Behavior at the competitions
 

I was at a regional last week and saw something that floored me.

The team sitting in front of us, who shall remain nameless, had several students playing games on their laptops or on Nintendo DSs during Dean’s speech during Saturday’s opening ceremonies. Some of these students, who were wearing team shirts, were sitting right next to adults in team shirts. None of the adults told them to pay attention or put the games away.

Is it just me or are more and more students looking at FIRST as a right instead of a privilege? Back when I was on a team behavior like what I described would get you in serious trouble. I think some kids are beginning to look at FIRST as “just another club” as opposed to the life changing experience that it really is. I understand that you get out of it what you put into it and that these kids are only cheating themselves, but I am still appalled to see such blatant disrespect towards anyone in FIRST let alone Dean.

Re: Behavior at the competitions
 

No offense, but Dean's speeches aren't exactly the most thrilling. They deliver incredibly relevant content, for a very good cause, but they're boring.

Just because another team does not value FIRST as a "life changing experience" like you does not mean they intend disrespect.

Re: Behavior at the competitions
 

I have cought some of the students on our team doing this in the past. We made comments to them and they would put their games away. I think it was just 1 or 2 students that are now gone, and it seems to be better now. Also I find with a slightly smaller team its easier to control because you can give each student a task to perform.

This does really annoy me as well, regardless of who, where or what it is going on, its just rude.

Re: Behavior at the competitions
 

One thing I would caution you with: don't judge someone by the shirt they wear. You don't know if it is a family member or friend who is wearing the shirt. Yes, they probably should have put them away, but that is their coaches job and we are not to judge them.

Re: Behavior at the competitions
 

Agreed, but if you get the chance to talk one on one with both Dean and Woodie like I have the conversations are very fun and entertaining but relevant to whatever the topic may be.

At the same time it is common courtesy and those teams should realize that they should at least try to be gracious and professional if nothing else lower brightness and at least sort of act like your paying attention.

Re: Behavior at the competitions
 

Personally I don't see this as being an issue at all. The students you saw may or may not be active members on the team. I have personally been on teams that brought students who had spent little or no time participating in the program before competition but who wanted to come for the same reason they would go to any of their High School's sporting events, they are looking for a day of entertainment and they want to support their friends. As a mentor from a small rookie team I have to say that I really appreciate these students coming to the events and supporting the team. We do make sure that every one representing the program (guests included) know that first is different than regular sporting events (no booing or heckling etc).

I have no issue if a student is using a laptop or playing a game during speeches and opening ceremonies, as long as they are not disturbing those around them (ie, not standing up or playing with the volume on). I would much rather have disinterested audience members entertain them selves than have them disturb others by talking, or fidgeting.

Quite frankly Dean is boring. I love the message that he is delivering but he is not a great public speaker. It is important that these students hear Dean's message but there are plenty of opportunities to deliver it to them through the program.

I am not offended by them quietly entertaining them selves, and I am sure that Dean isn't either. Having lectured and presented to large groups numerous times, it doesn't bother me if people are not paying attention, it is more important to deliver the message to the people who want to hear it. If the message is important enough (and Dean's is) then it will eventually get through to the others.

Re: Behavior at the competitions
 

I can tell you that our rules are no games at the competition, they are for the bus ride only. Can we watch every student? No. Do we sometimes forget? Yes. Take it as an isolated incident and think nothing more about it.

Re: Behavior at the competitions
 

I think along the same lines as Craig.

Also, I'd much rather have my students Playing Nintendo DS, on their Laptop, Texting, etc... quietly than making a disturbance because they're bored with Dean's Speech and they have nothing to do.

Re: Behavior at the competitions
 

I am a bit saddened that we live in a day where actions like this are becoming "the norm" and "acceptable". I've been out to lunch 3 days this week, and at every one of them, someone at the table pulled out their phone to check their email (I was the ONLY other person at the table). Call me old, but I hate this and refuse to do it. If I am spending time with a person, I am spending time with them, not the 560 other people I can access via the world wide web. I think to so many people parenting is plopping their kid in front of a computer or hand them a DS and expect those devices to parent the kid for them. WAKE UP WORLD. We are creating a generation of awkward antisocial kids that don't know how to TALK to eachother, or even more important how to LISTEN to others... if its not a text or a tweet... how on earth do they interact??

