Early Gracious Professionalism?

[Jessica Boucher]

Okay, everyone, I'm writing a paper...and yes, its on GP.

Can some of the old-timers give me an idea of how GP was originally introduced, and how it has changed/what caused it to change drastically throughout the years? Did alliances have a lot to do with any changes?

Thanks, I know I can count on you guys

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Jess,
As I remember, GP was introduced well before the alliance became part of the game. I believe the first time I heard it defined was in relation to all the vendor interaction in the space program. All of these individual companies had to share technology and ideas for a common goal. Way back when, the "space race" was seen as a stop gap on the cold war. Politicians made it Job #1, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson amoungst others. The first time I was involved in GP occurred during the MMR in 1997. We were next to a rookie team in the pits and they were feeling really depressed. Several of our mentors and students went over and told them not to worry, they had all the help they needed right there at the regional. I thought, wow! we're supposed to help out! Then in the finals, teams were helping other teams (sometimes the opposition teams) by lending parts and tools right on the playing field. Finally, when one team's timeout had finished, one of the other teams called a timeout and the additional time allowed the robot to be repaired and play. That is one aspect of the game that I miss.
My greatest challenge comes in explaining to new parents and students on the team what GP means. It becomes pretty obvious during brainstorming when a lot of newcomers want to design robots that flip intenetionally and add spears and saws to damage other robots. When they hear about GP I really get the funny looks and it takes a week or two for the concept to start to sink in. It isn't until the first regional that the GP light finally goes on full brillance though and then there is no holding back.
Good Luck on the paper. Ask any time.

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Finally, when one team's timeout had finished, one of the other teams called a timeout and the additional time allowed the robot to be repaired and play. That is one aspect of the game that I miss.

A very simmilar occurence happened at the Phoenix regional for which we won a Sportsmanship Award. However, there is already a thread on that.

As for the start of GP, that is a great question. What is the true story? I've only been in first since 2002 so I have no clue. But since then, I sure have seen (and participated in) a lot of it.

[Redhead Jokes]

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher

Okay, everyone, I'm writing a paper...and yes, its on GP.

You gonna post it when it's done?!?

[Jessica Boucher]

Ha, you really want to see it? It'll probably be a critical look at GP compared to the "social contract" philosophers...kindof dull.

[Ken Loyd]

Over the past seven years I do not remember anyone ever saying, "Today we will start gracious professionalism!" I believe it is something that was always there but did not have a name. I think I caught it from Woodie (it is so hard not to call him Dr. Flowers) or maybe Dean or perhaps Dave L. (at our only trip to VCU) or it might have been from Jason or Ken L. I guess what I am trying to say is that GP is inside all of us just waiting for a chance to escape.

I am sure how the virus spread. I put the blame solely on the shoulders of Chief Delphi. These forums are ripe with the infection. Readers (also known as hardcore FIRSTers) carry the disease to the four corners of the world. Thank goodness there is no Dr. Jonas Salk looking for a cure.

For the more historic view, I think I remember Woodie using the phrase at the opening of Nationals at Epcot in 2000.

[Redhead Jokes]

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher

Ha, you really want to see it? It'll probably be a critical look at GP compared to the "social contract" philosophers...kindof dull.

Yes, some of us would enjoy reading about the examination.

[Venkatesh]

Eh? Which social contract people? Locke? Adam smith?

GP is an interesting concept to compare with Locke's work. I have read his book "An essay concerting human understanding". It is tooo long, and I don't quite think that Locke had his head screwed on straight.

[mtrawls]

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher

Ha, you really want to see it? It'll probably be a critical look at GP compared to the "social contract" philosophers...kindof dull.

What! Social contract philosopher's "kindof dull"? For sure, this must be an engineering forum!

Eh? Which social contract people? Locke? Adam smith?

I imagine the "great triumvirate" -- Locke, Hobbes and Rousseau. Although I suppose it would be hard to compare Hobbes' "war of all against all" to GP (unless the comparison is soley focussed on the differences). Would you be including more recent philosophers like John Rawls (A Theory of Justice)? I admit, I'm a bit fond of him ... partially because he has my same last name (though no relation). His "veil of ignorance" would offer a nice comparison so far as I understand it, no?

[Jessica Boucher]

I can pull from Rousseau, Hobbes, Locke, Marx, Foucault, Machiavelli, Arendt, and Kant. Thankfully, I don't have to pull from all of them at once

PS - the philosophers arent (completely) dull, but my writing style sure is

[Mike Schroeder]

Just dont do anything your grandmother wouldnt want you to do, to me that about sums up GP

[Ken Loyd]

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher

I can pull from Rousseau, Hobbes, Locke, Marx, Foucault, Machiavelli, Arendt, and Kant. Thankfully, I don't have to pull from all of them at once

PS - the philosophers arent (completely) dull, but my writing style sure is

Let us not forget, Ayn Rand!

[Jessica Boucher]

Thanks, everyone...keep those stories coming! I'm almost done, and I will by happy to post it afterwards (if you really want to read it )

[Jessica Boucher]

Okay, everyone....the paper is up in White Papers here.

Now, there's a couple of things I have to say:

-I had a six page limit. Thus places where I would/should have expanded, I didn't really have the space to do so.

-Feel free to pick me apart (the feedback is great), but be gentle. I still am a student, and not the most well-versed in philosophy.


To be honest, this is one of the scariest posts I've ever made. It's really hard having your work out there for the public to stare at.

Sooo, here you go...thanks to all the people who asked to see it, it's nice to know that there's interest for it.

[Redhead Jokes]

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher

To be honest, this is one of the scariest posts I've ever made. It's really hard having your work out there for the public to stare at.

gracious professionalism inspires the conduct of the students of today to take part in the early stirrings of what will hopefully be a culture change for America’s future.

Thank you! I enjoyed reading it and pondering thru gp.

I'm remembering how my job at Nordstrom taught me about gp many years ago. They had incredible customer service. My job was arresting shoplifters. We treated them with gp too, tho things might get physical for a bit sometimes. It was so critical to Nordstrom to get customer service letters, that for a few months our dept dared to get customer service letters from our customers too.

Then I became familiar with Oasis Apts in Vegas thru a new boyfriend. They had the same mindset as Nordstrom, and created a very successful business and brand name, they were trusted and respected in town - 14,000 apts. That boyfriend's now my husband, and those executives sold Oasis and founded rent.com in CA, who is now our team's sponsor. They bring gp with them.

I'm remembering some of my bosses at Science Applications who modeled gp. SAIC is in our newspaper today about remaining a private company - stock all owned by employees.

GP in the workplace is in the minority imo. It's that minority I remember fondly and model my behavior after.

There were some years I was the only SAIC person among another sub-contractors' many employees. It was a terrible time. The boss was horrible. Her best friend was the worst producer in the dept. I was the top producer. Her best friend tried for 3 years to get me in trouble. It never worked. I remained civil. By the end of the 3 years the boss had a grudging respect for me, and realized her best friend was probably in error all those years. That woman was finally fired, and a wonderful gp gal was made boss.

In FIRST students experience unfairness, and loss, and continue to see gp modeled.

I too hope for a culture change.