Quote:
Originally Posted by techhelpbb
As per the young person who receives the hug: should we just not work out and agree whether it is okay between the people involved.
I mean spectators are entitled to their viewpoints but these are the special moments of these young people in that spotlight and it should be up to them...perhaps they do not want to even shake hands.
|
I don't think that anyone disagrees with this. The issue seems to be that some spectators viewed the male leaders on stage as defaulting or guiding women toward hugs and men toward handshakes without reading (or accurately reading) individual body language. This issue is inappropriately exacerbated by FIRST's email response, which makes no reference to reading body language at all, but rather indicates that "jubilation and tears of joy" from "nearly all the young women" automatically makes the hugging appropriate for all women (and inappropriate for all men) without body language being part of the described perspective.
For myself, I understand as a spectator that it isn't possible to tell if anyone actually did ignore body language or guide the students differently, consciously or not. I make no accusations there, though it would behoove us all to keep it in mind. The official email on the other hand, is at best thoughtlessly worded and at worst entirely inappropriate. The logic that anyone should physically touch another person simply upon witnessing tears of joy, without mention of their own wishes, is ridiculous and unacceptable on many levels.
Separately, I would suggest that FIRST reemphasize the need for reading personal choice and cultural perception for hugs/etc by officials with participants. This incident aside, I know I personally have been uncomfortable with unsolicited hugs from officials I do not know. I look forward to a mention of this in the respective section of our standard training next year.