Behavior at the competitions

Originally Posted by Dancin103

I have also seen this same behavior, and this really floors me and honestly saddens me, while the national anthem is being played.

Now THAT is behavior that would get the student a stern talking to after the anthem was finished.

[Alex Dinsmoor]

On my team, after experiencing a few competitions last year where people were very fond of their gameboys, we put a no games rule for the pits and stands. In the stands you are there for two main things; scouting and cheering. If you aren't doing either than you best find something productive to do.

In the pits we have an even stricter rule of no electronics (besides the robot of course ). The only laptop we have is the scouting laptops, and besides that the only electronics we may have is a phone.

The reason we don't completely ban phones is because they simply haven't been an issue. The majority of team members at an event are there for the competition, and do not feel like texting persons while there. If a text is to be sent it is to be done discretely.

So far I have not seen any phones or other electronics this year


Although this policy may change after seeing my drivers out on the field right before a match texting!

[Dancin103]

Originally Posted by CraigHickman

Now THAT is behavior that would get the student a stern talking to after the anthem was finished.

Yeah it would. I was absolutely appalled.

Cass

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by Dancin103

I have also seen this same behavior, and this really floors me and honestly saddens me, while the national anthem is being played.
Cass

This goes hand in hand with Beth's statement about respect.

[thefro526]

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.

I think along the same lines as Craig.

Also, I'd much rather have my students Playing Nintendo DS, on their Laptop, Texting, etc... quietly than making a disturbance because they're bored with Dean's Speech and they have nothing to do.

[scarletrain]

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.

I agree. They aren't the least bit exciting and it seems like he says the same thing at each competition. I mean, it would be a little more respectful for them to put the games down for a few seconds and try to pay attention, but I don't think they deserve disrespect for playing video games. It can get boring there and I don't really have a problem with it.

[JaneYoung]

A lot of this can be avoided/headed off at the pass with forethought and a plan in place. The plan involves spending time teaching the members of the team and those that travel with them, the rules of conduct and expectations that go with wearing a team shirt, affiliating oneself with the team, and participating in the events. If the event is already in process and the team doesn't have a clear understanding of who they are and what they represent - then don't be surprised when people embarrass themselves and the team. Nothing can be taken for granted in today's culture where self-respect and respect for others is ignored and discounted. Mr. Martus is right - image is important. Self-image is very important. It's up to the veteran team members to impart the importance of conduct and respect to the members from the very first day. Dean Kamen and Dr. Flowers are going to have a front row seat when observing the teams who show respect and the teams who do not. The teams that show disrespect will have the opportunity to stick out like a sore thumb in the stands - pretty much like they do on an elevator in a hotel.

Jane

[kwotremb]

I have cought some of the students on our team doing this in the past. We made comments to them and they would put their games away. I think it was just 1 or 2 students that are now gone, and it seems to be better now. Also I find with a slightly smaller team its easier to control because you can give each student a task to perform.

This does really annoy me as well, regardless of who, where or what it is going on, its just rude.

[ALTrammell818]

Originally Posted by kwotremb

I have cought some of the students on our team doing this in the past. We made comments to them and they would put their games away. I think it was just 1 or 2 students that are now gone, and it seems to be better now. Also I find with a slightly smaller team its easier to control because you can give each student a task to perform.

This does really annoy me as well, regardless of who, where or what it is going on, its just rude.

I feel like if we had more spirit people would pay more attention :/

[Duncan Macdonald]

Originally Posted by ALTrammell818

I feel like if we had more spirit people would pay more attention :/

I am going to disagree. There is a time and a place for spirit. When people are making speeches they shouldn't have to be holding a T-shirt cannon to hold the crowd's attention.

The issue here is just a matter of respect. I have tuned out during long speeches and visuals do help but I do try to pay attention and often enjoy the presentations.

[HashemReza]

Firstly, I'm 17, and a leader on my team.

Secondly, if I saw anyone (including other leaders) ever representing my team in that way at an event, I would swiftly whack them upside the head. I've done it before, too.

For some reason, my generation enjoys testing boundaries. I, personally, find that disrespectful.

We honestly require that no one use their phones in the pits, and if they need to use it, they walk outside the arena. I told a kid to do this in Utah, it was snowing outside. He waited to make the call

The parenting bit isn't necessarily true, as I've met completely ill-behaved students whose parents (and their tactics) are very similar to that of mine. I've been told by my parents that i've been the easiest kid to raise...i'm one of 3. I don't know how much that really matters, but it's very much about the mentality of the student.

You have not only joined a robotic competition, you will discover that you are becoming a member of a very large and wonderful family. The more years that you participate, the larger your FIRST family will become. - Car Nack

I just saw that on the top of the page. It's true, we're a humongous family. If my sibling was doing that? A swift handling of the situation (physical or not ). Honestly, I think of the situation like this: No talking during grace. It's something which may not be riveting, but is still very important, and tradition.

[ALTrammell818]

Originally Posted by Duncan Macdonald

I am going to disagree. There is a time and a place for spirit. When people are making speeches they shouldn't have to be holding a T-shirt cannon to hold the crowd's attention.

The issue here is just a matter of respect. I have tuned out during long speeches and visuals do help but I do try to pay attention and often enjoy the presentations.

I was talking about during matches. We have several members on our team who don't watch unless we are playing, and even then some do not care. It is sickening to me. I find every moment of the competitions to be extremely exciting.

I agree that a lack of respect is the cause for not paying attention during speeches. Then again I have also quit paying attention during Deans speeches. However it was due to the fact that at Traverse City the system was screwy and you couldn't understand a word he said and at Detroit it may have just been me but it seemed too quiet and the screen was too dark.

[Leeebowitz]

This year my team has had similar experiences with being on DSs and phones and whatnot else. I was in the queing area during Dean Kamen's speech at the Midwest Regional, so I am not sure if members of my team were specifically doing that during one of Dean's speeches. I must say that my team shows frustratingly low amounts of energy, enthusiasm, and team spirit which I admire greatly in other teams.

My personal opinion about such behavior is that as someone who has little to no control over most of my team's behavior (believe me, I tried), I wouldn't like to be the "uptight jerk" who takes away your DS, but I also would like it if my team and other teams with this issue showed a little excitement about what are, in my humble opinion, the three greatest days of every year.

There was a student on my team who played his DS through all of the elimination matches. When I told him to just watch the finals without his DS, he refused and afterwards told me that he had payed attention through the entire match. I was almost tempted to walk over to another team's area in the stands and cheer with them after that.

On the other hand, one of the alumni from our team who graduated last year returned as a volunteer this year. Before Friday morning was over, he had Dean Kamen's signature on his forehead and his volunteer shirt. How I wish he were still on the team...

Originally Posted by ALTrammell818

I was talking about during matches. We have several members on our team who don't watch unless we are playing, and even then some do not care. It is sickening to me. I find every moment of the competitions to be extremely exciting.

Honestly? Sickening? Seeing someone who has different interests than you sickens you?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by CraigHickman

Honestly? Sickening? Seeing someone who has different interests than you sickens you?

I don't think that it's seeing someone who has different interests. I think it's seeing someone who has different interests, but pretends that they have the same interest, then when they're where they want to be (or don't want to be), they show that they don't really care. If you're not going to care, why go to the trouble of joining the team, building a robot for 6 weeks, and traveling to the event, just to display your not-caringness to the world?

Not watching your own team's matches while you're at the event is, well, like traveling to your favorite sports team's biggest home game, getting a seat in the stadium, and then not watching the game, only the mascot(s) and other stuff of that nature. You may as well be home paying the bills or mowing the lawn or shoveling snow.