Behavior at the competitions

[Kims Robot]

Originally Posted by JGecko146

had several students playing games on their laptops or on Nintendo DSs during Dean’s speech during Saturday’s opening ceremonies.

I am a bit saddened that we live in a day where actions like this are becoming "the norm" and "acceptable". I've been out to lunch 3 days this week, and at every one of them, someone at the table pulled out their phone to check their email (I was the ONLY other person at the table). Call me old, but I hate this and refuse to do it. If I am spending time with a person, I am spending time with them, not the 560 other people I can access via the world wide web. I think to so many people parenting is plopping their kid in front of a computer or hand them a DS and expect those devices to parent the kid for them. WAKE UP WORLD. We are creating a generation of awkward antisocial kids that don't know how to TALK to eachother, or even more important how to LISTEN to others... if its not a text or a tweet... how on earth do they interact??

Originally Posted by CraigHickman

No offense, but Dean's speeches aren't exactly the most thrilling. They deliver incredibly relevant content, for a very good cause, but they're boring.

Just because another team does not value FIRST as a "life changing experience" like you does not mean they intend disrespect.

This statement just floored me. I will agree Dean does not have the most exciting manner of speaking. HOWEVER, he is the founder of the program, a billionaire that so many look up to, and it is a privilege that so many of us get to meet him, interact with him and listen to his ideas. Many other billionaires wouldnt give me the time of day... I got to visit Dean's HOUSE! I am HONORED to have had the chance to be involved in something he and so many other great engineers are involved in. How on earth can we "spread the word of FIRST" or "fix what's broken" if we cant even encourage our students to be respectful enough to sit and listen to him speak?? It will never BE a life changing experience if they can't listen to others, listen to what the program has to offer. ITS 40 MINUTES of your life... do you really need to be playing video games?? MY grandmother would have slapped me upside the head if she saw me do something like that!!!