Breaking the Geek-FIRST Bias

[DCA Fan]

With all the exhibitions a team can do, you can only do so much. I really find it effective to take new members, especially mentors/school administrators to an offseason competition or a regional to get them involved. Once they have been to a competition, they're hooked.

[n0cturnalxb]

Originally Posted by DCA Fan

Once they have been to a competition, they're hooked.

That is so true.. I was hooked ever since the first scrimmage we went to.

[rocknthehawk]

And by the way Aaron... was it not your team that got in trouble for surfing at Bash?

haha yes that was us.

[av11d]

If you want to get a diverse group of students to join, read this. It works. If you are too lazy (like me, sometimes) to read the entire post, I've bolded the important statements in my post.

I attend a really typical suburban multicultural public school. From what I observe (and feel personally), people are no longer trying to be cool, they're trying to be 'individuals.'

Therefore, the hard part is not trying to lobby the 'coolness' factor, but the 'this team won't make people stereotype you' factor. In previous years, we had really focused, constant recruiting. It didn't work.

As captain this year, I decided to abandon all of the old recruiting techniques. We no longer do a demonstration of the robot in the school. We no longer make the word "robotics" prominent in our posters. It's not because we don't want those so-called geeks; it's because the geeks will find a way to join the team no matter what. I don't feel it's necessary to campaign hard to get those kids to join. If they enjoy robotics, they will join.

Our team focused all of it's recruiting effort on word of mouth this year. The result was the most diverse turnout of students in our club's history. It was also the largest show of females. Yes, we got the 'geeks.' But we also got the PR people, the artistic people, and the athletic people. This sets a base for future years, because now all these different groups of people can reach out to their PR-driven, artistic, and athletic friends in the future.

Hey, and I know this sounds corny, but it's alright to say: "This club isn't just for geeks." Don't trust the facial reactions of the the high schoolers when you say this. They may roll their eyes, but in their heart they are listening.

Perhaps the most important step in getting people to join is approaching them in a one-on-one setting. Students are much more willing to listen and consider what you have to say in a one-on-one setting as opposed to a group setting.

As for females... word of mouth is THE only way to get them to join. At least in my experience. We had the sister of one of our previous members get all of her friends to join this year. They're already hooked after a few meetings!

Someone also mentioned this earlier... have an attitude. Act confident. Don't give into the preconceived judgments. Consistently say: "Hey! Robotics is pretty cool." I know this sounds corny, but it's effective.

Yeah, geeks are cool!!!! So are jocks :-P

[Rafi A]

"Geek. You are or you aren't. Be proud either way."
- ThinkGeek.com

[Denman]

you say your gunna have a vacuum of people as all your people are first years . . .
[RANT]
We only have people in our team for 2 years, as we are based at a 6th form college. This means we only ever have people in year 12 and 13 (ie 15/16-18 yr olds)this makes it very hard for us to get enough people with skills and we basically have something like 1 month to train the lowers up for next year, and they have to do the same the year after etc.. .. ..
[/RANT]
if your colllege has like a societies listing/fair or something, then you can make sure you get more people by having the most attractive female and one of the really clever people maning hte stand, making a point of the team needing (to use an awful phrase)"non-geeks"

i agree with av11d

[phrontist]

Don't try to make them think we're not geeks (we are) instead make them want to be geeks. Only then have you succeeded.

[KelliV]

I don't think that we should try to appeal to people just by shaking off the "geek" title... If someone wants to join FIRST they should do it becuase they want to... not because the team travels, gives you extra credits ( at least at my school it does),or offers a chance to be on a winning team, unlike most of the others at RMHS. Why should FIRST be flooded with people that do not want to work and just want to ride along on the other team members coat tails. Who cares if we are geeks, dorks, or nerds.
Being in a club won't change a status title. For example I was the cheerleading captin for two years and a FIRST team leader but even with the cheerleading title I am still pegged with the geek name.
Geek in our school has become accepted... being a geek is better than being a jock, cheerleader, or a loaner in our school. I like to think that FIRST has had a part in changing this. After our team started to win way back in '95 the school shifted gears and became more accepting of people with the geek name. My teacher even has a stamp that reads geek. The clubs that are being signed up for are no longer cheerleading and football although those are still very respected people have started to join debate, speech, student council and our now 67+ member FIRST team.
I guess what I am getting at is for people to try and make people accept the "geek" name... not try and change it, you never know what might happen!

