Quote:
Originally Posted by MaGiC_PiKaChU
It's not a shame to admit that I had a beer with some mentors and other seniors while working on the robot! (not working with dangerous tools, duh  ) |
To be frank, I don't really think this is something to be proud of. I'm struggling to think of work that you could do on / with the robot that isn't potentially more dangerous with altered judgement and reaction time.
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To respond to the thread in general: I don't really think it's appropriate for mentors to be bringing up the subject at robotics at all. There's no real value to be gained from telling drinking stories, talking about personal alcohol use, discussing the pros/cons of legalization politics, etc. at robotics. It's not the time or the place for such discussions. It's too easy to forget the strong influence some mentors can have on some students; all of our actions and stories may inform a student's future decisions. We've got more important things to be doing with our time. Of course, there may be situations where students see you as a trusted adult and ask questions out of curiosity. I'm not saying you need to lie to your students and say you've never had a sip of beer in your life, but it seems most appropriate to keep conversations on the subject brief and professional.
I don't have much to add on the subjects of drug use on the team or addiction, other than to reiterate what has already been said: Compassion, empathy, and understanding are absolutely vital to helping individuals struggling with addiction. While professional help should be sought as these issues are well above our pay grades, it's important that you don't abandon people when they may need you the most. Try to minimize harm, to themselves and others.