again, and I feel that too is horrible. We should treat all FIRST teams and anybody, whether they be in FIRST or not, as a friend. As Jesus once said, "Do onto others as you would wish them do onto you."

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

Well, those students were pretty stupid. Though I'm certain they didn't mean any harm, they should come out and apologize. And nobody should be trying to "hunt them down" like common criminals. That just adds to the tension and negative feelings. I do hope they apologize to you.

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

I agree that this was a horrible thing for those people to do. I am glad everyone is ok. I think that we should use this as a lesson to all of us.

"Think before you post." It's been said a lot in these forums. "Think before you act" and "think before you talk" are other good examples of this. The next time you want to post/do/say something...remember to think it over. You never know, especially when dealing with other people, what the other people have been through. You can strike a nerve with a joke that you think is personally hilarious. You also never know disorders or other diseases that people have, such in this situation. They may not be able to help something you think is weird, and they may end up having negative reactions to your actions, as clearly could have happened in the case above. If something could possibly hurt someone, or be insulting to someone, anywhere, you should probably not do it, especially in a public place such as this forum, or at a FIRST regional. And always remember...you're representing your team through your actions, whether you like it or no.

*steps off soapbox*

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

I am shocked that this event took place. Ever since FIRST began its core value is and always will be gracious professionalism. For someone to act against those values should truly not be involved. I can understand that people might do a prank on someone, but to do it to that caliber is pathetic. When the person being pranked on is not laughing then you know that you have invaded their comfort zone. I truly hope that individual comes out and apologizes not only to the family but to the entire FIRST organization. Actions do think louder than words, and before you decide to do something please think about it!!!!!

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

Wow. That is just one bad joke that went out of control.

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

Now I don't know if this was a closed event or not but we have to realize there may have been people outside of FIRST there; however this does not excuse their actions in the least bit.

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

I'd like to start out by saying that I don't usually make posts like this. Also I think that this prank was stupid and it does serve to demonstrate how not thinking before you act can have potentially devastating consequences. Those responsible should be punished.

I would just like to make a few other observations, keep in mind that I am not a team member or a mentor on any team...just a FIRST member at large. It seems to me that there is an increase in the number of posts about incidents like this. There was another post about some behavior that was occurring at a regional and arena security had to step in to insure the safety of those involved. I think that to often there is a sense of isolation within the FIRST community. That some how anyone who would ever come into contact with FIRST is "better than that." I know we would all like to believe this is the case but it defys human nature. What is the appropriate response? I'm not sure. It is something that deserves some consideration. Everyone who participates in FIRST has the right to have a fun and enjoyable experience free of incidents like these, equally everyone in FIRST students and mentors a like to insure that that is the case.

Justin

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

That's pretty bad, there are just some people who shouldn't be involved with the type of stuff becuase they can't handle themselves Maturely and Professionally. On that note, at GLR, the MC said people were stomping on "containers" of lubricant. (I'm thinking it was grease for robots)

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

Thanks to everyone who responded to my post about the perfume incident at the AZ Team Social.

As we can all see there is a wide variety in opinions and view points- that's what makes this world pretty awesome.
Honestly, I would love to know that the person who did it read the post and thought "Oh wow, I had no idea what I did could have been so bad!" and possibly would apologize. That would be the best that I could hope for, that they have learned something very, very important.

I understand others opinions that said to seek them out and get them off the team. Others of us that work very hard to be gracious and professional at all times would hate to have something special for their team ruined by someone’s behavior such as this. And I am sure we all would feel horrible had something more devastating happened. I am sure it would send ripples through F.I.R.S.T. This is a great program and I would hate to see it get a black eye from something like that.

I really think pranks against someone you don't know are a HUGELY bad idea.
I never really mind a prank from someone that I know as I have a very good sense of humor. But in this case there really is no humor in any of it.

As a few of you mentioned- you understand the illness. Thank you also for writing. It is a very, very difficult illness, I am sorry that it touches anyone’s life that you know or love. I can say that your efforts to wear or not wear as the case may be certain things for your friend or loved one goes beyond measure. It helps us that are ill tremendously when others are careful about certain things that are around us. You should give yourselves a HUGE pat on the back as you are doing a wonderfully kind and loving gesture for another person's well-being--- GREAT JOB!

Thank you all that wrote and wished me well and hoped I would get better. I appreciate your kind words very much. :)

Please take care and thanks for listening on this subject

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

This is a little late, but i just read this now.

