On "graciously" accepting
 

I know that "gracious professionalism" is a huge part of FIRST, but I was just wondering if anyone knows when or how the "graciously accepting" (in the alliance selection ceremony) started.

I actually think that calling oneself "gracious" is itself ungracious, and it would be better if, when called to join an alliance, the team captain said: "Team [000] humbly accepts team [000]'s gracious offer."

Just getting caught up in semantics...

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I think someone posted that "Team 0000 graciously accepts" is actually bad english, and it should really be gratefully in that instance.

But, I"m not sure what the "correct" thing to say would be, due to that issue and the other issue you brought up.

I think they should get A for effort anyways if they are accepting that way, and not just saying, we accept, or other things I have heard for people declining in the past which weren't so gracious.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I remember in one regional, probably Buckeye '03. One alliance started that around 3/4 then every team that had accepted said it also. It's just a a thing one team does and other reply as the same.

We also had this chat after FLR a few of us. It doesn't always work when you put the word gracious infront of anything. Think Battle bots, after a winning match do ya go over to the loser and go we "Graciously kicked your butt"!?

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Instead of "Team XXXX graciously accepts" how about just a big "yeaaaahhhhh!" ?

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I'm not sure it really matters. I recall watching old videos where Woodie tried to get team to just say only the team number they wanted to invite (instead of teams xx and xx would like to invite xx)... and asking them to be brief. Just cuz someone says only "yes" doesn't mean they are ungracious either. I think it's read into too much.

I think "yes we accept" is just as good as "we graciously accept" or "heck yeah we accept!". Just a matter of preference I guess. I'd like to hear people change it up so long as it's brief.

I don't think they are calling themselves gracious. I always interpreted that saying as "We are honored that you chose us and we accept this thankfully".... Synonym for gracious is "cordial", "polite", and "courteous". Either way, if I called or considered myself polite or cordial, that's not ungracious at all. Any of those words is fine - none sound conceited or ungracious to me.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Team 384 graciously declines Elign's comments.

:p

I don't know where it started, but it's probably a combination of "gracious professionalism" and accepting.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

This year I was scared that I would not be able to say "graciously" so I said
538 accepts.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Students... when you are picking a team or accepting a pick, have some creativity. Tell your mother hello. Give a shout out to your entire team. Give us a 'lil John "Yeeeaaaah!" Sing a little song. Recite a brief poem. Tell a tasteful, quick joke.

This would be neat to see. You can still have some fun while being gracious.

Keep in mind, you are representing your team, of course.

Andy B.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

The entire concept of calling oneself gracious is, in itself, ungracious.

I agree with Andy, have fun with it. Unless of course, you're scared to death at being out there and saying the wrong thing and then a "yes thank you" would be acceptable. But from what I know of FIRST kids, bashfulness is not a common trait. ;)

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I was the one who wrote that "gratefully" is probably the word that was meant when "we graciously accept" was first uttered. I didn't say it bad English, though. Grammatically, it's perfectly proper.

If I were to describe another team's acceptance as gracious, I would be saying that the team might reasonably have been expected to turn down the offer (possibly because they could do better with a different partnership), but in a show of grace, they accepted the offer. To describe ones own actions thusly, is definitely not gracious.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

This is a graciously awkward thread :D

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I dont know about other regionals but GLR was was an all out adverb fight "figurtavly of course" but i was kind of irritated by the teams almost trying to one-up each other for a better "gracious" synonnym but i agree that just a simple yes is just fine and some times others are read into too much

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Our mechanical mentor tried convincing the person that was representing our team to go "Yeahhhh booyyyyy!" (think rapper style) when we were asked to join an alliance. Lets just say she graciously declined that offer.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

It bugs me when all of the teams say the same thing. Come on! Go for some originality!

Last year at the Buckeye regional when we were picked, instead of saying "Team 166 graciously accepts" our Captain said "Team 166 thinks it would be wicked awesome to play with you guys" stressing the "wicked"

*proud of the fact that he's from New England*

Another team ran out, hugged the team representative and said "We love you guys"

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Heh, yeah I remember one of the regionals last year someone accidentally said "gracefully accepts" and we were all quietly snickering behind their back, picturing their team in tutus accepting the alliance. It really did annoy me though, when everyone says the same thing.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Yes... it's more fun for us watching if there was an occational odd-ball response. But for it to be funny, most of you will still need to play the "straight-man" and graciously accept.

I've been waiting for a "HECK YEAH!" or a "Duh!" when asked if they accept.

