[tribotec_ca88]

Wow this is quite an interesting thread...very controversial...

The world to me seems such a false, shallow, and hypocritical place. Many people (such as FIRSTers) are victims of this negative stereotype, because we're portrayed in such a bad manner. Life's already complicated, and having to face this kind prejudice is just insulting. And unfortunately we live in a society where success isnt based on skill or dedication, but almost entirely on your "social status". Not that sociability is a bad thing, but the rest of us people that are focusing our efforts in different areas are literally excluded and ignored. And when society decides it doesn't want our type in, simply because our brains function differently and we have different interests, we end up coming last, because their influence is great. This whole "model" human form (mental and physical) thing is nonsense. Unfortunately theres not much that can be done. What we need to do is learn to cope with these people. Although we may never be respected or acknowledged, we will find our inner peace, something all of us desire and search for throughout our lifetimes. They're the ones that lack confidence, the ones that spend their lives disguised as someone they're not, when in the end they'll come to find they'd been illuded and mistaken the entire time.

So...I would suggest trying to convince people one-on-one, and get personal. Make an attempt to describe FIRST as it really is. And if they can't see how advantageous and enriching it is, let it be. A 5-person team that is motivated, dedicated, and united will accomplish so much more than a 30-person team of students that are mildly interested. Of 1000 people there will be someone conscious enough to perceive this kind of discrimination, and despite of it, will be able to ignore it and focus on the positive aspects, and those are the ones that really matter.