Un-Gracious & Professional Behavior at AZ Team Social

[Weightmn]

I thought twice before posting this but wanted to send a serious message to some who may not think before they act. As a mentor I felt compelled to write as well.

At the team social in Arizona at the Arizona Science Center all was going well and it seemed as if the teams were all having a good time. At closing time my daughter (who is not a team member btw) was standing with a friend who is a team mate near the door to leave under a stairway. From above someone poured perfume or cologne down on her. It went all over her head and all on her shirt etc. I am sure some might think this was a funny prank but I have a little more news for you.

I am one of the team parents and a mentor for our team. I have a severe illness which is called Chemical Sensitivity. I get extremely ill from chemicals and something that makes me very ill happens to be perfume and cologne. I choose to mentor because I love kids and love to work in my community- despite the fact that I am very ill.

I want to point out how this prank could have been MUCH MUCH WORSE. Some people with my illness may have gone into analeptic shock or stopped breathing or other horrible things. I have extremely hard time thinking clear once something like this has happened. I was the person driving home and had my two kids and a student from the team with me. Had my child not had spare clothes and my husband to possibly have driven her home - whomever done this could have quite possibly put all of our lives in severe danger.

Luckily my daughter is a good sport and went into the bathroom and washed a huge amount of it out of her hair- but that doesn't take away from the fact that I was made incredibly ill by a really mean prank as well as what may have happened has this gotten poured on ME- I was with her not more than a few seconds before.

Everyone was a guest at the science center and should be on their best behavior (1) Because they are a guest and (2) Because they are a part of program that is focused on being a GRACIOUS PROFESSIONAL.

In closing I just want to say if you ever consider a prank like this- think again. This could have potentially been a very bad ending to a very good day and very good regional. I don't think you would want to be the cause of a very serious situation! Please be gracious and consider people's feelings and remember when you are a part of a F.I.R.S.T. Team to be a professional.

Thanks for listening and thanks to all the great teams who came out and had fun. Thanks to all the rest of you who were Gracious and Professional.

[sanddrag]

That is absolutely terrible. Whoever did it should be expelled from the FIRST program. I know someone with the same condition as you and it is everything you say and perhaps more. Some people can die from things that smell and they can't help it. Please think of all possible outcomes of any actions before you decide to do them. Even if there was no chance of any suffering or illness, what IDIOT! would go dump perfume/cologne on someone. There is no excuse for something like that. Idiots like that are not welcome here IMHO.

And I'm reminded by a quote from Andy Rooney (sp?), "the best smell to have is no smell at all"

[Mike]

I really hope you find out who did that, it's completely stupid and they should be kicked off their team.

[krunch79prez]

does dumping perfume all over someone make your grandmother proud......... dont think so. whoever did this needs to find out what is wrong with their head and maybe screw it on a bit tighter. this kind of stuff is unexcuseable and shouldnt be tolerated. im sorry this happened to you!!!

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

If it is any comfort to you, I am sure that if that individual's team discovered their actions, they would be severely punished. On my team, damaging someone else's safety is the worst thing you can do.

I want to thank you for highlighting such an ungracious event in a gracious manner...it takes a lot to do that. Good luck in finding out what happened, and get well soon.

[Ethulin]

Though I don't really support the "man hunt mentality" of lets go find him and bring him to justice, who ever did this... come on...
This goes filed under the "don't-be-ueber-stupid-department".

Though apologize are always nice, that is not what is really needed here. What we need is this person to reconsider "was what I did right?" and "what did I get out if this?"

Come on, if was a prank it was a pretty bad one, some one needs to teach these kids a lesson on practical jokes... it is only funny if the person you plaid it on is laughing.

[looneylin]

That's horrible, I can't believe someone on FIRST could do something like that. But that's only some individuals. I hope it never happens again.

[DarMagi]

Wow, that's horrid news. My mom is like that but with asthema, so I know how the smells can affect people. I can't wear any cologne or even certain deoderants around her or she can't breathe, because of how strong they smell. This was a bad idea! A bucket of water would have been a little better, but even still, that is bad enough...

What ever happened to the good ol' days of just playing hackey sack with other teams like at the FL regional? Good times those were, and great sports!

[K.Shaw]

wow i am sorry for the actions of that person....that is one very un-gracious act and we don't need people like that in the FIRST community....i also hope the best for you and your illness and that you get well soon and stay in FIRST because without people like you (mentors) we don't have FIRST teams. get well and i hope the culprit either gets punished by his/her team, apologizes, or at least rethinks their actions.

[Shu Song]

This is really low...

I thought FIRST was free of people who this kind of stuff, but apparently I was wrong. If whomever did these stil has any dignity left in him/her, he/she should come out and apologize.

[pyroslev]

There are always a few people that ruin fun for everyone. These people are always around in some shape or form. I personally hope the person who poured it(Mean thing to do and also a waste of their money) is caught.

[Jeff K.]

That is really horrible. How rude some people can be goes beyond human nature and goes against what FIRST is based upon. Our coordinator has also told us about how some teams at regionals havn't felt quite welcome and have never wanted to go to that regional again, and I feel that too is horrible. We should treat all FIRST teams and anybody, whether they be in FIRST or not, as a friend. As Jesus once said, "Do onto others as you would wish them do onto you."

[JIN]

Well, those students were pretty stupid. Though I'm certain they didn't mean any harm, they should come out and apologize. And nobody should be trying to "hunt them down" like common criminals. That just adds to the tension and negative feelings. I do hope they apologize to you.

[Alex Pelan]

I agree that this was a horrible thing for those people to do. I am glad everyone is ok. I think that we should use this as a lesson to all of us.

"Think before you post." It's been said a lot in these forums. "Think before you act" and "think before you talk" are other good examples of this. The next time you want to post/do/say something...remember to think it over. You never know, especially when dealing with other people, what the other people have been through. You can strike a nerve with a joke that you think is personally hilarious. You also never know disorders or other diseases that people have, such in this situation. They may not be able to help something you think is weird, and they may end up having negative reactions to your actions, as clearly could have happened in the case above. If something could possibly hurt someone, or be insulting to someone, anywhere, you should probably not do it, especially in a public place such as this forum, or at a FIRST regional. And always remember...you're representing your team through your actions, whether you like it or no.

*steps off soapbox*

[R.J.]

I am shocked that this event took place. Ever since FIRST began its core value is and always will be gracious professionalism. For someone to act against those values should truly not be involved. I can understand that people might do a prank on someone, but to do it to that caliber is pathetic. When the person being pranked on is not laughing then you know that you have invaded their comfort zone. I truly hope that individual comes out and apologizes not only to the family but to the entire FIRST organization. Actions do think louder than words, and before you decide to do something please think about it!!!!!