First of all i want to let you know that FIRST students really care about their mentors, hence i want to thankyou for putting your heart and soul into us although you are sick. I dont know you, but i respect you like i do my own mentors. This incident is unacceptable; however, i am not sure how this could be prevented. I guess some people think that idiotic pranks like these are funny. I do hope deep down in my heart that this wasnt someone involved in FIRST, because i would like to think that we are better than this.
I am glad that you are fine and nothing serious happened to your health. :)

I think as a FIRST community we should be on a lookout for such incidents and stop them. We can start at our team and make sure that everyone realises their behavioral responsibility. And when we go to a regional we should all look out for someone trying to pull silly pranks.

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

This is a sad event and i am sorry to hear that this happen and i hope the person that did it will realize and not do it again. I am thinking this kid was prob someone that is not into FIRST. What i mean is you know how teams sometimes bring students that have never even seen the robot to come cheer at a regional competition so they can have a cheering squad. Most of these kids just come so they can get out of school and mess around all weekend. If this person was a driver, pit crew, or anything having to deal with the robot i think he would understand FIRST core values and prob would not of done this. Thats why I believe teams should not bring anyone that has not participated in the building of the robot or if they do they should have some kind of meeting before they leave laying down strict guidelines and sever consequences for such actions. Pranks are fun to a certain extent and if you know the person you are doing them to. There is a time and a place to do pranks and FIRST is not one of them.

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

Sorry about the perfume incident Weightmn, but if it makes you feel better, I was one of the VCU Norwalk Victims. But I learned a great lesson out of it and now my HUGE phobia of vomiting is almost gone! (I don't think a great lesson could come out of the perfume incident though?) If someone would have poured perfume on me, I would have found them and poured all my hand sanitizer on them. :D

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

I have very severe allergic reactions to certain chemical preservatives, and though my incident was accidental and not a prank, i can empathize.

Last year on the 17 hour buss ride home from Nationals, one of my team mates accidentally sprayed some Axe Body Spray on the bus when moving his book bag. I've never had a reaction that bad and even though i kept telling people i was ok, thank god the person sitting next to me went to the front and got the bus driver to pull over when my face started to turn red and my breathing was getting ruff. I took my medicine and sat outside on the ground for half an hour before going back on the bus. It was really scary because i could feel my throat getting tighter. Ever sense my entire team cracks jokes about Axe around me... along with jokes about Sprite... but thats a whole norther story.

I am sorry that that happened to you and your daughter. You were right to post this and I'm glad you are ok

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

This is horrible and sad event. Having been a team at the AZ regionals and knowing that members of my team attended the team social this year and in previous years I know that the social is usally a teams and family event only. I am deeply sadened to know that a member of F.I.R.S.T. would do such a thing. I thank you so much for posting this incident. I am glad that I know that this happened and I will, being the team president, talk to my team and let them know such a prank can be so harmful. I am sorry for what you had to go through and I hope that the person who did this comes forward. AZ regional is one of the best out there, please other teams don't let this incident influence you perception of AZ teams.

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

It seems that some students leave there brains at the door.

Chris Fox from Team 247 (Da Bears) found this out the hard way.
At the 2002 Cleveland regional the party was at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.
Chris was in the mosh pit listening to the music when some students picked him and started to pass him around. Unfortunately they dropped him on the back of his head/neck. He ended up at the hospital. The doctors say it is an open ended injury and he may have problems down the road. Who among the mentors and parents would like to make the call to someone kids parents to give them this bad news? NOT ME :ahh:
So students think before you act!

*throws $.02 at the kitty who promptly eats it :D

Wayne Doenges
Lemmings non sumus

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

That is disgraceful behaviour. I do hope that the culprit is found and action taken. Actions such as that can not be accepted, and taint the reputation of all teams.

I genuinely hope that whoever did that is found.

Jason
Cambridge, UK

Re: Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social
 

Thanks everyone for your overwhelmingly positive response. I wasn't sure how it would go over- but had to take a chance.

I am glad that some of the teams have said they would talk to their students about pranks etc. For me that is a wondeful help and a great way to turn a negative into a positive. Thanks- I couldn't have asked for more!

I am very saddened to hear of other incidents where others have had bad things happen. I am sure, or at least I feel sure- that deep down the people all meant no great harm to anyone in any of these incidents, they just didn't think their actions through or didn't think before they acted.

I don't think that this prank would/should overshadow the Arizona teams or regional because Arizona has some reallty great teams. Also we MUST remember we all have visitors from out of state for these regionals- so it could have been someone from somewhere other than our AZ teams.

Thanks everyone for being so positive- this just reaffirms why I love F.I.R.S.T. and volunteer my time to this program and the awesome students involved!