What's in a Name?

[Jessica Boucher]

Keep it. If you're worried about connotations, then minimize it or alter slightly. Baxter Bomb Squad & Truck Town Thunder are great examples of dealing with team identity through societal shifts. Post-9/11, from what I can remember, 16 contracted their name down to "BBS" (and have since shifted back), and Truck Town changed from Terror to Thunder. Identity unscathed, crisis managed.

[Koko Ed]

Keep the name. Teen agers probably already have a low opinion of the team anyways (nerds. geeks and the usual blah blah blah) so why let them dictate your image.

[Molten]

As many have put, you can twist just about anything into having a negative connotation. If you are seriously going to change your name come up with ideas and have them tested. Find some kids that you trust but still have some pretty twisted minds. Run the suggestions by them and see what kind of a negative connotation they can put to it. You might be surprised with what they come up with. It is sort of a way to test the name first. You might come up with a great name that nobody can come up with anything for, or you might find that there could be much worse connotations then THRUST has. Either way, it might help. I still think that you should keep your name, this might just help you from having to change it numerous times.

[Qbranch]

Originally Posted by Jack Murphy

How about if you just lose the Herd? We’ll still know you.

TRUST

But then they wouldn't be listed on acronym finder!

I don't usually wear my team T-shirts anywhere either because they have eh... odd designs... (not complaining since I didn't enter a design, just poking fun...)...

2006: The main attraction of our t-shirt design was a large, bright lime green rectangle. Oh boy.

2008: It has our team number in HUGE numbers on the front... which is kinda unfortunate because the back is AWESOME (great job whoever designed it).

-q

[Meredith Novak]

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher

Keep it. If you're worried about connotations, then minimize it or alter slightly. Baxter Bomb Squad & Truck Town Thunder are great examples of dealing with team identity through societal shifts. Post-9/11, from what I can remember, 16 contracted their name down to "BBS" (and have since shifted back), and Truck Town changed from Terror to Thunder. Identity unscathed, crisis managed.

The decision to go back to the un-PC Bomb Squad from BBS was easy for us. We lost Baxter in 2004 and we would have been BBS minus a B....oh my...

[dlavery]

Being a propulsionally-motivated kind of guy (I even have a t-shirt that says "Actually, I am a rocket scientist" ), "thrust" is always a good thing. Keep it as is.

-dave



.

[Pavan Dave]

People should really grow up! THRUST is an awesome name and has its own identity easily recognized by over a thousand people involved in FIRST if not more. Its not worth the change. Just tell some kids to grow up or get their minds out of the gutter.


Personally acronyms aren't my style. I like the good old fashion names like Rockets, Gliders, Lakers, Mavericks, Cowboys, (insert more one word team names) or even multiple word team names without the "." after every [sometimes other] letter??

On that note I would soo name a team "The Wise Men" or "Wise Guys" with the slogan "Actually we are rocket scientists!" ... ... Stuart, what do you think??


Pavan


.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Pavan Dave

On that note I would soo name a team "The Wise Men" or "Wise Guys" with the slogan "Actually we are a rocket scientists!"

No women, I guess?

I know, what's in a name...

[Pavan Dave]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

No women, I guess?

I know, what's in a name...

... I'll give you that on Wise Men, but "guys"?? Wise Peeps/People/Persons/Dudes/Dudes&Dudette don't have the same ring as "Wise Guys" ... ... Maybe I'll turn guys into the acronym GUYS...

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Pavan Dave

... I'll give you that on Wise Men, but "guys"?? Wise Peeps/People/Persons/Dudes/Dudes&Dudette don't have the same ring as "Wise Guys" ... ... Maybe I'll turn guys into the acronym GUYS...

1. If it were an all male team - the Wise Men would be cool, I have to agree.

2. For co-ed, Wise Guys has possibilities.

Just keeping you on your toes, Pavan.

I have to wrap my brain about a robotics team named Dudettes. I can get there but ... I need coffee.

[Bill Moore]

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher

Keep it. If you're worried about connotations, then minimize it or alter slightly. Baxter Bomb Squad & Truck Town Thunder are great examples of dealing with team identity through societal shifts. Post-9/11, from what I can remember, 16 contracted their name down to "BBS" (and have since shifted back), and Truck Town changed from Terror to Thunder. Identity unscathed, crisis managed.

Another team which changed its' name was team 304, WAR Department (Washington Area Robotics) to RoboGriffins.

[BHS_STopping]

To be honest, I found no immediate derogatory connotations from the name THRUST for the longest time. But once I understood, it really didn't strike me as a terribly urgent issue.

I believe that Team THRUST has built up a significant identity in the FIRST community, and you guys are always raising the bar in construction standards. THRUST has become synonymous with quality craftsmanship, in my mind.

Personally, I love the name THRUST. I believe that you shouldn't compromise your team identity for the sake of a few immature students at your school. Such a great name is not worth changing for such insignificant individuals.

[Chris_Elston]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

If I were voting, I would say that your immediate community is more important to the FIRST community. We (the FIRST community) can adjust to you making changes that may be better for your community image.

This is an interesting thought, Andy Baker never ceases to amaze me in his teachings. FIRST is not just about building robots, it's been said many times. Community and teaching our students the values in life are most important to me as a mentor. Thanks for sharing.

[Molten]

Originally Posted by Chris_Elston

Community and teaching our students the values in life are most important to me as a mentor.

I agree that community is important, however let's look into what values you are teaching your students from this decision.

1. You change the name-
You are telling your students that they ought to give in to society standards. You are telling them that changing your identity is ok if it helps you to fit in.

2. You don't change the name-
You are telling them that it is more important to be who you are then to blend in. You are telling them to ignore society at times if it is for something worthwhile.

Granted, my personal opinions are biased. I would appreciate if others of you out there would make a list of the messages sent by either decision. That would give them an overall more accurate representation.

[Herodotus]

I would tend to agree with Molten. FIRST isn't really about fitting in with society, it is about changing it. Should a team compromise on their identity, change who they are, just because of outside pressure? Or is it their duty to show pride in who they are and to instead change their community.

I see an issue with a society in which the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word Thrust is something derogatory. It is that facet of society which FIRST can change.