Re: FIRST vs Free Speech
 

I also mean no disrespect towards you, but I find it quite the opposite: Gracious professionalism is a hallmark of FIRST, and "respecting the community" is a big part of gracious professionalism. Illegally intruding upon a country is a big disrespect towards whatever community you illegally trek into.

Re: FIRST vs Free Speech
 

We should discuss the idea of free speech and having your own opinion, but I do not believe this is the correct place to debate about the ideals of the presidential candidates.

Re: FIRST vs Free Speech
 

I think it best to keep political opinions to ourselves because then instances like this happen when people have conflicting views.

Re: FIRST vs Free Speech
 

Instances like what? There has been no disrespect over this entire thread between anybody, it's just a healthy discussion. Everyone is using proper manners, even when they disagree. Why do you think an 'instance like this' is undesirable?

Re: FIRST vs Free Speech
 

Chiefdelphi is a Robotics forum. In fact to quote the site directly "This is a discussion forum used to discuss the FIRST Robotics Competition."

Talking about political views is a TERRIBLE idea here and frankly inappropriate. You are either a newly created Anon account or a first time CD user. If this is your first time here trust me in telling you a political discussion will turn sour very quickly.

Re: FIRST vs Free Speech
 

Hang on, how did this volunteer even see the political message on the flip-flops if you were wearing them?

Re: FIRST vs Free Speech
 

What I mean by that is at competitions. It's FRC not a political rally hahaha! People will naturally have different opinions when you are in public so to avoid conflict I think it is best to not to publicly promote a political figure. At competition I just wear my uniform.

Re: FIRST vs Free Speech
 

Well, you could have just been sarcastic... :P
In all seriousness though, that sounds like a volunteer problem and not a FIRST problem, as others above have said.
That being said, wearing political clothing at comps is a little sketchy in general IMO, because competitions are a professional setting where you represent your team. But if your team is ok with it, as long as it's not blatantly offensive there's no point in making it an issue.

Re: FIRST vs Free Speech
 

OK, I won't bring up any current politics but I will bring the thread back to what it was originally about: FIRST vs Free Speech. I was told that the actions of one person should not represent all of FIRST, which I agree with.

But now everybody on here is telling me to hush-hush with how I believe this volunteer was behaving inappropriately, and surely everyone on here is part of the FIRST community. So now a group of people representative of the FIRST community are also trying to squash free speech. Doesn't this just prove exactly what I was claiming in the original post?

Re: FIRST vs Free Speech
 

I was sitting on the table that's on the back wall of each pit, swinging my feet kicking them off and putting them back on again while waiting for our next match.

Re: FIRST vs Free Speech
 

No because he was commenting on having non-closed toe shoes on and had a differing opinion. That how I see it but others may see it differently.

Re: FIRST vs Free Speech
 

I don't think you understand what free speech is. They are not squashing your free speech they are requesting that we keep it civil and away from politics. If your free speech was being squashed then your posts would be gone. You by all means have free speech, does not mean that we have to listen to it or that you are free of repercussions due to your speech.

Re: FIRST vs Free Speech
 

I don't you think you understand what I'm talking about.

For one to be against free-speech, they don't have to be deleting posts and censoring information. The minimum criteria is that they express that they are against it. For example, if you were to say "I don't support free speech, and I don't think you should bring certain discussion here," you wouldn't be censoring me, but you would certainly be against free speech. After all, you would've said it.

Re: FIRST vs Free Speech
 

I got two questions for you:

1. Are you secretly affiliated with bad lard (some secret Bad Lard Coalition or something)?

and

2. What do you think about free speech in FRC China?

Warm Regards,
Smiti ::safety::

Re: FIRST vs Free Speech
 

I'm no expert in Chinese affairs, but I think it's a shame that the Chinese government censors so much information, especially online. I don't know how that affects the FRC sphere.