WILL.I.AM's comment on Einstein

[Chris is me]

Let's be honest here. Almost everyone cusses sometimes. The kids certainly do, many adults do in the heat of FRC competitions. Even the FLL kids do. While it isn't very professional, and probably isn't something to show off to prospective sponsors and whatnot, letting out one F-bomb on Einstein is not the end of the world, and in the full context, I don't even think it was that inappropriate.

To truly understand why the quote was so powerful and, frankly, inspiring, you have to get the context, not just of Einstein but of Will I Am and FRC. Einstein is an incredibly scripted, drawn out event with lots of ceremony, speeches, and traditions. It is powerful, but gets old, and it's a lot of going through the motions. Will.i.am's involvement in FRC was initially regarded with a large amount of hostility and backlash. He began by saying the 2011 game was "dope", which older mentors interpreted as a drug reference, and controversial changes to the Championship format aligned with his attempt at helping via a star-studded concert at the event, leading people to believe he was responsible for these unwelcome changes (fields in the pits etc). But over time, his commitment to FIRST and his consistency have been slowly winning people over, that he's not just doing this for publicity or selfish reasons, but because he is genuinely inspired.

And finally, after his sixth consecutive year of supporting the FIRST championship, he goes off script to express his amazement and inspiration of the robotics program going on around him. He says it in a way that is exactly how one passionate high schooler might explain their amazement to a friend of theirs, in a real and true way that you can be absolutely sure was not approved or encouraged by anyone at FIRST. And the power of his statement, if not just a shock reaction, was reflected in the thunderous reaction in the Dome, louder than almost anything heard the entire day. Crass, unprofessional, and crude as it was, it was an incredibly powerful moment.

Now, this isn't to say this should be a regular thing; it probably shouldn't be our forward facing catch phrase, we shouldn't be singing it to sponsors, making team chants about it, etc. It can't become a huge meme like water games or corndogs that every 14 year old parrots to their grandmother (and I'm sure it will get out of hand, unfortunately). I really understand the points people like Andy Grady have been making about the speech and I don't disagree with them. But I genuinely appreciated such a refreshingly honest moment from this man, and I'm glad he was able to convey his awe and inspiration sincerely.

[macman828]

Originally Posted by nerdrock101

For that reason, I really wish I could read lips and guess what Dean said to him after in that clip...

He says, "This is Representative Randy Hultgren. His is the chairman of the STEM committee."

[dirtbikerxz]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

It can't become a huge meme like water games or corndogs

I'm afraid it's a bit too late for that :\

Originally Posted by Chris is me

But I genuinely appreciated such a refreshingly honest moment from this man, and I'm glad he was able to convey his awe and inspiration sincerely.

And yes.... 100 percent yes... nothing else to say

[AcesJames]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

To truly understand why the quote was so powerful and, frankly, inspiring, you have to get the context, not just of Einstein but of Will I Am and FRC.

This is particularly important.

Just minutes before Will took the mic to deliver the line in question, he was speaking candidly about his own motivations for supporting FIRST; it was something he never had growing up in the "ghetto". His words, not mine. And let's also not forget the other point he brought up; the juxtaposition he so eloquently stated. The FRC World Championship is held just blocks away from neighborhoods being boarded up and abandoned. He spoke of the empty buildings surrounding the dome breaking his heart.

Those who were at the championship or watching it live from home saw first hand the very raw emotional connection that Will now has to this program. He recognizes intrinsically that FIRST is a program that is creating educational and career opportunities in areas like St. Louis where students otherwise have none. Will "gets" the point of this program the way so many others do not. I'd venture to argue his motivation as a spokesperson is closer to the core purpose of this program than are the motivations of some program participants. I will never alienate a person from this organization, who has done so much for this organization, simply because they are so inspired by it that they can only describe it in expletives.

[evanperryg]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

*snip*

Wow. You nailed it. There's a greater meaning behind cuss words, and this meaning is what gives them an impact that can't be written off purely as repugnant vulgarity. These words humanize us. They represent the intimacy between the cusser and those around them, as weird as that sounds. Most importantly, will.I.am's words humanize FIRST, and they humanize FRC. We all love the façade of being this perfect community of gracious professionalism and whatnot, but we're all people. We all make mistakes (not that what he said was a mistake, actually quite the contrary), we all have emotions and we all let those emotions affect our actions. We're FIRSTers, but we are also people. We're all people who've cussed once in a while (some more than others) and it's part of what makes us human.

Will.I.am showed that he is enthusiastic about FIRST on a deeply personal level, so much so that he was comfortable speaking in front of 40,000 people in a manner that one would only speak around those closest to them. My perception of his relationship with FIRST before his speech was that it was largely for marketing, a mutually beneficial agreement between will.I.am and FIRST for PR's sake. However, I now see him as a dedicated member of the FIRST community, one who's deep-seeded love for FIRST matches the love for FIRST within me.

[KevinG]

The language is inconsequential to me. As an engineer I've heard people up and down the chain of command swear, and my own language is less than perfect. If will.I.am was speaking from the heart (and I think he was) then he should be able to say whatever the @#$% he wants. FIRST would be making a grave mistake if they were dumb enough to actually punish him in some way, like not have him participate next year.

I've heard some folks comment about GP and how this reflects on that. GP simply says we should treat each other with respect and kindness even as we compete. It's about building each other up instead of breaking each other down. It does not say how that respect and kindness should be displayed.

The most important part? will.i.am is right!

[connor.worley]

Originally Posted by KevinG

I've heard some folks comment about GP and how this reflects on that. GP simply says we should treat each other with respect and kindness even as we compete. It's about building each other up instead of breaking each other down. It does not say how that respect and kindness should be displayed.

