BB: I'm tired already

[Matt Krass]

Originally Posted by JamesBrown

The release from FIRST mentioned the production of a TV special, that would expose more people to the performance and then the competition and organization than opening the performance to the public would.

As long as I can remember people have been getting saucer eyes about FIRST TV specials and the like, and I can say, it usually doesn't happen, and a lot of resources go in to those attempts. I think this is another ill-advised attempt at grabbing fleeting popularity in place of the true mission of FIRST. Who cares if we get a TV special out of this? It's not going to be "Look how this great program changes the world, you should join it" its going to be "Look, a concert, and there happens to be robots or something in the background!".

FIRST used to be about celebrating science and engineering, and not football players and rock stars, and while its not about the robot, its also not about seeing how much weight a rock star can toss around. Instead of trying to show kids that engineering can be a great lifestyle and fun and good for all, they're just trying to show them "go for engineering and maybe you can hang out with a rock star".

FIRST is compromising ideals left and right in the name of greater exposure, but what good is the exposure with the compromised ideals? There is a such a thing as too much growth. FIRST seemed to be having a pretty profound impact in the past, at a much smaller scale, and it seemed a lot more effective the diluted popularity contest we're heading for.

Sorry, but I'm extremely disappointed in the leadership at FIRST this year, I think they lost sight of some very important things.

I don't remember the exact quote, or the exact year, I think it was Woodie in 2006 at Kickoff, and it was something along the lines of:

'Thousands of brain-hours are going to be spent in the next six weeks, and I doubt many, if any of them will be spent wondering what Paris Hilton is doing' --Woodie(ish)

What happened to that program? I liked that one.

Originally Posted by JamesBrown

I have seen quite a few posters complain over the last couple of days about how FIRST is a robotics competition and in this case it is taking a back seat to a concert. Those same posters (some of the most respected on CD) would be quick to remind you other days that FIRST is not about the Robotics Competition, it is about the Inspiration. I want you to think about whether it is possible FIRST discussed this, knows what they are doing and are using this concert for the inspiration and recognition of science and technology.

There is nothing inspiring about conforming to what society has deemed "popular". It's just pathetic. Instead of forging our own path, we're told we should ride the coattails of those deemed "popular" for the sake of ease, and hope we get to accomplish something along the way. There is no recognition for the hard work of scientists and engineers when we trivialize them in this manner. Nothing about this is inspiring or recognizing.

I know I'm going to get it for this, but I feel how I feel,
Matt