(If you are from 862, and we get picked someday, ignore my post.)

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I seem to remember a team respond "Hell yes" to an alliance offer. Surprising, but at least interesting.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

At the Boilermaker regional last weekend, 45's representative answered team 1555's invitation to join by saying "How can we not?"

I don't think anything will ever top "Uhhh...I don't think so?...Graciously!"

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I'm also a proponent of the crunk Lil' John acceptance. It can get really dull to hear the same thing twenty odd times. I don't remember what our rep said this year at VCU, since I was busily examining other robots in the pit. (I didn't think we'd get in) I'm pretty sure she wouldn't have done it crunk style even if we'd all suggested it to her though...

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I think the award for best use of a team name in accepting should go to team 650 (Hella's Angels) at the St. Louis Regional with "Hella yeah we accept."

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Okay, I'm going to try to get Kim to walk up with a pimp cup of crunk juice at Philly and do that now.

Although I wouold like to see see some one throw a fake out just to keep it fresh with a, "Team XXX respectfully...(dramatic pause to make them think its a decline) says hell yes!"

Or the Vito Corleone would be good, "You've made us and offer we can't refuse."

The Jerry Maguire, "You had us at Team XXX."

The Jerry Maguire 2, "Show us the alliance."

The Ron Burgandy, "You stay classy team XXX."

The Monty Python, "Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition."

The confused joke: "Is the the bear catholic? Of course."

The obvious: "Ummm... YEAH!"

Just don't pull a Matt Hasselback and say, "We'll take the ball and were gonna score."

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Uh oh! I think this is rapidly turning into a random idea thread. And I like it! :rolleyes:

How about the requesting team...

"Someonce once said telling Chuck Norris that a roundhouse kick is not the most efficient way to kick people was the biggest mistake ever made. Here at team YYYY we say not picking team XXXX is!"

Or even funnier

"With the help of team XXXX maybe our alliance can be as awesome as Andy Baker!"

"Will the real team XXXX, please come up, please come up?"

Or even just sound like the MC

"Team XXXX would like to invite a team hailing from (team location), (team name), (team number)!

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Well, as the scouting captain for my team, I usually go out there. (I am like one of the few people on the field not wearing an operator button) I have heard so many people mess up graciously accepts that I usually just concentrate on saying that correctly. And, to be fair, I usually feel like I am going to throw up. I just remember my hands shaking like crazy when I started to compare info with team 1629's representative. I don't think there is anything wrong with tradition. But if you have the guts (and/or strength of stomach) to say something cool, go for it. :)

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Star Wars: Yesss, meesa accepts!

Star Wars: Luke, I am your alliance partner.

Caddyshack: Just be the partner, be the partner, be the partner.

Roxanne: Do you think with a nose like this we wouldn't sniff out the best alliance partner?

Patton: We'll join your alliance, and go through the finals like crap through a goose!

Real Genius: I don't know if it is a launch problem or a design problem, but I DO know that we want to be your alliance partner!

Casablanca: I see you've rounded up the usual alliance partners.

Terminator 2: We came back.

Toy Story: To the finals, and beyond!

The Return of the King: Yesss, Preciousss, we will be the partner!

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

or...
Slingblade: MmmmmHmmmm... I reckon.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

"Team <insert team number from New England here> thinks it would be wicked awesome to play with you guys" :D :D :D

The Casual To-good-to-be-true moment: "Pinch me... I must be dreaming"

The Price is Right: "Team XXXX! COME ON DOWN!"

MacBeth "Remember the Porter": "Remember Team XXXX"

That's all I can really come up with.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Sally Field: You like us you really like us!

Stuart Scott: Booyah!

Austin Powers: Yeah Baby.

Dazed and Confused: Alright, alright, alright. (Yes I couldn't resist putting this one in)

Jeff Foxworthy: You might be a redneck if you don't accept this invitation.

Full Metal Jacket: I like you. I might just take you home and have you on my alliance.

Swingers: You're so money and you don't even know it.

Dirty Harry: Go ahead make my alliance.

The Evil Dead: Good, Evil, I'm the one on your alliance.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Maybe all it needs is a subtle yet drastic change:

Team XX bodaciously accepts.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

How about you just go up and pretend like you're speechless. just act completely floored: open and close your mouth a few times without saying anything, and then finally just sort of nod your head yes.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

*Challenges everyone to get creative*

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

"Team XX reluctantly --- no wait, that's not the word, what's the exact opposite of reluctantly?"

