Is it Gracious Professionalism to ...

[ChrisH]

complain publicly about another team or individual's percieved "lack of Gracious professionalism"?

The way things are going around here, I'm pretty sure that there will be yet another thread or two about the lack of GP at one or more of the remaining Regional events in the next few days. This may happen as early as Thursday, but no later than Monday of next week. If Ventures had a catagory for it I would bet that there will be one generated by the LA regional, just because there is a large number of teams with a fair percentage of rookies, not because I think the teams there will be any less GP than anywhere else.

These threads seem to always start with a specific example of how one team hurt another team by doing something to them.

But I submit that the mere act of complaining about another team or individual's behavior in a public forum is in itself un-gracious.

Here's the Webster's dictionary on Gracious:

Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French gracieus, from Latin gratiosus enjoying favor, agreeable, from gratia
Date: 14th century
1 a obsolete : GODLY b archaic : PLEASING, ACCEPTABLE
2 a : marked by kindness and courtesy b : GRACEFUL c : marked by tact and delicacy : URBANE d : characterized by charm, good taste, generosity of spirit, and the tasteful leisure of wealth and good breeding <gracious living>
3 : MERCIFUL, COMPASSIONATE -- used conventionally of royalty and high nobility

I would like to know how complaining about another's actions in front of thousands is: in good taste, shows generousity of spirit, is tactful, is kind , is courteous, or is godly. True graciousness hides the fault of others from all parties except those directly involved.

It is not outside the realm of gracious behavior to go to another team privately and point out that their flipping of your robot appeared deliberate and you hope it won't happen again. But broadcasting your hurt feelings to the world doesn't help you and merely offends the other party. If you want to find out more about how to approach another about an offense, perceived or otherwise I suggest you check out what Jesus had to say in the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 18. At least it has generally worked for me. (Note: this is not intended to start a religious discussion, it is merely a reference to a more complete discussion of the issue that is readily available. A religious flame-war is the last thing we need here)

But the better course is probably to just forgive the other party and attribute the action to whatever is the best excuse you can think of. That is acting like royalty and high nobility (being merciful and compassionate).

So let's be truly gracious and see if we can stop having these threads.

ChrisH