Language at Championships

[Tetraman]

Originally Posted by deficite

Even language aside, I noticed a lot of people not really being very sportsman-like nor FIRST-like. I've seen people get so upset that they bust their safety glasses into pieces on the floor and yell at their other team members.

You'll see less sportsmanship and a little less FIRST-like things at Nationals. Thats why I love Regionals. They are only competitive once the elimination matches begin. It's very relaxed and teams get to know teams better. Relations and FIRST fun is seen more often at a Regional. Getting mad at a regional is stupid and everyone knows it. But Nationals are a lot more competitive because thats where the big awards and big noteability comes from. If I had a FIRST team, the only time we'd go to Nationals is if we won a regional, and intead attend as many regionals as we could.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Tetraman

If I had a FIRST team, the only time we'd go to Nationals is if we won a regional, and intead attend as many regionals as we could.

That pretty much sums up how our team planned for 2006.

We went to Atlanta last year as first-time regional CA winners, after having really enjoyed both our home regional and Buckeye. Many of us found the Championship overwhelming.

This year we earned an Atlanta slot with a regional EI award, but decided we'd only go if we could get our robot working well enough to be part of a winning alliance at our second regional (Waterloo). So our FRC team didn't go to Atlanta, but two of our FVC teams did.

Team picnic is coming up next weekend, and I'm looking forward to the discussion of goals for next year.

Back to the main topic here: certainly we can all agree that rude language is not GP. If you wouldn't say something in front of your grandmother, you shouldn't say it at a FIRST event.

[Cody Carey]

I agree, but I also probably don't keep a 100% clean mouth, especially
if Gay is a bad word. I would never go down a hall yelling the F word,
or anything even close to it... but if in the heat of a match I let the big
D out, I can't help it (the big D is not darn). I try to limit these things,
and when I do say them, they are usually under my breath and to
myself because I feel that I didn't perform as well as I should have.
Overall, I couldn't agree more that loudly yelling profanities is a
VERY BAD IDEA.

[Emily Pease]

Originally Posted by Cody C

I agree, but I also probably don't keep a 100% clean mouth, especially if Gay is a bad word.

Using the word "gay" as a synonym for "bad" is far more offensive to me than any swear word, and it seems to be used so often by high school students.

Topic: I totally agree with everyone who is disappointed about the cursing and general non-GP behavior sprouting nowadays; what can we do about it? I think the best way is to begin within our own teams. Lead by example, and don't be afraid to tell someone when he or she is out of line.

[JaneYoung]

Robotics teams are excellent vehicles for developing not only your engineering skills and talents but your social skills and your abilities to communicate, make wise judgements, apply common sense, and respect flexibility.

You don't wake up one day and become social or eloquent. These are skills you practice just like you practice driving the robot. It isn't something that you do when a judge walks by, it is something you do in the shop or the garage when things are getting a little tense.

'Dance like you are two and no one is watching' is a common phrase these days. Speaking with grace and dignity like Woodie's grandmother is near could be a common practice among FIRSTers.

[Kims Robot]

I didnt notice it as much at championships (I think I was too busy!) but I had noticed it more earlier this year with our team. The kids finally learned better than to swear or say anything rude in front of me... as they would get (they dubbed it) "the look of death". Its kind of funny, we all laugh about it, but I think they all dont ever want to see it too!

Now I was a kid too, and my mouth isnt always clean... but there are times where it just isnt necessary... I dont mind it if they hurt themselves, or if there is a situation where someone is really really frustrated... but its the casual throwing around of swears and things like that that I frown on and tried to condition my team against. Why bother if it might offend someone? Surely there are other words you can use...

We dont make our grandmothers proud by swearing in front of them, so why should it be commonplace?

[prettycolors91]

Originally Posted by Emily Pease

Using the word "gay" as a synonym for "bad" is far more offensive to me than any swear word, and it seems to be used so often by high school students.

Thats definetly the same thing for me. Using Gay in a derogatory way shows ignorance. It's the same thing as using Straight as a synonym for bad...it just doesn't make any sense, does it? If you mean "bad" then say "Bad" for goodness sake.

[mtaman02]

I happen to agree with the language being used by students and every once and awhile you will also hear it fly out of a mentor or an adult body surrounding the team. FIRST like many has said is a high paced sport, things that go on during a 2:10 match take many peoples breathes away. As the generations grow older and FIRST becomes more advanced in its game making we will probably hear more "bad" words being used. Personally even though the Mentors / Coaches or the adult bodies that be are responsible for how their team reacts during an event I strongly believe that students on the team should be held accountable and should know when too much use is to much, with having said this, I also strongly believe and agree that FIRST should give more responsibility to their assigned Judges in watching the teams overall performance and if necessary void a teams ability to win an award based on the language used. One bad apple spoils the bunch, One too many cooks spoils the soup. Yes its hard to watch & hear everyone during an event but keeping an ear out for such words should not be hard to do. Espicially when those who use it make sure its said loudly. Your actions not only reflect who you are but what your apart of, those who wanna use bad language will cost the team alot of glory but not winning say the team spirit award or a different award based on the teams ability to being appropriate.The other way to solve such problem can be delt with on the teams level by enforcing a bad language rule. Those Members who decide to use obscene language should be discharged from the team for any amount of time the coaches seem fit or indefinitely depending on how often the student uses the word.

I admit I use bad language that just about everyone else uses but there is a time and place for it all, one place it should not be is at any FIRST on non-FIRST sanctioned event. You may use it within the privacy of your own home or neighborhood not in a spectator friendly sport.

[Tetraman]

Originally Posted by Richard

Back to the main topic here: certainly we can all agree that rude language is not GP. If you wouldn't say something in front of your grandmother, you shouldn't say it at a FIRST event.

There it is! Thats what I was trying to remember for this post.