Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Jeff
I’ve been a mentor for 12 consecutive years and remained silent on Delphi, that stops today. Not many things make me angry, this did.
If William, Kamen, Flowers or FIRST won’t say it, I will.
It was WRONG and inappropriate.
Understanding the majority in attendance were kids raised on idealizing celebrities the shock factor was rewarded with a roar of applause. The crowds response in addition to all the positive supportive post greatly sadden me about we have become. If I have to explain why then our world is in worse shape than I thought. Was it a mistake that he wish he could take back? Maybe, if so he should say so. William boast about being from the hood, many are that are good decent role models. After Saturday I don’t recognize his accomplishment. Go ahead vulgarity supporters and rip me up if you'd like, I can take.
FIRST is supposed to change the culture, It appears the culture is changing FIRST.
Mr. Jeff Sparky 384
My comments do not reflect the opinion of my team.
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I'm going to agree and disagree here.
I do think Will's comments were sincere if colorful. There are only so many ways to express what he did with the energy he did, so he went with the most common (if not necessarily appropriate) one. In what is an increasingly-scripted Einstein, this was a genuine shock--which was probably part of the rousing applause from even Dean and Dave. It's certainly not something FIRST should stick on the highlight reel, and I hope Dean was clever enough to find a swear jar afterward, but it's not the end of the world.
That said, I remember 2007 when Dean came to South Carolina for a benefit dinner and met beforehand with local FRC teams. He gave a talk (perhaps the best talk I've ever seen from him) about what's become the Slingshot and the stirling engine projects, the latter of which can be powered by burning cow patties. So guess what was on that slide? An oh-so-slightly-greeked version of one word Will said on Saturday night. That, too, was not the end of the world.
Use it as a teachable moment, smile at one of those moments that will become part of FIRST's oral history (Mandy Moore, how 'ya doing?), and get back to building robots if it bothers you so.
