FREE HUG ALLIANCE - JOIN THE REVOLUTION

[GoldenAI]

All those who participated in the Connecticut Regional this year could not help, but feel the warm snug hugz of the new revolution. The Free Hug Alliance was made up of more than a few teams with a goal of, you guessed it, giving out as many free hugz as possible. It was inspiring to say the least and as I joined the revolution I couldn't help, but feel we might be on to something here. So I started a website (still currently under construction).
Ask anyone from the FreeHugAlliance and they will tell you it was a blast.

I hope you post replies so everyone can see the new revolution as I saw it to be.

Hugz

freehugalliance.com

[Carlee10]

Thats awesome!!I wish I had been there!! Can you put out anymore information or pictures?

[Golto]

I'll see what I can pull up, just as soon as my FTP account becomes active!

[Shadow503]

Free Hugs for First - I like the sound of that. I'll try to give out some free hugs to our alliance partners (and to promote GP, the opposing alliance ;) ).

[cardinalman86]

yahhh, lets not limit it to just first, lets get out there and spread gp throughout the world, one hug at a time!:D :D :D :D

[Danny McC]

I think it should just start with FIRST at first. I don't know if everyone would be up for free hugs.

[Boydean]

I remember at championships a couple of years back some team was giving out free hugs at the bottom of this HUGE escalator...good times..good times.

[jgannon]

I remember at championships a couple of years back some team was giving out free hugs at the bottom of this HUGE escalator...good times..good times.
You're maybe thinking of these guys (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/18310)? There were also these crazy people (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/18032) a while back, too. It seems like there are always people giving away hugs at the Championship.

[GoldenAI]

lol well I'd go check out the website now.

I"d love to post some pics, but we had some camera troubles although there are a few of them my mentors might have them.

Patrick Plude is working on the forum as soon as I activate his accounts lol (oops sorry)

and Juan Galano is working on the logo. Anyway show some love and support!

We are really trying! And yes lets just start with First first shall we?

HUGZ!!!

Email me @ FreeHugAdmin@FreeHugAlliance.com
and visit @ FreeHugAlliance.com

Thanks~

[thefro526]

Sounds cool, I'd be down for it at the champs if I wasn't going to be hardcore busy. Someone should stop by the 816 pit and see me. Lol just watch out because some people might be uncomfortable with getting a hug from someone of the same sex and also some mentors may not want hugs aswell.

[Golto]

"Not want" and "Will do" are two COMPLETELY different things!

[KathieK]

We offered free hugs way.... back at Championships in Houston (http://www.geocities.com/kentfiks.geo/RAGE/18.htm)!

[Golto]

The site is down for some maintenance. I needed to forward the domain to another server (quotaless), as GoDaddy doesn't like PHP.

In the mean time, I'm working on getting a dedicated server running here. Then import the databases.

Meh, growing pains I suppose!

[GoldenAI]

Its true some people weren't up for hugz and others needed to really be coaxed into it, but none the less we got a lot and we are looking for people
to run it at Regionals and the Champ.

We just made signs that say free hugz and went around saying funny quotes

Like "The End is Near. Repent and give free hugs!!!"

"Free Hugs. !00% more free. Moneyback garuntee!!"

lol...

anyone up for it? After you can send me pics of it and a list of all the people's names and emails that went around giving free hugz!!!

[KathieK]

I was one of the people in Hartford that hugged a member of the Free hug Alliance. But could I caution you a bit?
First of all, we need to be respectful of each other's personal space. Some people are huggers and others are not.
We need to remember that some people have medical conditions that prevent them from wanting to be hugged. It could hurt someone to hug them.
We also encourage our FIRSTers not to show PDA.

Keeping this in mind, offering free hugs to people may be fine. Hugging people without their permission is definitely not OK.

[christina_omg]

you guy's were amazing

towards the end 2344 was looking for you guys to give our adviser one big giant group hug. if we would have done it we would have gotten beat....

yea. we couldn't find you though. i think it's cool that you're taking the free hugs beyond just your team. that's cool.

[GoldenAI]

Hmm...you have brought up an interesting point. I get the PDA thing, but as long as it doesn't lead anywhere else I believe hugs should be fine.

and yes some people REALLY DON"T WANT TO BE HUGGED and I really don't want to hug those people anyway, but what do we do when an entire team is pushing us to huge a mentor (including the other mentors)???

because a lot of them did that and so we hugged them.