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

That's one thing I'll never forget from alliance selections...especially being from the team who was "graciously" rejected. Heck...I even have a MP3 of that somewhere around here.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Break it out...

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I've enjoyed all these suggestions, but I think the perfect one just hit me. From Yankee Doodle Dandy:

My father thanks you, my mother thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Honistly im a bit annoyed at this:
"Team XXXXX sponsered by ABC Company, BCY XXX, XXXx, (Go on for about 30 seconds) And XXX...accepts!"

I know getting your sponsers in there is important, but when your the only team to do it, it gets a bit showie, its like turning into a nascar after race interview.

(Read with a southern accent)
"Ya, the Tide Kraft Craftsman IFI '06 6 wheel drive robot ran well today. We had some trouble midday but the great pit crew whacked on it a bit and got her purrin good! Best darn pitcrew on the road today, Thanks to my crewchief Billy smith!. We got pushed around a bit, but she held tight and dident give up the ghost! Thanks to FIRST Racing for putting together such a great team!"

Note, i grew up in the south, so im allowed to make jokes about myself.

How about a nerd way of saying yes? Just walk up to the mic and say "One!" then walk away :D (Dont get it? Think binary!)

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

My favorite was always...
"Team XXX graciously declines." Followed by boos from the audience.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Maybe you should fork out the tens-of-thousands of dollars it takes for the team to get the chance to accept an alliance. You could then be annoyed that they didn't even bother to mention it.

"ZERO" (think any base you want)

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I think everyone in Chesapeake was enjoyed it when one team (888?) accepted with a "let's rock!"

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I DON'T THINK SO!!!!!

...

...

...

... graciously. :yikes:

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

How about - Yes, Thankyou

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

"On one condition: You must bring us ... A SHRUBBERY!"

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

You can't forget RAGE's

"Team 173 would like to get-r-done with Team xxxx"

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

My favorite from NYC-

“Oh my gosh…. Oh my gosh…. Team?… team?… ah... What is our team number?”

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

"Okay everyone, the winning numbers in tonight's Powerball lottery are X...[pause] X... [longer pause] X!"

(If the team number is four digits long you'd need to add another X) :p

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

A lavish gift basket would do nicely.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

how bout " I am disinclined to acquiesce to your proposition".

Now that I think about it, you are being gracious when you do something you DONT want to do - so saying that your team graciously accepts is actually an insult - its like saying "we dont want to be your alliance, but in the interest of GP...."

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Maybe you could do a super double negative.

"Team XXXX does not not not not not not not not accept"

That might be a bit confusing though...

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

But a double positive would be a real insult: Yeah, right.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

:Sigh: No one can take a joke any more. My main point was that if every team did what that a few teams did during alliance selection, then it starts getting a bit silly, a bit like some of the suggestions in this thread... "Gitrdone" lol. But this is my opinion; I'm more than willing to get flamed for it.
But tell me this, What about those teams who DON'T get that chance to say those magic words of "We accept"?? Are our sponsors any less special then those who do get the chance? is any sponsor really going to make a hill of bens about not getting mentioned during alliance selection if other teams aren’t mentioning there sponsors?

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Can't a team be...'honored to accept'?

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

In the Silicon Valley regional, we were invited to join an alliance by
team 668, the Apes of Wrath, who were seeded higher than us in the
top 8. We did not have to accept because we were in the
top 8 ourselves, we could have formed an independent alliance.
We knew that 668's robot was broken and torn apart in the pits,
the gears in their ball shooter having been stripped. We graciously
accepted the invitation to their alliance, helped them repair their robot
by helping glue and pinning nylon gears on their shafts, and then went
all the way to finalist for the Silicon Valley Regional.

I watched students on team 668 assembling their ball shooter with
just minutes to go before being called up for the finals, their hands
shaking, and it was a sight to behold!

This is "graciously accepting" and defines Gracious Professionalism
as far as I am concerned. We were proud to have done it, and everyone
on the alliance was happy with the result.

In the end, it was a broken wheel on our robot that wounded the alliance
in the third finals match. The eventual winner of SVR, an alliance led
by team 254, gave us their unused 6 minute timeout to complete the
wheel repair, giving us time to bolt on a caster in order to play the
final match of the regional.

So, when teams "graciously accept" an invitation to an alliance
in the finals, this is what we are talking about. Lets not lose
our focus by worrying about the semantics...

Notwithstanding the opinion of the Grammar Curmudgeon, of course...

