Dean's watch

[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.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Joe Matt

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

Joe, I like this discussion and what it is talking about.

There are ramifications for everything we do. Action/reaction. FIRST is growing by leaps and bounds. The homework assignment is impacting. Those who were involved in FIRST from the beginning and the earlier years are seeing the effects of growth and expansion now. As FIRST has grown so has the continual impact of Mr. Kamen's inventions and his philosophy, globally.

This is a good thing. As members of FIRST who support the program and Dean Kamen, who comes with a little baggage - his inventions and their potential impact - we can be careful or we can be careless in our attitudes and reactions to movement towards mainstream and world recognition.

That brings in Gracious Professionalism. Yup. It does.
The tool that no other organization has used so clearly, significantly, and consistently.

Teenagers are teenagers. That is not going to change. What changes is that teenagers grow up into college age, young adults, and then continue to mature (at least chronologically). But, the wheel of FRC is always going to circle around the excitement, enthusiasm, interests, and perspectives of teenagers. Mentors play a key role in adding knowledge, expertise, wisdom/humor to the wheel, keeping it balanced.

Teenagers and young people can focus on things. Adults can as well - gadgets come to mind.
I'm reminded of Beatles bubblegum cards. What could have been perceived as creepy by the drugstore owner who let us sit in the booths at the soda fountain and ooh and ahh and trade cards, was welcomed and smiled at. I'm sure in all his years of running that soda fountain, he had seen teenagers come and go, bringing in their latest fashion and fad. It's a big part of being a teenager. That isn't creepy but it is self-centered/self-focused.

As Dean Kamen becomes more recognized and brings more recognition to the programs he is involved in, FIRST is impacted. Teenagers are impacted. Mentors and sponsors are impacted. I think that was the plan. Flexibility, humor, and wisdom in facing the challenges arising with this popularity and growth, will help keep the wheel in balance, all the while building teams who build robots.