This is why I need a dedicated team of leaders to lead this kind of thing and make sure others don't step out of line with it. I don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but I can't control everybody either.
That is why I am trying to get this to be an organized thing rather than the randomness at Hartford. At least if it was organized I could kind of lay down some do's and don'ts ya know. Although they should have enough common sense to know what is right from wrong, but you always get those few who just don't get it.

Any suggestions?

[GoldenAI]

ty Christina / We Tried! lol

we are having some boundry issues right now if stuff like that is exceptable or not. SO I don't know if it would have been wise anyway :)

But hey maybe next year uh?

[Koko Ed]

I was one of the people in Hartford that hugged a member of the Free hug Alliance. But could I caution you a bit?
First of all, we need to be respectful of each other's personal space. Some people are huggers and others are not.
We need to remember that some people have medical conditions that prevent them from wanting to be hugged. It could hurt someone to hug them.
We also encourage our FIRSTers not to show PDA.

Keeping this in mind, offering free hugs to people may be fine. Hugging people without their permission is definitely not OK.

There was a kid trolling the lower floor of Buckeye hugging everyone in sight. Most people didn't mind but one of my students was very uncomfortable after her third hug and migrated back up to her seat. He also hugged another girl on a team who after a minute of being held was trying to pull away and he wouldn't let go until a teammate moved in and made him release.
I predict this kind if activity is going to lead to a sexual harassment lawsuit on FIRST. People do have a right to say no even if it's in the name of "fun" and if their wishes aren't respected they can take ANY action to put a stop to it.
Be mindful of that.

[Golto]

I'll make sure something of the sort makes it to the front page...

Also! Website updated! Comments welcome!

http://freehugalliance.com

[AllieLallah15]

Suggestions:

-Allow people to post new topics and threads.
-As of right now, whenever posts are made, they don't show up. That should be fixed.

Yay for free hugs!

[Golto]

Thanks, still trying to set permissions. I should have it fixed now

[Golto]

Doing some major updates! Fixed some profile icon issues, and I'm gonna start working on a chat room for us!

[N0s3Nugg3t]

Haha, I just saw the music video for this today...
If any of you are going to the Minnesota Regional, I'd love to see this there =D

[minirose224]

If any of you are going to the Minnesota Regional, I'd love to see this there =D

Team 1816, The Green Machine will be at the Minnesota Regional and has planned on bringing "Free Hugs" signs for a while. Now lets just see if we can get them made in all the rush of preparing for the regional. But anyone there, come over to our pit and I will give you a hug for sure!

[Golto]

We have updated again, new software (MUCH MORE STABLE), better forums, and we have set up a grant for FIRST programs.

Feel free to register, and join the revolution!

http://www.freehugalliance.com

[GoldenAI]

there is a music video for this? lol

and yes major updates! Don't forget to join in the discussions :)

[jacob07]

You call it the free hug alliance, i say its my birthday :D

[GoldenAI]

lol is that random or is there a reason for that last comment?

[GoldenAI]

Our current goal is to have at least one person from every team sign up for the free hug alliance and give free hugs at comps. This is preferably the job for mascots is it not?

[carla_rose]

we definetly gave out free hugs at nationals last year. big posters and all. people were pretty into it. we even free hugged dean kamen.

[GoldenAI]

lol well do it again this year!!!

[Drumrkat7]

Hey....I definitely remember hugging one of you guys at the CT Regional.

Best of luck!

[GoldenAI]

thank you! Its highly appreciated! :)

Be sure to check out the competition we are having!

[carla_rose]

i won't be able to free hug a lot this year. i'm human player now and don't have the time to walk around. but i'll hug anyone that finds me.

[Danny McC]

I am always down for hugs. I am a pretty big guy and hard to miss. I might look kinda mean people tell me. But i am the nicest guy youll ever meet. So if anyone wants to hug 816s robocoach im the tall white guy with the operator badge.

[Chris Herold]

I just read that our coach decleared the Nation Hug a Skunk Day on Saturday! That might be the perfect combination. ^^ Maybe you want to consider that...
I am there and waiting :P

Chris
Team 1983 - The Skunkworks

[GoldenAI]

wow this is great stuff I won't be able to make it to Nationals so I hope you all hug hug away in the spirit of FIRST and for the FREE HUG ALLIANCE!!!

Thanks to all~

[GoldenAI]

Also check out our logo competition and comment at this thread

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66878

[carla_rose]

I love hugs.

[GoldenAI]

I love that you keep replying :)
makes this thread better. Have you joined the website yet?