Dean's watch

[dlavery]

Are we really at the point where the only useful thing we can discuss is Dean's choice in timekeeping apparel? The man has a watch. He uses it to tell time. Do we really care how much it is worth, or who made it? I would be much more interested in what he does, not what he wears.

Next thing you know, someone is going to tell me that Paris Hilton really is an important cultural figure, and we need to pay attention to her.

-dave



.

[chrisj32r]

I look up to Dean. He's got the life everyone wants. He serves as an inspiration for us young tech geeks I think this thread is harmless. It is a cool watch. Was I so wrong in asking other people's opinions

[dlavery]

Originally Posted by chrisj32r

I look up to Dean. He's got the life everyone wants. He serves as an inspiration for us young tech geeks

And that is exactly the point. It is good that you admire Dean. It is appropriate that we each have someone we can look up to, whoever that may be. Dean is an inspirational figure (and not just to young tech geeks ) and a lot of us look up to him. But he is in that position because of what he does, not because of what he wears.

We all have a finite amount of time available. Given a choice between a reasonable discussion about the accomplishments and plans of a person like Dean (or Woodie, or John Abele, or Jim Utaski, or just about any of the WFA or UFH winners that populate the leadership of the FIRST community) vs. a thread about Dean's choice in wrist watches (or socks or footwear or...), I think that the former is a more fruitful way to expend that limited time.

I guess what I am trying to say is that if he is such an admirable person, then we can best respect that by trying to emulate his actions, not his wardrobe.

-dave

[MrForbes]

My guess is that Dean wears a very good watch because it's a useful tool, not because it's a fashion statement.

Does Dave have a Mars sol watch? That might be interesting too.....

[JaneYoung]

I dunno...I was on the fence about this watch discussion...then I thought about boys in school who carried that black pocket comb and pulled it out in the smooth fluid movement that made girls swoon as they started to comb their Elvis Presley hair. It didn't work so well with the Beatles but by then, they were just shaking their shaggy bangs. Then I remembered all the rage of cool athletic shoes that cool athletes wore and marketed.

In Mr. Kamen's situation, it is true, young geeks can idolize him and they can also respect him for what he does. I'm not sure talking about how much a time piece costs is necessarily a great way to do it. My husband wears a nice time piece and he was a pilot and he appreciates the value of good quality, craftsmanship, and accuracy. Thinking of it along those lines would take it away from the crow pecking at the shiny object aspect and lean towards the standard of excellence that your role model seems to work towards in everything he does.

That's just an .02.

[EricVanWyk]

If we can transform our culture to the point where girls swoon over guys as they pull their dremel off their belt and carve some speed holes in a smooth fluid motion, I think FIRST is half way to its goal. When we get the guys to swoon over the girls for their hot moves on the 5-axis, we have won.

[CarterM]

Dude, you also have to realize that it is summer vacation and many of us geeks are bored as this isn't the most interesting time for FIRST. Talking about Dean's stuff is just another way to socialize on Chief Delphi. At least we're talking about mechanical stuff, like his watches and cars...

I prefer my knock off watches...however that looks like sweet watch!

[Madison]

Originally Posted by CarterM

Dude, you also have to realize that it is summer vacation and many of us geeks are bored as this isn't the most interesting time for FIRST. Talking about Dean's stuff is just another way to socialize on Chief Delphi. At least we're talking about mechanical stuff, like his watches and cars...

I prefer my knock off watches...however that looks like sweet watch!

Take this slow time to go learn something new; innovate, collaborate, design...

There are many, many things that are far better for you and for the rest of us than talking about what sort of watch Dean wears.

[artdutra04]

When it comes to a watch, all I look for is three things. Is it analog? Is it accurate? Is it waterproof?

As long as it satisfies those things, I really don't care about brands or whatever. There's more important things in life to worry about.

[MrForbes]

That's funny, my watch satisfies none of your criteria, yet it's the neatest watch in the universe

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by dlavery

Are we really at the point where the only useful thing we can discuss is Dean's choice in timekeeping apparel? The man has a watch. He uses it to tell time. Do we really care how much it is worth, or who made it? I would be much more interested in what he does, not what he wears.

Next thing you know, someone is going to tell me that Paris Hilton really is an important cultural figure, and we need to pay attention to her.

-dave



.

But Dave, Paris Hilton is the COOLEST! I wonder what in the world she's doing right about now...

Seriously though, Dave is right. Everyone that has submitted their $0.02 so far has been right. Yes, we all look up to Dean. However, what he wears, what he drives- all of these things are not important. This is one of those 'useless trappings' of sports and celebrity that FIRST should not attract no matter how much we emulate the sports model. Could you imagine Woodie endorsing Converse, or Dave as a spokesperson for Royal Creations Hawaii? It would just be ridiculous. Why don't we celebrate them for something a little more significant.

Dean is important for what he does and how he contributes to the world, and the type of watch he wears doesn't seem like any sort of significant contribution. As you can probably tell from his wardrobe, he's not exactly into the superficial things like what brand a certain object is, or how much it costs. It's functionality that matters.

