F stand for Fame in FIRST?

[Ryan Dognaux]

My original purpose of joining these forums was to meet new people on other teams, and I think it has worked pretty well. I've also had a few people come up to me and ask "Hey aren't you Ryan... Doan... Doan.... that Ryan guy from chiefdelphi?" I just think it's pretty cool when some random person comes up to you and knows your face or name. I don't know about being "famous" with this community, that might be a little weird, but I could handle being known.

[Chris Hibner]

Ken,

This is a great thread on an interesting topic. I haven't tought anything about this until you brought it up, but since you mentioned it, it seems like part of Dean Kamen's vision is becoming a reality. In his old speeches he used to say that a goal of FIRST is to make people think of scientists and engineers in the same way that they think of pop stars and professional athletes. The fact that this thread exists shows that the change is afoot.

-Chris

[Jessica Boucher]

On this same point of discussion, sometimes I wonder what the FIRST-famous are like from the outside....when you take out the FIRST from the person. For example, to you and I, Baker's about as famous as you can get without being on staff....but what's he like at Delphi? What's JVN like at Clarkson minus the robot?

I think its interesting that people at these places could see these people every day...and have no idea that they're a hero of FIRST. It's saddening, really...it shows how far we still have to go...but as Chris said, just having the famous exist means we're well on our way.

[Ken Leung]

Originally Posted by Chris Hibner

Ken,

This is a great thread on an interesting topic. I haven't tought anything about this until you brought it up, but since you mentioned it, it seems like part of Dean Kamen's vision is becoming a reality. In his old speeches he used to say that a goal of FIRST is to make people think of scientists and engineers in the same way that they think of pop stars and professional athletes. The fact that this thread exists shows that the change is afoot.

-Chris

Changes are happening through out the FIRST community, we can't deny that. My only concern is, are the people ready to become these "Heroes" Dean intended for all high school students to have?

People like Andy B., Dave Lavery, and JVN seems to grab people's attention whereever they go, whenever they said something even when it mean little to them (well, that's how I imagine it anyway). To be under thousands of watchful eyes everytime you show up at a competition is not something I desire at a FIRST competition, or life in general. I can only imagine the pressure they experience to be public figures. Then again, since I am not them, I would never know completely how they feel.

Actually, I don't mean to be negative about the subject. I tend to think of the worst case scenarior on just about everything. I actually think it can be fun to be well known by lots of people at a robotics competition. Its like you did some work ahead of time when you meet new people, because they know about you already. Now all you have to do is to find out about other people.

I think the important thing is that you really do have to work hard to get to meet people and get to know who they are. It goes for both way on this interesting relationship between someone famous and their admirers. Just because you are famous doesn't mean you should stand there and let people talk to you. And just because you admire someone, doesn't mean they are necessary better than you.

I suppose I really should follow my own advice. In the past few years I've hide behind my name on the Chief Delphi Forum, and didn't pay attention to the people who really deserve them. I guess its part of my anti-social personality and fear of meeting new people, hopefully that will change as I learn more and more about growing up.

Not sure why I started the thread at the beginning, but I am enjoying the thinking whenever I read or reply to a post in here. This is kinda fun!

[MikeDubreuil]

I think FIRST fame is nice, but it's definitely over-rated. It's also certainly not what the program is about.

I get plenty of fame on my own team. Staying until 4am on ship night so the robot gets finished. Mentoring a student and teaching them something they never thought they could do. I like it when the people on my team talk glowingly about my contributions. Or when I help another team out and they appreciate what I've done for them.

Unfortunately, I'm not famous, and people like me are a dime a dozen in FIRST. Well respected and famed on their own teams, but the rest of the world never hears about us.