[suneel112]

There should be some "cool" activities if it really was worthwhile to prove yourself.
I like the IRI talent show (deferred, wha wha!!), especially Dean Simmons and the Kamens, and even though I spent most of my time laughing at them, there was one good solo.
There should also be a rap-off. One thing geeks are stereotyped as is being "polite" and not using vulgar language. We have to be graciously professional, but a good, semi-clean FIRST rap (without bad language) would instantaneously break the image of Geeks and Nerds.
Then again, we should show some geek pride. wha wha!

[tribotec_ca88]

Wow this is quite an interesting thread...very controversial...

The world to me seems such a false, shallow, and hypocritical place. Many people (such as FIRSTers) are victims of this negative stereotype, because we're portrayed in such a bad manner. Life's already complicated, and having to face this kind prejudice is just insulting. And unfortunately we live in a society where success isnt based on skill or dedication, but almost entirely on your "social status". Not that sociability is a bad thing, but the rest of us people that are focusing our efforts in different areas are literally excluded and ignored. And when society decides it doesn't want our type in, simply because our brains function differently and we have different interests, we end up coming last, because their influence is great. This whole "model" human form (mental and physical) thing is nonsense. Unfortunately theres not much that can be done. What we need to do is learn to cope with these people. Although we may never be respected or acknowledged, we will find our inner peace, something all of us desire and search for throughout our lifetimes. They're the ones that lack confidence, the ones that spend their lives disguised as someone they're not, when in the end they'll come to find they'd been illuded and mistaken the entire time.

So...I would suggest trying to convince people one-on-one, and get personal. Make an attempt to describe FIRST as it really is. And if they can't see how advantageous and enriching it is, let it be. A 5-person team that is motivated, dedicated, and united will accomplish so much more than a 30-person team of students that are mildly interested. Of 1000 people there will be someone conscious enough to perceive this kind of discrimination, and despite of it, will be able to ignore it and focus on the positive aspects, and those are the ones that really matter.

[phrontist]

Originally Posted by suneel112

There should also be a rap-off. One thing geeks are stereotyped as is being "polite" and not using vulgar language. We have to be graciously professional, but a good, semi-clean FIRST rap (without bad language) would instantaneously break the image of Geeks and Nerds.
Then again, we should show some geek pride. wha wha!

That would be the most awkward thing ever.

[aaronbr28040]

I never really worried about the being called a geek. I'm in college now and try to help out with my former team when I can and I dont really care if people give me a hard time. I guess I got over worrying about being called a geek early on. In anything you do there will be sacrifices. I really dont see why people worry so much about what their friends and others will think about them if they join a FIRST team. If they are really your friends then it wont matter to them. I can honestly say that joining the FIRST team at my high school was the best thing that I ever did. It has already helped me in college and also helped me land a part time job here on campus.
-Aaron

[Avi_R]

Having a team of geeks is probably the best way to success. When we won the Canadian Regional in 2003, our entire school "discovered" robotics and we promoted the team with details about the trip to Houston etc. The next year, we had an overwhelming turnout at our annual recruiting assembly. As time passed we slowly realized that half of these people had no idea about science and technology, and it amazed me how some of them even passed through grades 6+. It turned out that these people tagged along for the ride, and did absolutely nothing, except for cause trouble almost every build night. In my opinion, a good Robotics team should consist of hard workers who are dedicated to their respective jobs.

[Andy Baker]

Viva la geek!

I am a geek. I work with many, as there are about 1000 engineers here at the Delphi plant in Kokomo. A few of my buddies went to GMI (now Kettering) for college and they tell stories of their sports teams always getting whacked by the other colleges. However, while they would be losing these matches, the GMI guys would often break into this cheer:

That's alright
That's OK
You'll all work for us someday!


Use it as you wish.

Andy B.

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

That's alright
That's OK
You'll all work for us someday!

That's often heard at RIT hockey games, particularly against state schools. (We also tend to win our hockey games )


I like WPI's fight song.

E to the X,
D-Y, D-X,
E to the X,
D-X.
Cosine, Secant, Tangent, Sine,
3.14159,
E-I, Radical, Pi,
Fight 'em, Fight 'em WPI!