Quote:
Originally posted by JosephM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the goal of FIRST to influence kids through robots to like science and technology, and not sports stars and actors? Wouldn't having a FIRST celebrity be against the ideas of FIRST and why it was started? If a celebrity endorses FIRST, wouldn't that remove the idea of scientists and engeiners becoming the stars?
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Let me ask you this: would a celebrity endorsing FIRST inspire young people into science and technology? The answer is most probably, yes.
The real question then, is will FIRST be bending its principles to acomplish its goals. I don't believe they will. Consider this: There are many paths in life, and many things to excel in--each does what he is compelled to do. Science and engineering are wonderful, but if we lived in a country with
only scientists and engineers, our culture would be severely lacking. So then, there is most certainly a place for actors and celebrities in our society.
Now, if there is a place for them in our society, why should we be elitist, and exclude them from promoting FIRST? The real issue is not that sports stars and celebrities are bad, it is that too much undue attention is paid to them, and too little to scientist and engineers. If these celebrities are willing to help shift some of that attention to FIRST, in an attempt to change the culture, how is that against the spirit of FIRST?
Hope that wasn't too long ...
Stephen