WILL.I.AM's comment on Einstein

[Philip Arola]

I'm mixed about the whole thing. While I think it was something that it was a very entertaining comment, and I am not personally averse to foul language, it sends a huge mixed message. Part of gracious professionalism (at least in the PNW) involves polite language. We've had some issues with students getting a bit too excited and using a foul word occasionally too loud, and had people directly tell mentors about it. This has come from judges too, apparently.

Overall, I don't think it will be too much to worry about. I don't think this one remark will have a dramatic impact, and I don't think it will be a sustained effort on Will's part.

[TedG]

Originally Posted by dirtbikerxz

All right guys, I know I'm only a teen, and I might not have the "respect" to say this, but there is no need to rip apart Mr. Jeff like that. I too agree that Will.I.Am's message was sincere, and his use of those words were appropriate for that situation... but there is no reason to be so brutal to Mr. Jeff.

Yes, you certainly are respected.

I don't see where anyone has "ripped Jeff apart" here but simply offer up other ideas or opinions, I see no brutality here.

This appears to be a discussion, and everyone is entitled to their opinion. And of course someone's opinion may prompt another opinion.

I don't agree with Mr. Jeff, but understand where he's coming from, and that he didn't like Will's language.

[jweston]

I was there and I found the profanity unfortunate but had conflicting emotions about it. The reason I find it unfortunate is it distracts from what we should celebrating, the whole sentiment of what will.i.am said: being in FIRST is awesome.

Please recognize there were people in the audience from many, many cultures. Some of them do find the language offensive. Of course, there were others that find the expression truly speaks to them. Not talking about the people who enjoyed the shock value of it but those who identify with the culture. That's why I am conflicted about it.

I'm certainly not naive enough to believe that teens do not often use profanity in private. It sometimes crops up in our workshop in the heat of the moment although we discourage it. But there were also many age groups of a large variety of backgrounds in the audience, some of which would find profanity disrepectful.

Like others have said, it felt premeditated and a bit like pandering to me. I can't see into will.i.am's head so I couldn't tell you if my feeling is correct. I guess it's the GP part that bothers me. It's wrong if it was premeditated and done simply for shock value. If it was done in the heat of the moment, I can forgive that and still find it unfortunate for those who felt disrespected. If it was done to connect to students who find it part of their culture, that's where it gets complicated.

[Madison]

If given a choice between an advocate that uses colorful language and an advocate that suggests we strap bombs to our robots and send them to Iraq (or whatever similar nonsense came out of Yeager's mouth in 2003), I'll take will.i.am every time.

Different strokes for different folks and all that.

What other memorable quotes or moments have emerged from past years' closing ceremonies? This will be forgotten in the annals of the past or it may become the first meaningfully impactful comment in ages.

[KevinG]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jeff

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

FIRST is changing culture. Imagining that the same wouldn't happen in reverse is ludicrous. Language changes between generations, and that includes what is and isn't offensive. The seven dirty words you couldn't say back in 1972 when George Carlin talked about them are now all spoken on TV. Other words have become more offensive (notably sexually charged slurs). Language is a function of the times, especially when language is used by a professional artist like will.i.am whose job revolves around communicating with his voice.

People swear. Artists swear. FIRST chose to involve will.i.am because he's a passionate speaker and a culturally relevant icon who can connect with the students in a way that Dean Kamen never could. He's a black man, a gifted artist, who came from poverty and is now one of the most recognizable musicians in the world. And he is saying, in a way that no other role model in FIRST could, that he is inspired by what he's seeing. If that's not cultural transformation then I don't know what is.

[marshall]

Originally Posted by KevinG

The seven dirty words you couldn't say back in 1972 when George Carlin talked about them are now all spoken on TV.

As much credit as Carlin gets it was really WBAI that put that to the test and those same words are still not allowed on broadcast airwaves. Cable has absolutely no restrictions and online media is very loosely governed.

Not that your point isn't valid and that language evolves over time though but the FCC are sticklers for rules. Ham operators can lose their license for saying those words too.

[MooreteP]

Language is organic. It is always evolving.

It's not like these euphemisms for excretory functions or intercourse are referring to those specific acts.
"Curse" words like these are exclamation points. Often used to give weight to ideas that lack substance.

Will.i.am didn't take the Lord's name in vain. That would have given me pause.

Otherwise, I can't think of five other words that explain why I "waste" so much of my time on FIRST.

[TJP123]

Originally Posted by TehSwegGey

Found this on TeeSpring today:

I think this is going too far.

