[Madison]

Originally Posted by Temper Metal

I would hope that you would answer yes to the Battlebots question too. I would go into the differences between the Battlebot and the FIRST robot. But the actual fact is, get kids interested in listening first. Even if you do not approve Battlebots, everyone must understand that it is a great way to get a newcombers interest. If you answer no, then you might have lost a member. If you answer yes, you will probably get a listener and a future member.

At the risk of going off-topic (by talking about FIRST, no less), I disagree with this sentiment. This topic is the proverbial dead horse, of course, but I like to think that this program and engineering have enough good things going for them that they ought not have to accept any association with popular culture that may, in the end, net some interest. We're doing really cool things on our own and the popularization of Battlebots and its ilk has done little else but reinforce cultural stereotypes about "genuine" robotics and narrow the ambition and imagination of kids and adults alike who see robots and technology only as toys.