Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

Ugh, that's a heck of a way to go. Sorry it ended that way. Hopefully you have better luck in Windsor!

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

There may be many opinions about Aerial Assist, but I think everyone can agree that there's a lot going on in any given match, which can make it difficult to appreciate each robot's role.

Here's a 4x-slowed-down version of Waterloo's Q64.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITwZ...ature=youtu.be

It's amazing that even at this slow pace, there's so much going on. Including Karthik moonlighting as a field reset person at 3:15.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

This is a very disappointing comment coming from you Karthik, you are supposed to be as unbiased as John is. As a person that many of these young people look up to, your comment comes off as neither gracious nor professional and an apology to John should be forthcoming.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

While I agree Karthik's comment was a bit off-colour, I don't think making that accusation while hiding behind a sock puppet account serves anyone.

I'm fairly certain that his overreaction is nothing more than an artifact of his passion for this program and frustration at watching his team be eliminated from two events by a foul resulting in him getting a bit carried away.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

I agree with your comment 100%. Never thought a comment like that would come from Karthik. My kids actually look up to him all the time. What a change in character!

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

Team 1114 has every right to be upset about this. If the competition had happened the previous week, then the team breaking off their wing would have gotten a technical foul, which would have let 1114's alliance win. The GDC changed a rule a day before the competition started, and let teams like 1114 be the guinea pigs to test out the rules. The GDC should not be testing their rules, that were released before anybody had any time to think about them, on actual competitions. It makes zero sense that an added rule, designed to prevent and discourage robot damage and destruction, would penalize a team for being the recipient of "game play that results in damage", but the old rule does not.

When people cheer for these results, they're saying to FIRST that they're okay with these kinds of rule changes. Karthik is upset because his team has been the victim of a poorly written foul rule twice this year.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

Where is the change in character?
Seems like Karthik just pointed out a discrepancy between a publicly made comment and that individuals public actions.

I guess it would be in better taste for Karthik to smile, nod, and accept the inherent hypocrisy?

Tough calls are made in FRC all the time. Sometimes these calls go our way, sometimes they don't. Winning or Losing our reactions are what matter. I was impressed by my friend Karthik's actions as MC after a call didn't go his team's way. I hope that in a similar situation I would behave as professionally.

Stating distasteful truth out-loud is often seen as distasteful... even when it is still truth.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

Hmm... I don't see any reason for your kids not to continue looking up to Karthik in that post.

If a single post on an internet forum sways your opinion of someone's character, you will likely find yourself disappointed by many people. Especially a post as mild as that one.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

Actually, I'm not. I'm a proud member of Team 1114 and merely a FIRST volunteer. John on the other hand is a FIRST Regional Director and is held to a much higher standard.

When I'm MCing, part of my job is to be as unbiased as possible. I'd like to think I've done that for the past 10 years. But I guess I'm not doing a good enough job. That's why I made the decision yesterday to never MC again in Ontario. I'm sure this will make your team very happy; whichever anonymous team that is.

I stand firmly by my original comment.

I'm sorry to disappoint both of you and your anonymous teams. If these students looked up to me, I would hope it was because of my passion, my fire, and my unwavering belief that people should stand up against hypocrisy and for what they believe in. To any of those I let down, I do apologize. It was never my intent to disappoint you. I'm sorry.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

I would like to interject here:

I don't think the issue has anything to do with the fact that 1241 were not given a technical foul. I personally believe they didn't deserve a 50pt penalty (nor any).

The issue is also not that the rule update was put out on a Thursday instead of a Tuesday. I believe everyone at the regional was aware of the new rules. It's also misleading to use the word 'guinea pigs', unless you consider every team competing at an event after a Tuesday rule update a 'guinea pig'. Rule updates exist because the GDC are not ominiscient - teams design, build, play in more imaginative ways than they could possibly have prepared for. (On a side point, I am curious as to how else you would 'test the rules'?)

The update to G27 has helped turned this game from Aerial Assault back to Aerial Assist, as highlighted by some great play at Waterloo.

The real issue is G24. I do not believe the wording of this rule matches the intent. At least, I do not believe it was GDC's intent to punish teams for violating this rule if it was forced inadvertedly from damage by another robot. Especially as it was wholly inconsequential to the outcome of the match.

The tragedy was that 1114 were punished, not that 1241 were not penalized enough.

EDIT: On second reading, I realize I may have mis-interpreted your point. I agree that the rules are wrong and I agree that the rule update did indadvertedly create this ruling, but I want to emphasise that the issue was that the rule update did not change G24, not that it changed G27/G28.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

I'm kinda of curious as to where everyone is reading the malice of Karthik's words? His post seemed perfectly fine.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

Apparently I can't give anymore reputation to Karthik, so I'll actually have to post instead (what a shame, isn't it?).

Maybe all you Ontario people are seeing this differently, but what I'm seeing as a remote observer is Ontario losing one of the best emcees in FIRST over how the community is acting.

That's a sad, sad thing to see.

Karthik: if you aren't going to be emceeing in Ontario again, feel free to come on over to Minnesota some time. We'd love to have you and your enthusiasm.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

Seconded. Their loss.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

As an outsider - that's terrible, Ontario is losing a great emcee with this. Your user tag "achievement through enthusiasm;" you and 1114 do both of those things very well and its a shame things like this have to happen.

I'm sure NEFIRST would love to have you, if you want to continue emceeing and ever venture stateside.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

The students and the young mentors on 1296 are quoting "Karthik" all the time. It is like Karthik sits in on all our design discussions (useful since we have no ME mentors). I'm so busy outside of FIRST I rarely get time to watch any other teams but I made a point of catching Waterloo Friday and part of Saturday. I thoroughly enjoyed Karthik's MC-ing (is that a word?). It is nice to have a guy/girl who really knows robots and the game rules doing running color commentary. Karthik's dialogue was entertaining and informative.

It seems wrong to call Karthik out for one emotional (and I think understandable) reaction. I miss the early days of the internet when correct spelling was optional and it was understood that it is difficult/impossible to convey emotion in ASCII.

So - I don't know ya but your annual Waterloo act will be missed!