I heard the remark, and I laughed so loud and so hard it probably could be called a cheer. I was sitting next to two 17 year-olds, and they were more subdued than I was, probably because they weren't sure how I would react. In that moment, from that source and in that context, I thought it made a real statement that people could relate to. But all of the great points that have already been brought up, about the context and the passion, are absent on a t-shirt. It's just a shirt with vulgarity, and I can't believe that FIRST wants their name or their logo associated with it in that context (or lack of).

Funny that nobody has directly quoted it here. There's a reason for that. We could probably walk to Mars if we lined up all of the red dots that have accumulated on CD for using those words.

We're not just trying to bring in teenagers or adults who want to be cool like teenagers, we're trying to bring in sponsors and mentors as well. Would we wear that shirt to a sponsor presentation to ask for mentors or financial support? When we picked up our team t-shirts this year, oddly enough, one of the employees approached us about coming to support us and mentoring in the graphic arts group next year. I doubt that would have been the reaction if we were having these shirts printed.

Now get off my lawn!

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by TJP123

I think this is going too far.

I heard the remark, and I laughed so loud and so hard it probably could be called a cheer. I was sitting next to two 17 year-olds, and they were more subdued than I was, probably because they weren't sure how I would react. In that moment, from that source and in that context, I thought it made a real statement that people could relate to. But all of the great points that have already been brought up, about the context and the passion, are absent on a t-shirt. It's just a shirt with vulgarity, and I can't believe that FIRST wants their name or their logo associated with it in that context (or lack of).

Funny that nobody has directly quoted it here. There's a reason for that. We could probably walk to Mars if we lined up all of the red dots that have accumulated on CD for using those words.

We're not just trying to bring in teenagers or adults who want to be cool like teenagers, we're trying to bring in sponsors and mentors as well. Would we wear that shirt to a sponsor presentation to ask for mentors or financial support? When we picked up our team t-shirts this year, oddly enough, one of the employees approached us about coming to support us and mentoring in the graphic arts group next year. I doubt that would have been the reaction if we were having these shirts printed.

Now get off my lawn!

Nah, CD just *bleeps* them out.

For example:

"This $@#$@#$@#$@# is motha$@#$@#$@#$@#in' dope"

[protoserge]

That shirt likely does not adhere to the FIRST branding guidelines.

[NormaLamotte]

Correct. FIRST will not put that quote on its splash page and neither will your team. You won't use it at your company sponsor events, and you won't use it when talking to your school board. You won't get more families to join your team by using it and you won't garner the respect of reasonable adults who understand what the term gracious means. You aren't going to hand out any buttons with that phrase and you won't impress any judges.

Read and understand the Youth Protection Mission and accept that you are working with MINORS. If you're a mentor, you get to be the adult. I'm tired of reading these posts that make some of us look like giggling teenagers who just got away with being naughty. I agree with the minority here that W was out of line and that FIRST needs to respond to provide closure to this. Now, assume your roles, grow through this somehow, and get back to the real mission of helping kids.

[Andy A.]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

I keep seeing people say it was unprofessional, but I work in finance I haven't gone a day at work without hearing my co-workers and superiors curse out of frustration or when they're excited.

What about what Will said was unprofessional? How do you define professionalism?

It's all contextual. I work in academic research. Among coworkers at 'my level' that sort of remark wouldn't be out of place. In front of a P.I. it might well get you a raised eyebrow.

If you said it in a presentation, roughly what Will.I.Am did, it'd depend a lot on the setting and why you said it. I've heard and seen plenty of 'inappropriate' comments and slides in very formal settings that got chuckles and things moved along. I've also seen the same cause a lot of awkwardness.

Context always matters. I guess the line is; is it inappropriate because of a naughty word, or because it comes at the expense of a person or group?

Add me to the 'It was an acceptable amount of inappropriateness given the speaker and context.' camp.

[Monochron]

In terms of inspiring young high school students to respect and have enthusiasm for STEM, seeing a pop music artist express his own enthusiasm using vocabulary they are familiar with is a very powerful experience.

[frank-g-e]

Each of us need to use our own language to express the full depth of feeling in what we say. will.i.am found his way to let us see how deeply he feels about FIRST.
When I say "The experience of attending a FIRST Championship was ultimately and sincerely fulfilling and full of wonder and excitement.", people who know me understand how carefully I choose words and that this expresses the same observation that will.i.am was making, as if I were translating his words to my language.
Neither criticize nor emulate his words. Merely be a professional and graciously find your own.

[Abhishek R]

Approximately 35.314159% of this thread is typical ChiefDelphi overreaction.