Eugene

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

yeah, when you accept an alliance offer, and you would rather not, then you ARE being gracious

but as soon as you say "we graciously accept" then any and all grace on your part just vaporized.

thats the point. You cant be gracious if you make of point of making sure everyone knows how gracious you are.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

::looks around:: well, I guess if I really have to I might as well.
Think about it. We are just better of that teams don't tell us how they really feel. How would you feel if the team came up and was like "Team XXX accepts because if we turn you down we don't get to play the finals but we were really hoping for team YYY" That would be worse.
Again, it's tradition, and I'm fond of it.
Still, though, it's fun to think of what you can say.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

You are absolutely right there are all kinds of things that go on in the back ground that don't get said. It's just fun to let the mind wander with these types of threads and see how scary and weird we CD posters are. Also with any luck the kids who are nervous on the field during picks will chuckle thinking about this thread and maybe throw out a good one-liner.

Also, meow, I think meow I figured out meow to accept in another comical way. Meow I've decided to call it the "Super Troopers". MEOW!

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Perhaps what some of these folks mean to say is that they 'gratefully' accept?

"...as soon as you say "we graciously accept" then any and all grace on your part just vaporized."


Ken's comment is right on the money!

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

We were fourth at West Michigan. We were there because we had AWESOME alliances throughout the qualifying matches. We wokrd very well as a defender, sometimes shooter and an excellent driver. When we chose team 70 as a partner, the young girl replied with a giant smile "Team 70 graciously denies". What's up with that? Semantics do matter when you are actually slapping a team in the face. At least she might have said "regretfully declines" OR "reserves the right to choose our our partner." WHOA! Then Team 494 (same high school as Team 70) did the same thing.

Team 808 would like to thank a ton of teams for the great partnerships in WMR. And to 573 and 515 who accepted our request to join us in the tournament, thanks for actually being happy about it!!!!

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I would not exactly equate being declined for an alliance partner the same as being slapped in the face. The smile on the alliance representative's part may have been due to nervousness or the sheepish feeling that she felt for having to go up there and decline your offer in the first place. Take it from her perspective, it is quite a bit to go up there and say something to the entire arena full of people, when a decision that you may or may not have had to make will influence the rest of your team's performance at this regional or when you hear a couple hundred different voices shouting out different team numbers. (As an aside, that is the other biggest beef I have with the process. When a team representative does not know who to pick next and this is evident to the crowd, a chorus of voices shout out a bunch of different team numbers. Theres nothing wrong with supporting you team, I just find it aggravating. It's hard enough to go consciously up there without a list.)

Semantics may appear to matter in the heat of the moment, but if I were to call them out all the time, I could just as easily have said the same about "actually being happy with it". Its just a smile, just a gesture. She did not say something ridiculous or outrageous, simply declined your offer, much in the same way as I am sure your team would if you felt that the team asking for your help would not be suited to your robot.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

maybe she was smiling because she was thrilled to death that a higher seeded team chose them over everyone else

but they still have earned the right to pick their own alliance if they are in the top 8, and that was their preference?

Its the greatest feeling when you are on the top of the world for 15 seconds PLUS you have options and choices!

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I too found her actions a little bit strange until I thought them over a little bit. Looking back on her smile, it seemed like one more of uncomfortableness than of happiness. No one likes turning down alliance requests because everyone can sympathize with the person being turned down. I also think that she had meant to say decline instead of deny.

I must warn mentors though, be careful what you wish for. I told our student that went out for selections not to graciously accept. Thus, he went out and said "Yeah dude!" :shakes head:

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I tried to change things up a bit by saying "team 177 would be honored to accept" and then I thought to myself "wait a minute, was that correct grammar?"

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I have to agree with Beth on this, I've seen way too many teens giggle when they're nervous or make a mistake when speaking.

None of us can foresee in advance how the competition will progress, and I'm sure they thought they were doing the right thing at the time. I think all eight alliances were pretty strong and the matches were great contests. In my opinion, if 70 had accepted your invitation, the audience would have been the loser. The matches we saw were much more exciting than watching you blow everyone away. :)

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I changed it up, instead of saying "we graciously accept", I said
"Thank goodness" and hugged the alliance captain :)

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Here was our speach we had prepared. Too bad we didn't get to use it.

"Team 696 acknowledges this invitation to play in the elimination rounds which has been honorably bestowed upon us by team XXX on this oh so beautiful Saturday morning at this 2006 Southern California FIRST Robotics Regional competition being held here in the Great Western Forum in lovely Inglewood, California and we gatefully and wholeheartedly accept."

