Re: Language at Championships
 

There are two types of team members and mentors:

Those who want to be FIRST.
Those who want to be first.

Those who want to be FIRST are and do exactly what FIRST represents and do and act the same as well. Those who want to be first, do what being first represents: being the top, being the king, doing what it takes and not careing too much for their surroundings. To some, competition is a driving force and if a trophy is not in their hands or a trophy is in their hands, FIRST suffers a loss for Gratious Professionalism......or do we? Possibly the greatest evidence of FIRST, is the teams that show the winning teams how to be FIRST.

Re: Language at Championships
 

I completely and utterly agree with everything you just said.

Re: Language at Championships
 

I believe that people are offended WAY to easily. We all hear bad language at school/work and let it bounce off us.

that said, when you are atm a competition, you represent your aschool, town, state and sometimes even country. Think about what you say before you say it and be professional.

Re: Language at Championships
 

Using the word "gay" as a synonym for "bad" is far more offensive to me than any swear word, and it seems to be used so often by high school students.

Topic: I totally agree with everyone who is disappointed about the cursing and general non-GP behavior sprouting nowadays; what can we do about it? I think the best way is to begin within our own teams. Lead by example, and don't be afraid to tell someone when he or she is out of line.

Re: Language at Championships
 

Robotics teams are excellent vehicles for developing not only your engineering skills and talents but your social skills and your abilities to communicate, make wise judgements, apply common sense, and respect flexibility.

You don't wake up one day and become social or eloquent. These are skills you practice just like you practice driving the robot. It isn't something that you do when a judge walks by, it is something you do in the shop or the garage when things are getting a little tense.

'Dance like you are two and no one is watching' is a common phrase these days. Speaking with grace and dignity like Woodie's grandmother is near could be a common practice among FIRSTers.

Re: Language at Championships
 

I didnt notice it as much at championships (I think I was too busy!) but I had noticed it more earlier this year with our team. The kids finally learned better than to swear or say anything rude in front of me... as they would get (they dubbed it) "the look of death". Its kind of funny, we all laugh about it, but I think they all dont ever want to see it too!

Now I was a kid too, and my mouth isnt always clean... but there are times where it just isnt necessary... I dont mind it if they hurt themselves, or if there is a situation where someone is really really frustrated... but its the casual throwing around of swears and things like that that I frown on and tried to condition my team against. Why bother if it might offend someone? Surely there are other words you can use...

We dont make our grandmothers proud by swearing in front of them, so why should it be commonplace?

Re: Language at Championships
 

You are SO right here - we have sponsored Little League baseball for many years in our community. In some years, we have had terrible situations with coaches (not often, thankfully) and parents browbeating kids over their performance, because they see the trophy as the accomplishment - and you can guess how those kids acted toward each other and their opposing teams! In other years, coaches have banned parents and kids who act ungraciously both on and off the field, and regardless of whether they came out on top, everyone had a great time.

On our team, we make sure that the students and mentors understand and agree that FIRST principles are the most important and that people are watching and listening to us all the time. We want to win - who doesn't? - but not at the cost of our personal character and gracious professionalism.

Re: Language at Championships
 

makes me think of a "mantra"...change it to suit your own team...Now, just repeat after me....

"I am here to have FUN each and every minute"
"I am here to be INSPIRED and learn from as many people as I can"
"I am here to be RESPECTFUL to my teammates, mentors, school, and sponsors"
"I am here to be SENSITIVE to others in what I say and do and how I act"
"I am here to be TRANSFORMED into a new person"

Funny.....those things add up to FIRST (what a capital idea!)

Re: Language at Championships
 

Thats definetly the same thing for me. Using Gay in a derogatory way shows ignorance. It's the same thing as using Straight as a synonym for bad...it just doesn't make any sense, does it? If you mean "bad" then say "Bad" for goodness sake.

Re: Language at Championships
 

I happen to agree with the language being used by students and every once and awhile you will also hear it fly out of a mentor or an adult body surrounding the team. FIRST like many has said is a high paced sport, things that go on during a 2:10 match take many peoples breathes away. As the generations grow older and FIRST becomes more advanced in its game making we will probably hear more "bad" words being used. Personally even though the Mentors / Coaches or the adult bodies that be are responsible for how their team reacts during an event I strongly believe that students on the team should be held accountable and should know when too much use is to much, with having said this, I also strongly believe and agree that FIRST should give more responsibility to their assigned Judges in watching the teams overall performance and if necessary void a teams ability to win an award based on the language used. One bad apple spoils the bunch, One too many cooks spoils the soup. Yes its hard to watch & hear everyone during an event but keeping an ear out for such words should not be hard to do. Espicially when those who use it make sure its said loudly. Your actions not only reflect who you are but what your apart of, those who wanna use bad language will cost the team alot of glory but not winning say the team spirit award or a different award based on the teams ability to being appropriate.The other way to solve such problem can be delt with on the teams level by enforcing a bad language rule. Those Members who decide to use obscene language should be discharged from the team for any amount of time the coaches seem fit or indefinitely depending on how often the student uses the word.

I admit I use bad language that just about everyone else uses but there is a time and place for it all, one place it should not be is at any FIRST on non-FIRST sanctioned event. You may use it within the privacy of your own home or neighborhood not in a spectator friendly sport.