pic: We left the boys at home

[AV_guy007]

Originally Posted by whytheheckme

I don't mean to muck up the forum... But to me, this seems kind of sexist...

Telling boys that they can't compete is just as bad as telling girls that they can't compete. To me, this just simply seems wrong.

Unless of course your team was from an all-girls school, in which case, only students from your school have an opportunity to participate. This would make sense to me.

Not meaning to start a war,
Jacob

While it may seem sexist I think it i a very good thing for the team to do. It gives the girls a chance to try new things and do jobs that are not what they may be used to. She also said that the boys and girls will be there to compete at the other events so its not like they arn't getting a turn.

[JaneYoung]

I guess the word, generosity, comes to my mind. Or adventure.
'Let's try this' kind of thing. Everyone always wants to travel, to go to the regional or competition. So this, to me, is like thinking outside of the box and then going with it. If that makes sense..

[whytheheckme]

Originally Posted by InfernoX14

The title is a joke. The boys stayed home by their own will and the girls went alone.

No need to get upset.

If you click on the picture above, it brings you to where the picture is on CD media. Under the picture there you can see what was typed above. That blurb should probably be posted with the picture in threads of forums in the future.

I read this before I posted, but I still, again, personally, disagree. If every boy on the team had said that they were OK not going except for 1, would they have let him go? (I don't know the answer to this question. Again, I am jumping in in the middle, but it seems odd that ALL of the boys on a team would give up their spot. But that's just me and my opinion. I am sure that others disagree.

Originally Posted by AV_guy007

While it may seem sexist I think it i a very good thing for the team to do. It gives the girls a chance to try new things and do jobs that are not what they may be used to. She also said that the boys and girls will be there to compete at the other events so its not like they arn't getting a turn.

This is assuming that it would not be *allowed* for girls to do certain jobs on the team. I know that I would be quite angry if I couldn't go to 1/3 events, simply to let someone else have a shot at MY job, just because they are of a different gender.

I hate to be a nuisance, but I really don't like discrimination, as I have been a victim of it in the past, on several accounts.

Jacob

[AV_guy007]

Originally Posted by whytheheckme

I know that I would be quite angry if I couldn't go to 1/3 events, simply to let someone else have a shot at MY job, just because they are of a different gender.
Jacob

I would gladly give up my job for someone else if they were enthusiastic about doing it. Its not "MY" job its the teams job, everyone is entitled to try it if its what they desire. I don't think it is the spirit of first to limit someone from doing something they want just because you think it belongs to you.

[whytheheckme]

Originally Posted by AV_guy007

I would gladly give up my job for someone else if they were enthusiastic about doing it. Its not "MY" job its the teams job, everyone is entitled to try it if its what they desire. I don't think it is the spirit of first to limit someone from doing something they want just because you think it belongs to you.

I suppose so, but, say, for instance, Myself and another student (a male) programmed the robot. Lets say that no girls on my team showed interest in programming before, but now at the competition, a girl takes my seat on the plane. If she isn't qualified to program (or even knows how), what happens if the program needs to be modified? I personally belive that a seat should be won on merrit, not entitlement.

Jacob

[AV_guy007]

Originally Posted by whytheheckme

I suppose so, but, say, for instance, Myself and another student (a male) programmed the robot. Lets say that no girls on my team showed interest in programming before, but now at the competition, a girl takes my seat on the plane. If she isn't qualified to program (or even knows how), what happens if the program needs to be modified? I personally belive that a seat should be won on merrit, not entitlement.

Jacob

The team probably chose to do this in advance.In the time period between the decision and the trip is when it is your job to show the person or people interesed in your job how and what to do. FIRST is about teaching, learning and passing on knowledge. I think this i a great way to do it.

[Billfred]

FIRST is like pizza--you and I might prefer different toppings, but there's no wrong way to do it.

If 842 feels that they can get their $4,000 worth by fielding an all-girls team for one of their regionals, I'm more than willing to let them. Perhaps there's some benefit to going this route that we're all missing.

[Liz Smith]

Originally Posted by Billfred

FIRST is like pizza--you and I might prefer different toppings, but there's no wrong way to do it.

If 842 feels that they can get their $4,000 worth by fielding an all-girls team for one of their regionals, I'm more than willing to let them. Perhaps there's some benefit to going this route that we're all missing.

I know that some schools are going that route. My old high school now has an all girls team(1929) in addition to their Co-ed team (555) which also has girls on it. Both teams show support for each other. I believe this year the Sciborgs(1155) from NY also did the same thing and support their all girl team the FeMaidens(2265).

[!DOM!]

Originally Posted by Liz Smith

I know that some schools are going that route. My old high school now has an all girls team(1929) in addition to their Co-ed team (555) which also has girls on it. Both teams show support for each other. I believe this year the Sciborgs(1155) from NY also did the same thing and support their all girl team the FeMaidens(2265).

Whats the point of having two teams from one school?
Why is one all girls? Why not all boys? just wondering
I dont think there should be an all girls/boys team.

[will_freer]

I am from team 842 and I think it was a great idea for us to let the girls to go to a competition to see what it feels like to compete without any guys.

[paragongurl]

i love teams who are made out all gurls......it finally shows that gurls can do anything!

[JaneYoung]

Well, just thinking about this a little bit -
FIRST is about changing the culture. We've heard that for many years.
To change a culture, one must begin by introducing ideas and concepts into it first. And, to change a culture begins with changing mindsets, one person at a time. Trying different things, different ideas as a team is part of the excitement and adventure, seeing where it leads.

That's just a thought.

Edit: Sorry Richard, you posted and then I did..I can delete this post but I think it is ok, hopefully.

[Dan Petrovic]

Originally Posted by whytheheckme

This is assuming that it would not be *allowed* for girls to do certain jobs on the team. I know that I would be quite angry if I couldn't go to 1/3 events, simply to let someone else have a shot at MY job, just because they are of a different gender.

I hate to be a nuisance, but I really don't like discrimination, as I have been a victim of it in the past, on several accounts.

Jacob

It's not discrimination. It's not like they were forced out of it by the mentors and all of the girls. They agreed to this.

And I'm sure it wasn't a majority vote. I'm sure it was an all or nothing vote. Every boy on the team had to be fine with this. If anyone had a problem with it, they wouldn't go through with it. I would be upset too if I wasn't allowed to go, but we've never met the boys on their team, we don't know what they are like.

Would it be a different story if the title was "We left the girls at home" and it was a picture of all of the boys who went because the girls agreed not to?

[whytheheckme]

Originally Posted by InfernoX14

Would it be a different story if the title was "We left the girls at home" and it was a picture of all of the boys who went because the girls agreed not to?

No, it wouldn't be any different. But I think it would cause a lot more controversy among the forum if this was the title. Even though it would be the same exact thing.

Jacob

[cire]

If my team had the opportunity to do something like this, I would be all for it as long as I would be allowed to come and spectate. I spend enough time watching other regionals that my team ISNT going to, I would die if i couldnt see it in action.