Asleep yet? LOL

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I like how the Red Barons accepted at GTR "how can we not! WE accept!"

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

HAHA! i remember that! alliance #3 group hug! and i thought i was being creative...lol

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

One of the best acceptances was at Boston when Team 233 accepted Team 121's invitation with "I think we're gonna join your little robot party." Someone at Philly also accepted with 'gracially.'

I'd really love to see some variation beyond 'graciously" and "respectfully" and "would be honored to" in the acceptance's. A lot of the things Pete(Dzdconfusd) posted are good acceptances, and I hope I see some of them used eventually.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Teams 70 & 494 may have been looking to "re-join" the twins for the finals, or, maybe they just wanted the opportunity to lead their own alliances. There is nothing wrong with that choice. Either way, it was probably a very awkward situation for the students on the field from all of the teams involved. Unless someone from one of those teams wants to post their reasons, we should not speculate.

Teams in the Top 8 have earned the right to choose their partners and probably have scouting data to help them determine what they think a strong combination will be. The decision to deny an invitation should not be taken as a bad move, but simply a team exercising their choice of how to continue into the tournament.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I don't think the problem here is with the fact that she declined. If we are going to pick on the semantics of graciously accepting (I believe the point being made is that once you say you are gracious, you aren't any more?) then you have got to see a problem with "graciously denying" someone. I think that respectfully declining is the only way to go on that one. No one argues with a person's right to decline, but if you are going to I think you should always consider the weight of that choice.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

If we’re going to pick on the incertitude of a young lady from Goodrich, Michigan (which happens to be the home of two of the most spectacular, giving, and gracious teams in all of FIRST) then this thread has hit rock bottom and should be put in the place where nit-picking topics deserve to end up.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Thank you very much for the support Jack, my team and I really appreciate it. As for the comment "Graciously Denies", it was a total mistake. The person that said this happens to be one of my classmates, I know that the comment wasn't intended to hurt, upset, or offend anyone. Believe me my team felt very uneasy about having to decline 808's offer twice, it wasn't an easy call. But, declining a teams offer is part of the game and its strategy so we were not wrong in any way by doing so.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

As a Team 70 mentor, I too felt bad about putting Team 808's captain in such an awkward position, our sincere apologies if anyone was offended. It was not our intention to do so. The young lady, our Team 70 captain was very nervous and did not want to have to go out in front of the "world" and do this. This has been discussed by our Team Leadership and in the future we will discuss issues like this with any team PRIOR to the alliance picks. This will avoid any embarrassment and misunderstandings of the situation. Let's move on.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Ooo nice one. I think I'll ask our captain to do something like that at our next regional.

"Team XXXX respectfully decl...ares HELL YES!"

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I wish my team would let me do half of this. The "graciously accepts" thing is a little annoying. When FIRST is so much about innovation and creativity, the selection process seems so regimented and traditionalized to the point of stiffness.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

i know right

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

how about saying, team 612 is ready to win :D

or is that un gp

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Today at West Michigan Regional, no one said "graciously accepts".

Personally, I said, "Yes," at the suggestion of an alumnus.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

gracious
–adjective
1. pleasantly kind, benevolent, and courteous.

Saying "graciously accepts" is grammatically correct, but I agree, that's not an appropriate word to use there. Being "gracious" is only a distinction within the context of competition; when you co-operate it should be a given.

'Gratefully', 'humbly', 'proudly', 'enthusiastically', those are all much better words than 'graciously'.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Team 647, being an Army sponsored team, and having a heavy military influence, has a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for our Alliance picks.

If we're an Alliance Captain, and doing the picking, we always say, "Team 647, The Cyber Wolf Corps, would like to Enlist team XXX."

If being invited by an Alliance, our response is. "Team 647, The Cyber Wolf Corps, is Reporting For Duty."

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Wouldn't that be "poor english"? :D

I like that one. :D

And that one.

And that one. :D

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

who has actually asked a team in a marriage proposal sort of way to join an alliance? I haven't actually seen it done, but it would be funny.

or maybe when accepting say, " well geess.. that's a big step!..I mean we just meet. Maybe we could to dinner or something first... ah, ok, why not.........'gratefully.'"

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Well said. Saying "graciously" is a tradition we should lose, as it makes people sound pompous. Whenever I hear it I picture hedonism-bot from Futurama marveling about how wondrous he is to accept.

