Re: You Cannot Graciously Accept
 

Have you tried Cold Stone's Candy Land creation? It's cake batter ice cream with snickers, M&Ms, and Kit Kats. After having a "gotta have it" of that I would believe anything they told me.

Re: You Cannot Graciously Accept
 

Im sorry but engineering is not the field for conciseness in the english language. I've been told that multiple times by my boss. Once when I asked what a transorb was and the second time in relation to the unit hertz (He was taught with the units cycles/second). Then there is the time I had no idea how to describe what my robots look like. It's one thing to say tri-star but most people would have no idea what I mean by that. If we really wanted to do this the engineering way everyone would hold up pictures.Did you actually give them a tip? I don't think there signing qualifies as graceful depending on which definition you use. Note: I have no idea whether or not they sing in all stores.

Re: You Cannot Graciously Accept
 

To "accept graciously", as an apology graciously, can mean that what was received is less than expected or originally desired, but accepted anyway in the interest of moving on, or shows accepting the limitations of the situation or of the other party.

"Gracious" here uses the meaning of the word: merciful or compassionate

"I accept graciously the results of this mediation."
"I accepted graciously the disappointing verdict."

I agree, the fact that one is, in the same breath, pointing out this attitude, may be deemed ingracious and so contradictory by some.

Re: You Cannot Graciously Accept
 

This topic needs to be pinned and/or blasted to all of the teams. I was waiting at IRI on the side for the alliance selection, and I remember some team leaders telling their students to "graciously accept" and it made me a big mad, especially because some of those teams had very Celeb-like members on CD.

Re: You Cannot Graciously Accept
 

Haha that's awesome, they were probably doing it just as a parody on this thread and the whole discussion of "graciously accepting."

I think this is something that's been embeded into FIRST culture. Especially if one team says it at an event, then everyone's going to say it. I don't see this phrase going away anytime soon, but if we ever get drafted, I'll make sure my kids come up with something a bit more creative.

Re: You Cannot Graciously Accept
 

We had our representative at IRI wear my Mountain Dew bandoleer with four Dews in it. He said "Team 910 will gladly drink to that" and then handed a Dew to each of our partners. :D

Re: You Cannot Graciously Accept
 

I enjoyed the confusion of mumbles followed by the loud "YES!" at IRI.

Re: You Cannot Graciously Accept
 

That was interesting. In my 3 years as being our team captian, I have never had that happen as an alliance acceptance. It was a good thing too because I was really thirsty.

Re: You Cannot Graciously Accept
 

I cant believe this still gets brought up no matter how many years past. Its simply the other team that is being gracious for offering their alliance spot to you. Therefore one would say:

"Team XXXX accepts your gracious offer."
or
"Thank you for the gracious offer however team XXXX declines."

So once and for all pick one and use it, and lets make SURE this thread isn't repeated again next year.

You know what actually i'd like to see FIRST members to pick up a thesaursus and look up gracious, or go to http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/gracious and pick a different word and use it in Atlanta.

See you all there, and remember ill be listening!!!

Re: You Cannot Graciously Accept
 

It will probably be brought up every year. I would estimate that outside of FIRST, 95% of engineers have bad diction when it comes to non-scientific terminology. An FRC student "Graciously Accepting" isn't an anomoly.

By the way, are we resurrecting the contest for the championships this year?

Re: You Cannot Graciously Accept
 

At IRI last year, against the backdrop of splendid examples of creativity in accepting an alliance captain's invitation, I overheard a couple of veteran students grumbling about the situation. "What's with all the newbies? Didn't anyone tell them what to say? Just go 'we graciously accept' and be done with it!" I decided to find their attitude amusing rather than irritating.

You do realize that you are the one who brought it up this time? And that you are the one posting this year on a long-dormant thread? It seems that your goal would have been served well by simply not commenting. :)

Re: You Cannot Graciously Accept
 

Agreed. Besides, for my ME degree I just have to take 1 english class and 1 speech class. I figure this is to make sure that I am able to talk and able to write. If I needed to write really well, they would require more. However, instead I am taking 3 years of solid math. That shows you what an engineer is expected to know. Ask me a math question, and I will get you an answer.(might not be 100% correct) But give me a grammar question and I am clueless. Engineers talk with math first, and grammar second. It is a fact of life. If you want a crowd with good grammar, look into an english based club. However, if you are just wanting a crowd you can learn something and have fun doing it; well, you are in the right place.

Re: You Cannot Graciously Accept
 

!!!!how bout TEAM 647 REPORTING FOR DUTY HOOAH!!!!:D

Re: You Cannot Graciously Accept
 

I think we all should strive to be better than what is expected of us. :)

Re: You Cannot Graciously Accept
 

Now, the only question is "who decides what is better?"

I personally believe that the quickest/shortest way to convey a thought is the best way. I am a very function over form person. That means that if I must use bad grammar to get my point acrossed, I will. To some, better means being correct. To me, it means being functional.