This statement just floored me. I will agree Dean does not have the most exciting manner of speaking. HOWEVER, he is the founder of the program, a billionaire that so many look up to, and it is a privilege that so many of us get to meet him, interact with him and listen to his ideas. Many other billionaires wouldnt give me the time of day... I got to visit Dean's HOUSE! I am HONORED to have had the chance to be involved in something he and so many other great engineers are involved in. How on earth can we "spread the word of FIRST" or "fix what's broken" if we cant even encourage our students to be respectful enough to sit and listen to him speak?? It will never BE a life changing experience if they can't listen to others, listen to what the program has to offer. ITS 40 MINUTES of your life... do you really need to be playing video games?? MY grandmother would have slapped me upside the head if she saw me do something like that!!!

Re: Behavior at the competitions
 

A lot of teams aren't very rigid about behavior at competitions. While what other teams do is up to them it doesn't paint a very good image when we have guests visit us during regionals or championship. It's a great contrast to our team as a whole though. Guests see the general behavior from such and such team and compare it to how our team members behave.

Re: Behavior at the competitions
 

Yeah, Dean's speeches can be boring. I admit I don't always listen to every word of what he says but playing videogames is outright rude.

Seconded, I can understand if your phone rings and it is your mother but to just fiddle with your phone because the person you are with is boring is rude.

Just to be clear, I DO smack our students when I see it. I got permission from their parents and everything.

Re: Behavior at the competitions
 

I’m not saying you have to hang on Dean’s every word. I’ve heard Dean’s FIRST speeches since 1996 and still enjoy them but I understand this may not be the case for everyone. However by the time you reach high school you should know how to sit still for a few minutes and listen to someone speak. It’s a matter of respect. Whether you find Dean fascinating or boring, he’s the founder of FIRST and he deserves our respect. If your football coach or dance instructor or boss were speaking to your group and you were playing a game chances are they would find that completely unacceptable, so why should FIRST be any different.

If the kids were in fact friends of team members and not on the team themselves, then they still need to realize that once you put on a team shirt you will be seen by others as being on the team. Good, bad or indifferent unless you are clearly under the age range, let’s say six years old, people will guess you’re on the team.

I’m not trying to bash these kids, I’m just making the point that this does happen. I wish it was the first time I’d seen something like this, but it’s not. Maybe I look at the world of FIRST differently because I’ve seen it change my life and the lives of countless other people around me. To each his or her own. All I’m saying is that gracious professionalism is not something you turn on and off based on your interest level in what is going on around you.

Re: Behavior at the competitions
 

Thank you.

I always look forward to hearing Dean in person. His speeches are never boring. If people actually listened to him, they would see that they are always different and quite profound.

Re: Behavior at the competitions
 

My team had problems with this too at our last competition. The "no games at competition" policy is strictly enforced by both the mentors and the scouting team. Scouting team enforces it heavily because we're the head students in the stands during competitions. If the games become an increasing problem (as in telling the same person to put it away multiple times) the object used for gaming will get confiscated until the end of the day. However, the policy of no games in only enforced while matches or the opening ceremonies or speeches are going on. During our lunch breaks its ok for students to play games and such untill matches start back up again.

Re: Behavior at the competitions
 

To be fair, I'll admit the opening ceremonies aren't that enthralling, but they also are over pretty quick. My generation's attention span must be even shorter than I imagined if we can't sit still without something to entertain us for a whole 15 minutes.

I was in the pits for the good majority of our first district, but from what I heard the biggest problem for us seemed to be people playing games during the actual matches. After spending the Detroit district* up in the stands (or more accurately hovering by the rail watching the bots) I can't imagine why this would ever be seen as boring. With so many amazing and creative bots I was almost never bored watching the games. Between games they play so much amazing dance music I can't see why people would even be sitting down.

FRC competitions are fun people. If you honestly need a video game system to keep you interested, you're ignoring a tremendous experience.

*At which gaming systems were a non-existent issue.