Message to mentor_4281

[pilleya]

Originally Posted by Mike Marandola

If it's even worth it, could someone describe what the post was about for those who didn't see it?

Originally Posted by mentor_4281

Hello,
I have been mentoring a first team and have some problems with a team member who is blind. He has already had three incidents in which his sight problem has harmed other team members (and one time himself). I have been trying to be supportive of his passion for STEM, but I can no longer allow such a dangerous team member to participate on our team. I'm trying to build the robot for these students, but they just need to stay away from the tools sometimes . I would love any and all advice.

I had it saved, because I generally try and type up my long posts in Microsoft Word

[engunneer]

I can confirm that was the text of the original post, except they used instead of (in at least one of the two identical posts)

[jweston]

I remember seeing the OP but didn't catch the team number(s) at the time. I checked on TBA. 4281 is associated with a special needs school so it's possible that this is a genuine appeal. Not sure where or how the association to 254 was implied or inferred (user profile?) It's possble it was accidental.

Not that it should matter. As pointed out, accommodating students with disabilities is a serious topic. Requests for help should be treated in good faith. I don't see how giving useful advice to a legitimate challenge feeds trolls.

[Edxu]

Originally Posted by jweston

I remember seeing the OP but didn't catch the team number(s) at the time. I checked on TBA. 4281 is associated with a special needs school so it's possible that this is a genuine appeal. Not sure where or how the association to 254 was implied or inferred (user profile?) It's possble it was accidental.

Not that it should matter. As pointed out, accommodating students with disabilities is a serious topic. Requests for help should be treated in good faith. I don't see how giving useful advice to a legitimate challenge feeds trolls.

The username was mentor_4281, but the associated FRC team on the profile was #0254.

[logank013]

This sounds to me that this is talking about another thread. Can someone direct me to that said post or thread? I'm just curious about what this situation is about. Thanks.

[Carl C]

Originally Posted by logank013

This sounds to me that this is talking about another thread. Can someone direct me to that said post or thread? I'm just curious about what this situation is about. Thanks.

Previous thread was removed. See pilleya's post above for the original post in question.

[IronicDeadBird]

Originally Posted by jweston

I don't see how giving useful advice to a legitimate challenge feeds trolls.

Yeah I agree I was trying to say that this is a good conversation but pursuing the details on mentor_4281 isn't worth talking about.

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by Cory

This guy was clearly a troll. He is not a 254 member.

The possibility occurred to me. I confess to missing the "I'm trying to build the robot for the students", reading "with" instead of "for", so I did not recognize this as Poof-robots-are-mentor-built bashing. I did recognize that the account was new and that a mentor might be assuming another team number in pursuit of anonymity. I did believe that it was as likely than not a genuine plea for help (and still do believe it's a good possibility), and I was frankly dismayed by the flame delivered in response.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

I did believe that it was as likely than not a genuine plea for help (and still do believe it's a good possibility), and I was frankly dismayed by the flame delivered in response.

Same here. If you have to use words that the forum automatically filters, folks, you need to rethink how you're saying what you're saying.


I do think that the discussion on how to best help students with special needs is important, and possibly the discussion on how much mentor involvement is necessary is due to crop up again (I haven't seen it this year, don't tell me if I missed it). But not together, and certainly not when the thread seems to be on another topic entirely.

[Madison]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

I did recognize that the account was new and that a mentor might be assuming another team number in pursuit of anonymity.

I cannot recall one time in CD history this has happened. Not once.

[jweston]

Originally Posted by IronicDeadBird

Yeah I agree I was trying to say that this is a good conversation but pursuing the details on mentor_4281 isn't worth talking about.

I think it goes to heart of what happened. I see the purpose of this thread as about CD community conduct. In this case, we have a new account asking for help with a situation while claiming affiliation with a well-known, highly succssful team. There was wording that touched a nerve: inappropriate mentor build involvement. There was an assumption made that this new user was a troll but showing a little curiousity shows it's plausible that they might not have been.

If you come across a post that rubs you the wrong way that doesn't contain open aggression/libel, can we please give people the benefit of the doubt? Contact the person and ask if they are old alum of 254. Ask what they mean by "trying to get this robot built." It's easy to jump to conclusions, especially when you're online. We all do it. Encourage you inner devil's advocate and be curious.