[JaneYoung]

In the current culture, the clothes and trappings of 'rock stars' are a big part of the baggage that goes with them. If we are going to tout members of FIRST (founders, winners of the robotics competitions, etc) as rock stars - then we have the current culture to 'support' how we react.

If we are interested in changing that culture so that it celebrates accomplishments, achievements, impact on communities, and acting as positive role models - that is new territory when using the term, rock star.

I can very easily see it being confusing and in need of help and direction when moving into a new cultural awareness, redefining popularity and impact at the same time.

We sometimes have to be careful what we ask for...we often get it.

.02

[Elgin Clock]

Alright, I've sat by & watched this thread long enough to see how much a simple statement & case of "Dean envy" can take off among this community.

Some have shunned it as him being materialistic, some have stated "who cares what he has, repect him for something other than the cars, house, & watch.

I'd like to think that inspiration can be found anywhere.

If chrisj32r has a little "Dean envy" going on here, & sees the house, cars, & watch as something he wants, then I think he's still being inspired.

What one has to ask themselves though, is how was Dean able to have all the "toys" that a lot of people want.

Most of us would never have it in them (especially while in High School) to buy a Hummer, build their own mansion, or afford a 20k-100k watch. (Heck, even at my age, I don't have the resources to do any of those... yet.)

Money & wealth is a very powerful inspirational tool.

I'm not gonna lie, I feel the same way as chrisj32r feels towards Dean, but towards the Mansion.

The first time I went on a tour of that place, I was awestruck. For a person to be well off enough to go out & build an awesome engineering feat like that does not solve anything in the world when it comes down to it, but when you realize that he can have these toys because he is doing great things like the life-saving medical projects through DEKA that's when it hits you.

If all the speeches at the competitions don't inspire you to enter the world of engineering to help the worlds problems, then maybe, just maybe for some people the promise or hope of a huge amount of wealth from doing something like helping the world's problems can be your inspiration.

I know in some regards this is putting the cart before the horse with all the self-less time we put into FIRST without asking for a reward in return, but when it's not volunteering we are talking about, & your personal life, we all need goals.

I am personally inspired by what Dean does as a person, this is true, but I am sometimes more likely to be driven by the inspiration of the all mighty dollar.

I read an article at one time which briefly mentioned Dean in it.
It said that if the world wants more Engineers in it, all companies need to do is pay them more.

A lot of jobs these days can be & will be outsourced, but when you see someone like Dean who is making something (fame, wealth, becoming an icon) from his smarts, & companies are recognizing that (ie: US. Govt. asking his help in making the artificial arm) then you too will realize that you CAN go far with your brains, & not just with the abilities & talents that rock stars or sports stars have.

Bottom line is, a little "Dean envy" is ok in the end as long as you realize that he got to have the toys he has that you like so much by using his brain over the years, & getting involved in very cutting edge technological & engineering achievments, & that if you want to make it in the world of engineering, the sky's the limit.

It's all just a matter of how driven you are.

If you honestly aren't motivated to pursue engineering by the speeches at competititions, then maybe the promise/potential of stepping up your game face, hitting the engineering world hardcore & redefining the cutting edge of technology, & in the end making some nice green for yourself will inspire you.


Edit: Btw, Libby, if I saw Woodie touting Converse, or Dave touting Hawaiian shirts, or Dean touting anything he was passionate about (in a non-work related way, such as say being a spokesman for a Denim Jeans company) then I would actually say the culture is changing for the best.
I'd much rather see those 3 icons of our time in the front of a nice ad cmpaign, than any bubblegum pop-princess or prince touting some crap they do these days. Ridiculous? Maybe. A little out of place? Maybe. But when the Engineers become the icons of a generation by a huge gap over the Paris Hilton's & other spoiled Hollywood icons these days that kids & even grown adults gossip about, then we (as people who appreciate engineering, technology, & most importantly; smart people) have accomplished something.
And you can't argue with that.

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Edit: Btw, Libby, if I saw Woodie touting Converse, or Dave touting Hawaiian shirts, or Dean touting anything he was passionate about (in a non-work related way, such as say being a spokesman for a Denim Jeans company) then I would actually say the culture is changing for the best.
I'd much rather see those 3 icons of our time in the front of a nice ad cmpaign, than any bubblegum pop-princess or prince touting some crap they do these days. Ridiculous? Maybe. A little out of place? Maybe. But when the Engineers become the icons of a generation by a huge gap over the Paris Hilton's & other spoiled Hollywood icons these days that kids & even grown adults gossip about, then we (as people who appreciate engineering, technology, & most importantly; smart people) have accomplished something.
And you can't argue with that.

My advertising comment was about a specific brand- which was one of the original questions for this thread. "Which brand do you think it is?" isn't important. "Isn't it cool that Dean has worked so hard that he can get this; I want to be just like that (and not just for the cool stuff)" is more along the lines of what we should be thinking. I didn't mean it in any other way than that.

You are 100% right, it would be pretty sweet to see engineers and scientists, and more positive role models up there at the forefront of culture- that is, after all, the mission of FIRST: Recognition.

[Joe Matt]

This is why I'm starting to give up on FIRST. People are creepy about this kind of thing. Get a life, I have.