It's Championship, Not Nationals

[Cooley744]

This may upset a few people, but I don't really seem to mind what you call it. Maybe this is because I'm a pretty laid back person or maybe this is because I am not from another country so it doesn't offend me personally. Others on my team do care and since no one could ever "get it right" we've just started calling it the endearing term of "Atlanta". For me, I realize that no one means any harm by calling it Nationals, so if you slip up, or are stuck in your nostalgic ways, so be it. The name isn't as important as what goes on at the event. The fact that we do include international teams and treat each one with respect and equality is the important thing. Not what someone calls it.

[Leav]

As a member of a team from outside the US, I would appreciate people making the effort just so we feel people know we exist...

if someone knows of the Israeli, Brazilian, British, German, Turkish or "Bosnia and Herzegovina"ian teams I think he'd be hard pressed to fall back to using nationals, since it is simply not that anymore.

The "FRC Championship" is a much more inclusive term which doesn't marginalize us foreigners...

So yeah, i'd appreciate the effort, if only for the feeling that people know we exist.

-Leav

p.s.
The captain from "Spirit of the United Neretva" - Team 3368 (Bosnia and Herzegovina) won the Dean's List award at the Israeli regional!

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Leav

The "FRC Championship" is a much more inclusive term which doesn't marginalize us foreigners...

Precisely, Leav. The term is behind the times. It once was Nationals and then it grew.

Gosh, if Al is an old man, then I must be ancient. I may start crumbling to dust at any moment.

Jane

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

Precisely, Leav. The term is behind the times. It once was Nationals and then it grew.

Gosh, if Al is an old man, then I must be ancient. I may start crumbling to dust at any moment.

Jane

I won't turn ancient until next year, I am only turning 59 next week!

[xzvrw2]

I still, and most likley will always call it nationals for a few simple reasons. One, my team was on a National Championship winning alliance. Two, it was still called Nationals when I was around and thats what I know it as. To me, every one knows what we are talking about when we say Nationals or Worlds, or World Championships, or whatnot. I don't think it is offensive to people to call it Nationals, thats what it was called back then, and thats what I will always call it.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

I won't turn ancient until next year, I am only turning 59 next week!

I always forget that you are the eldest - by a hair.

--
I think it is a poor assumption that everyone knows what we are talking about no matter what name we use.

Kim has an important point about the impact of using the term, Championship or World Championship. If we want to stay self-centered and use narrow thinking then yes, the name we use as teams and team members does not matter. If we want to think and act locally and globally, then it matters very much and our thinking must become more visionary and far reaching. If you make signage to promote the fact that you are participating in Atlanta, what are the signs going to say? If you have them professionally printed - in other words, incurring expense - what are the signs going to say? Are they going to be accurate or inaccurate - making the effort and expense either valuable or a waste of time and money?

Sometimes, I think - by reading posts in threads like this that we show our worst sides rather than our best. Threads are opportunities to show respect, humility, understanding, and wisdom. They can also provide opportunities to show arrogance, self-centeredness, and lazy thinking which we then try to justify.

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by Cory

As a corollary, if FIRST wants to discourage the use of "Nationals" why do they refuse to call it the "World Championship"?

Since I've been on the team we've always called it the Championship or the World Championship.

It makes us feel more important and special when we go.

[JohnFogarty]

Funny how it is I'm an offender of this within the FTC Threads, Though I understand your point It's sorta burned into my head that way, though recently I just call it the World Cup of Robotics.

WORLD CUP HELLO IT'S SOCCER!!!

[Kims Robot]

I tried to find this thread a few weeks back when I started to get a bit annoyed with the number of people calling it Nationals. I was in FIRST when it was Nationals, and probably called it so for a few years after, but as International teams started joining us, I saw it as disrespectful (dont get me started on the speeches - "we need to make THIS country great..blahblahblah"). I know people don't mean disrespect, but think of the teams coming from outside the USA. We should be welcoming them and making them feel like they are just as much a part of all of this as we are (because they are!!!). We had a great time with our alliance partner the Brazilian team 383 at Boston (and were excited to hear they won CT!). And that is a reminder that this is an INTERNational competition.

Plus, its way cooler to say we won the INTERNATIONAL Judges award or INTERNATIONAL Rookie All Star Award... The Press and Media pick up on things that sound bigger than just a national competition. If you want more press, if you want more exposure for FIRST and if you want to respect the international teams, stop calling it Nationals, start welcoming everyone, and call it what it is... Championships

[GaryVoshol]

World Cup is a registered trademark.

Maybe FIRST could trade with FIFA - we could use World Cup, they could use Coopertition.

[O'Sancheski]

Originally Posted by DarkFlame145

I have been in FIRST since the 2005 season and was taught it was called Nationals for 2 years. To me it will always be Nationals, but I also call it "The World Torny" or just Champs. Incorrect or not I dont see why it's a huge deal. If you think about it Nationals can be twisted to mean more then one nation.

same here... i was always told that it was nationals... but now everyone on my team is telling me to call it Championships... i just say nationals out of habbit

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Anybody notice that this was a thread that was last posted in May of 2008? Things have changed a lot since then. If you hear me refer to the Champs as Nationals, please forgive an old man who has gone through more than half of his First existence going to "Nationals".

[Dancin103]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Anybody notice that this was a thread that was last posted in May of 2008? Things have changed a lot since then. If you hear me refer to the Champs as Nationals, please forgive an old man who has gone through more than half of his First existence going to "Nationals".

Agreed, although I'm not an old man and I just grew up with Nationals as the name, 15 years of FIRST. Although, I'm starting to come out of the Nationals way and into the way of calling it Championships.

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by Dancin103

Although, I'm starting to come out of the Nationals way and into the way of calling it Championships.

Not according to your signature, Cassie.

When I began participating in FIRST in 1998, official documentation and communications from FIRST called it the Championships. This same discussion took place at that time. It's been 12 years and many still call it the "Nationals".

I like Cory's idea. It should be called the "World Championships".

Andy

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

Not according to your signature, Cassie.

When I began participating in FIRST in 1998, official documentation and communications from FIRST called it the Championships. This same discussion took place at that time. It's been 12 years and many still call it the "Nationals".

I like Cory's idea. It should be called the "World Championships".

Andy

QFT


I don't care if you hate everything outside of the good ole U.S. of 'merica, or have been in FIRST since '92, FIRST is a brand. It looks to us to sell and promote this brand. By calling the same event by two names we are diluting the brand. Is it nationals or championship? Is nationals in the championship? Does each country have a nationals? We have the privilege to talk to sponsors, alumni, politicians, and the media. These people can give you money, power, and help. Do you want them to be confused between your jargon and FIRST's?

There's a difference between slipping up and relentlessly calling it Nationals because it's retro or lazy.

Stop it. Or heaven forbid I turn this thing right around and go back home.