What is more important: Gracious Professionalism or Safety?

[FRCgal]

Hi, I'm new to FRC and I was wondering, in your opinion, if you had to choose, what is more important: Gracious Professionalism or Safety? Should you always be graciously professional even if it could mean potential injury? Should you maintain safety even if it could mean not being gracious or being unprofessional? I would really apriciate some help figuring this one out!

Originally Posted by FRCgal

Hi, I'm new to FRC and I was wondering, in your opinion, if you had to choose, what is more important: Gracious Professionalism or Safety? Should you always be graciously professional even if it could mean potential injury? Should you maintain safety even if it could mean not being gracious or being unprofessional? I would really apriciate some help figuring this one out!

Gracious Professionalism: Some concept Dean and Woody made up.

Safety: Keeping yourself from being physically hurt.

Do you seriously need to ask this?

[FRCgal]

I mean as far as judging is concerned... would it be better to be safe or graciously professional?

[EricH]

Is it graciously professional to allow another person to risk injuring himself and/or others around?

I think not!

[ChuckDickerson]

Are you seriously asking this??? Safety is ALWAYS priority one.

[Rion Atkinson]

Originally Posted by CraigHickman

Gracious Professionalism: Some concept Dean and Woody made up.

Safety: Keeping yourself from being physically hurt.

Do you seriously need to ask this?

I believe it goes deeper than that.

GP: More than some concept. It goes deeper. Yes. They came up with the term. But not the words.

Gracious- To be kind, and to help others. Break it down further and you find the word Grace, which if to always forgive others, and to not hold grudges. Which is a whole different topic.

Professionalism- The act of being professional. To not lose your temper while dealing with others. To always keep the well being of the company (Or team in our case) in mind, and not your own ego.

That is my understanding.

Safety- To keep others and yourself safe.

If your are being Graciously Professional, will you not be watching for safety? If someone is about to do something stupid, is it not that hard to say "Hey! Student B, hold up. Let me help you with that." or "Hey, wait. before you go any further, but on these safety glasses will you? They help, trust me." is that not being safe and using GP at the same time?

-Rion

PS. I do not mean to spark the GP conversation. I'm just stating it how I see it.

[FRCgal]

Originally Posted by Formerly Famous

I believe it goes deeper than that.

GP: More than some concept. It goes deeper. Yes. They came up with the term. But not the words.

Gracious- To be kind, and to help others. Break it down further and you find the word Grace, which if to always forgive others, and to not hold grudges. Which is a whole different topic.

Professionalism- The act of being professional. To not lose your temper while dealing with others. To always keep the well being of the company (Or team in our case) in mind, and not your own ego.

That is my understanding.

Safety- To keep others and yourself safe.

If your are being Graciously Professional, will you not be watching for safety? If someone is about to do something stupid, is it not that hard to say "Hey! Student B, hold up. Let me help you with that." or "Hey, wait. before you go any further, but on these safety glasses will you? They help, trust me." is that not being safe and using GP at the same time?

-Rion

PS. I do not mean to spark the GP conversation. I'm just stating it how I see it.

I absolutely agree. In situations where you can do both, you absolutely should, but what if you HAD to choose between them?

[V_Chip]

If you're graciously professional. . . safety should come with the package.

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by FRCgal

I absolutely agree. In situations where you can do both, you absolutely should, but what if you HAD to choose between them?

I fail to see any scenario where keeping yourself and others safe is not a GP action.

Provided such a scenario exists, it is hands down, no contest, safety that is #1.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by FRCgal

I absolutely agree. In situations where you can do both, you absolutely should, but what if you HAD to choose between them?

Being safe is part of being GP. I can't see a single situation where it's an either/or.

Unless you count yelling about safety glasses or other "minor" violations, in which case there are better ways, like "You don't have safety glasses in the shop? Well, then, please work in this area only, or find a pair. You also have the option to not work in this shop."

Like I said, it's not a question of one or the other. It's a question of both.

By the way, if, as implied earlier, you're worried about judging taking a hit from one or the other, don't be. Judges, both safety and otherwise, understand that there is danger, and if you're stopping someone from getting hurt, I highly doubt that they'll say anything negative.

[sparrowkc]

If a runaway train was heading straight for a young child and you were standing by a switch that could divert it into an old lady, would you throw the switch?

[V_Chip]

How old's the lady?

[Rion Atkinson]

Originally Posted by sparrowkc

If a runaway train was heading straight for a friend of yours and you were standing by a switch that could divert it into a complete stranger, would you throw the switch?

Thought question. Both are taking a life...

Depending which was closer to me.... I would either throw the switch, then get the old lady out of the way, or just get the kid out of the way. Depending on which was closer...

Just saying.

[sparrowkc]

Let's say early retirement.

[V_Chip]

Does her 401k come with saving her?

Lol.


Nah man this is just a game of "would you rather". The point is safety comes before acting graciously. Doing what's right is not always professional.