What will FRC 2016 Stronghold be remembered by?

[mrnoble]

Originally Posted by Wayne TenBrink

Our choice of words is important.

I agree. It's fair to note that the culture is changing, regardless of what happens in FIRST. Language use certainly is a very large part of that change. Websites like IFLScience are obvious hints that what was once barroom language is now out in the open. So what do we do? I guess it's up to each individual, but I know that relationships and mutual respect are key parts of working with students as far as I am concerned, and words are just tools for communicating. If it takes accepting the S and F word as part of respectful and relational dialogue with my kids, then I will gladly go there. Unless you are personally offended by words like bloody, sard, and odds bodkins, then you are also a product of the same evolution of language that is affecting our young people.

[NormaLamotte]

Wayne TenBrink, you have it exactly right. If we resort to using coarse language to relate to individuals who are or will become our great thinkers and doers, then my understanding of gracious professionalism is completely undone. Many grandmas were not proud of that comment. Mentors, leaders (and in my community, teachers who want to keep their jobs) and all others who want to work with CHILDREN need to continue to work toward cultivating an environment that is healthy for kids.

[CloakAndDagger]

In relation to will.i.am's statement

When you look at first, the mission statement is to make first as inclusive and attractive to the 'average high school student' as any sports team, and keep it competitive as well. To operate under the assumption that the average high school student doesn't swear, or that in some way having a notorious pop star, who has no aversion towards swearing, swear, reflects poorly on our organization is false in my opinion.

Don't get me wrong, we (FIRST) should attempt to keep up a professional demeanor, but I also think that we need to work on breaking the idea of robotics students being nerds, and geeks, because that doesn't help our organization grow.

On a side note, there is a valid reason that FIRST doesn't mic drive teams

[mrnoble]

Originally Posted by NormaLamotte

Wayne TenBrink, you have it exactly right. If we resort to using coarse language to relate to individuals who are or will become our great thinkers and doers, then my understanding of gracious professionalism is completely undone. Many grandmas were not proud of that comment. Mentors, leaders (and in my community, teachers who want to keep their jobs) and all others who want to work with CHILDREN need to continue to work toward cultivating an environment that is healthy for kids.

Clearly we have differing perspectives on this issue. Our communities certainly have different standards for what constitutes an offense worthy of termination, as well. Agree or disagree, isn't it interesting that successful schools exist where the principle uses the f word on back to school night in his welcome speech?

[sarah_storer]

Personally, I think this year will be remembered by how many different configurations the field could have. This feature really added to the strategy discussions because of defense selection and kept things interesting as opposed to stagnant.

[CloakAndDagger]

Also, I must say that the inclusion of Disney imagineering to this game was an excellent idea

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by Wayne TenBrink

I won't be sharing that video with my students.

You don't have to share it because they've already seen it, that's the beauty of the entire thing. It's already gone "semi-viral" through robotics social media.

Shutting down the "robot kids are total nerds" persona would go a long way into bringing robotics into the mainstream (see: Battlebots), and Mr. I Am is helping do just that.

If you're worried about role models using swear words, you should listen to coaches (including some famous, fantastic mentors) behind the glass. There's a time and place in our culture for swearing, and Mr. I Am nailed it.

[lethc]

Personally I loved the theme. I think they went all in with it (defenses, towers, capturing, standards.. etc.) and it really paid off. If FIRST continues this trend with as much success as they had this year I think it will be a huge step in making the organization more accessible to the public.

[Brian Michell]

To my team it will be remembered as the "Great Rhino Drive Debacle". We lost 3 weeks trying to get a drive train. Everybody had their heart set on a rhino drive but we could never get one. RhinoDrive has become a word that is jokingly banned in the club.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

Clearly we have differing perspectives on this issue. Our communities certainly have different standards for what constitutes an offense worthy of termination, as well. Agree or disagree, isn't it interesting that successful schools exist where the principle uses the f word on back to school night in his welcome speech?

I thought the statement was hilarious and candid. He stated how he felt. Dean laughed his butt off right after while hugging him.

If Dean found it amusing, I don't think other people should feel otherwise.

[bvisness]

I thought #tsimfd was funny, but that's not what I'm remembering this year for. I'm remembering it for our team's final qualification match - wherein we flipped our robot over, but STILL GOT THE CAPTURE because our alliance partners pushed us onto the batter.

https://youtu.be/YNJj_0nLkbI

[grstex]

Originally Posted by Wayne TenBrink

I won't be sharing that video with my students. Is FIRST changing the culture or is the culture changing FIRST? For the better??? I may be old school, but I found his remarks offensive.



I know people mean well, but I hope we can do better than this. Our choice of words is important.

“Never use a big word when a little filthy one will do.”
― Johnny Carson

Will.i.am explained it perfectly: he said it the way he felt it. Life's too short to hold back good passion.

The only real shame is that few will remember what he said at closing ceremonies where he told tens of thousands of students that their hard work, ingenuity and entrepreneurship will solve problems like poverty and inner city decay. Maybe if he felt free to speak with the same level of passion, that message would have hit home too.

[pipsqueaker]

I know people mean well, but I hope we can do better than this. Our choice of words is important.

I'm well aware of the importance of diction, and yet sometimes a few well-placed, meaningful profanities can convey meaning and energy just as well (or even better) than any other words

[connor.worley]

Good game. Good balance of offensive objectives and offense vs defense overall. Fun to watch.

[dirtbikerxz]

Originally Posted by Wayne TenBrink

I won't be sharing that video with my students. Is FIRST changing the culture or is the culture changing FIRST? For the better??? I may be old school, but I found his remarks offensive.

I know people mean well, but I hope we can do better than this. Our choice of words is important.

Don't worry, your students have already seen it. There is a time in our culture where swearing is alright. Nothing Will.I.Am said was offensive in anyway. He did not use the words in a offensive way. The words simply expressed his passion and they great deal of enjoyment he has with FIRST. If he had said that FIRST is "great", it simply wouldn't have had the same impact.
I have heard many many, great people using swear words. But they use it at the right time, and have the best impact because of them. Yes our choice of words is important, but Will.I.Am Couldn't have expressed his feelings any better in this situation.

Please don't just ignore me, or "write me off" because I am a teenager, everyone here means well, and are truly genuine when we say that his words were not offensive at all.