This is extremely important.

[MooreteP]

Originally Posted by cjl2625

But this quote, concise and memorable, will be the single "speech" that I will remember after I graduate.

Originally Posted by dirtbikerxz

Exactly, as a fellow student, I completely agree.

Originally Posted by Chris is me

Crass, unprofessional, and crude as it was, it was an incredibly powerful moment.

Originally Posted by dirtbikerxz

And yes.... 100 percent yes... nothing else to say

Originally Posted by evanperryg

We're all people who've cussed once in a while (some more than others) and it's part of what makes us human.

However, I now see him as a dedicated member of the FIRST community, one who's deep-seeded love for FIRST matches the love for FIRST within me.

Originally Posted by KevinG

The most important part? will.i.am is right!

Thank you CD. I was going to post, but these latest comments did the work for me.

[TedG]

I wasn't there, but saw the video that someone posted here.
My opinion, no harm done, this is real life, and Will wasn't putting anyone down but merely showing how excited he is for the program.

I assume the room is full of mostly adults and high school students, and unless they've been living under a rock, have heard this type of language before in the world and in pop culture.

If nothing else, it's getting FIRST more exposure in a positive way.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

You might take a look at the makeup (and age groups) of some of the teams that are a part of the FIRST programs. International teams that are making tremendous inroads in their cultures, at no small cost. Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and private schools with religious affiliations, to name a few. FIRST is much bigger than the current U.S. popular culture trends. Way bigger. Just look at the impact of our 2016 Championship WFA.

Food for thought.
Jane

Can you elaborate on your point here? I'm not getting what you're implying or what thought this should provoke.

What was your actual opinion on the statement?

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

Can you elaborate on your point here? I'm not getting what you're implying or what thought this should provoke.

What was your actual opinion on the statement?

Sure, I will be happy to, Akash.
I'm going to have a cup of coffee (or two) and put some words together in my head. I'll be back later on and will edit this post to add them.

Thank you,
Jane

Edit: I will keep this brief but, I will be happy to add more, if requested.

will.i.am was on a global stage with a microphone. Not just any global stage, a FIRST Championship global stage. That stage reaches through to young people of all ages, sponsors, world leadership, and cultures. Many many cultures. As is FIRST's nature, it continues to reach out to more cultures, communities, nations, sponsors, and leaders. It is moving toward being world centric.

will.i.am's outburst was sincere and passionate. My thinking centers around how his choice of words will impact students/teams/communities - based on cultural differences, globally. If it is just a simple outburst with no impact, that is one thing. If it becomes a hashtag and a tee shirt statement, that shows further reach.

--
This has nothing to do with my initial comment but, I find it very funny that the tee shirts will be sponsored by a pot shop. Just a few years ago, there was passionate discussion on these boards about soliciting sponsorship from beer companies. Wonder if we will have pot discussions.

Jane

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

Can you elaborate on your point here? I'm not getting what you're implying or what thought this should provoke.

What was your actual opinion on the statement?

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

Sure, I will be happy to, Akash.
I'm going to have a cup of coffee (or two) and put some words together in my head. I'll be back later on and will edit this post to add them.

Thank you,
Jane

Getting my own coffee now, and eagerly awaiting Jane's response. Thank you, Akash, for bumping this dialog.

[mwtidd]

In the word's of Scott Mescudi:
"I gotta terminate the hate spread the positive
Without it being wack and cheesy to the little kids"

Living in Boston, I draw analogies between Will's comments and the comments of David Ortiz after the marathon bombings. Now these are very different situations, but at the end of the day, it's about expressing how passionate you are.

Continuing with the analogy though, I think it is important that people reflect on what he was conveying, rather than the words that were used. When you focus on the words (and especially if you edit them) I feel the message is often lost.

In my opinion, Will was right, FIRST is dope, and I wish more people knew about it.

[Mr. Jeff]

I’ve been a mentor for 12 consecutive years and remained silent on Delphi, that stops today. Not many things make me angry, this did.

If William, Kamen, Flowers or FIRST won’t say it, I will.

It was WRONG and inappropriate.

Understanding the majority in attendance were kids raised on idealizing celebrities the shock factor was rewarded with a roar of applause. The crowds response in addition to all the positive supportive post greatly sadden me about we have become. If I have to explain why then our world is in worse shape than I thought. Was it a mistake that he wish he could take back? Maybe, if so he should say so. William boast about being from the hood, many are that are good decent role models. After Saturday I don’t recognize his accomplishment. Go ahead vulgarity supporters and rip me up if you'd like, I can take.

FIRST is supposed to change the culture, It appears the culture is changing FIRST.

Mr. Jeff Sparky 384

My comments do not reflect the opinion of my team.

[mrnoble]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jeff

I’ve been a mentor for 12 consecutive years and remained silent on Delphi, that stops today. Not many things make me angry, this did.

If William, Kamen, Flowers or FIRST won’t say it, I will.

It was WRONG and inappropriate.

Understanding the majority in attendance were kids raised on idealizing celebrities the shock factor was rewarded with a roar of applause. The crowds response in addition to all the positive supportive post greatly sadden me about we have become. If I have to explain why then our world is in worse shape than I thought. Was it a mistake that he wish he could take back? Maybe, if so he should say so. William boast about being from the hood, many are that are good decent role models. After Saturday I don’t recognize his accomplishment. Go ahead vulgarity supporters and rip me up if you'd like, I can take.

FIRST is supposed to change the culture, It appears the culture is changing FIRST.

Mr. Jeff Sparky 384

My comments do not reflect the opinion of my team.

K. Why were you silent on CD for 12 years?