Still, alliance selection is the brief pause in the chaos, and a clever or funny acceptance phrase keeps the fun part of the competition in the spotlight. Thank you all who put forth the effort to be witty.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

One for the old-timers:

YOU LIKE US!! YOU REALLY LIKE US!!

Our team strategy--We get asked, we accept. We will give our best effort to any alliance!

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Yeah I don't think it's appropriate to say that your team graciously accepts. It should be short, sweet, and to the point.


But, you don't want to decline either. One team did last year at the Colorado regional, and were not allowed to accept another proposal.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Sort of off topic x2...

-So the point of declining is if you are already in the top 8 (or expect to be)? I had never realized that before-I always just thought it was in the rulebook so the "acceptance" song-and-dance could be at least minimally important. I had no idea anyone ever actually did it...

-In the category of "awkward moments", during the Cal Games this year, we were around 14th and were not at all expecting to even be picked or, much less, have to pick. I, as my team's scouting captain, still managed to collect (most of) our scouting forms, and I was amazed that many of the boxes actually had things written in them; however, any effect this might have had was eliminated when I passed the sheets to the wrong person. Our representative must have been feeling very uncomfortable as she "umm"ed to the microphone, and it must have taken at least 2 minutes of yelling from the stands before she got the message.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

The rules are that anyone can accept or decline any invitation. HOWEVER, if you decline, you are not eligible to be picked again by anyone. If you are in the top eight, you still pick your own alliance.

I can't think of any episodes where a team outside the top eight declined, except for one where the team had to catch a flight home. (This was way back in the early days of selections.) Most teams just accept.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Yep it happens, the last two years at VCU a team has declined (384 in '06 and 116 in '07). It also has happened at the Championship the last two years (and probably before, I don't remember). In most cases, teams do it because they feel that they can form a more powerful alliance on their own than if they joined with the inviting team. I imagine a team might also decline if their robot was broken and unrepairable, but I have never heard of that happening.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Team 1947, has declained an invvitation this year, in order to form a better alliance.

It is quite common actually, i know that also 330 and 1114 did that this year in Atlanta.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I think they were hoping to ally...the decline was used to break up that alliance!

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

at the regional my team went to (FTC Ontario) i was waiting there and thinking if i get picked, what am i going to say? lol i remembered 'team xxx graciously accepts' but i was thinking isn't that bad grammer?

oh well didnt matter i was 8th alliance captain:D

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

I think this one would be cool:cool:
(Talk like Napoleon Dynamite )

Gosh, what took ya so long................or something like that

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

"Well-well look. I already told you: I deal with the god **** customers so the engineers don't have to. I have people skills; I am good at dealing with people. Can't you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?" - Tom Smykowski, Office Space


Sorry, this just all made me think of this. I hope you get my point.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Proabaly one of my biggest pet peeves is when teams go to the extent of "Team XXX graciously and professionally accepts." How unprofessional!

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

This is a fun thread about this same topic.
Enjoy!

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=55992

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Putting the "Gratiously Accept" phrase into proper English is like trying to put anything that Yoda said in proper English.

The saying works best as it works best, don't dwell on how it should be said.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

You lost me there buddy.

---------------------------------

Regardless... Everyone,

To reiterate (for the nth time), one should not declare one's own actions "gracious" when accepting an invitation. Other folks are given the pleasure of doing that.

English is a marvelous and powerful language (or amalgam of languages, if you prefer) that can be a powerful tool when wielded competently. Take a hint from the mentor community (the recommendations from many respected members of the FIRST community are not hard to find. For example: Take look at the Woodie Flowers award criteria) and pursue mastery of English communication as diligently as you pursue any other skill or craft used by your FIRST team.

It will pay off. If I invited a job applicant (English is their native language) to lunch during an interview and they replied that they "Graciously accepted my offer.", they would lose "points" for misunderstanding a simple English word.

Blake

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

Keep in mind that saying Graciously Accept 99.9999% of the time is only being said as a way to say yes. I highly doubt the person saying it actually considers their own actions to be gracious. Thinking that they actually are considering their own actions to be gracious is, from what im getting at, a large assumption.

Students say this because they have heard it said before. Probably not because they mean it literally. I agree, we need a new phrase to catch on, but please don't consider a student who says this to be "ungracious". Unprofessional maybe, but not ungracious. I'm sure they are very happy to be picked no matter what.

Re: On "graciously" accepting
 

T:D hat is almost as good as diet water.:D