Re: A Courtesy
 

The thing is, "polite" is relative. In some contexts, it's considered rude to interrupt just to say "excuse me", and it's considered polite to quietly do something that doesn't interfere with what others are doing. If someone just wants to take a picture, I would be much happier if they just went ahead and did it than if they had to take my attention away from what I was doing at the time in order to ask for permission.

I still want to know why asking for permission to photograph a robot is something worth worrying about in the first place.

Re: A Courtesy
 

It's not the actual photo of the robot that is the pet peeve, it's the manner some people use to get the photo, if people are working on the bot, is it impossible to wait for them to be done, if you're taking photos of the bots, I'd be willing to guess there are plenty other teams and bots that you can get a snapshot of while you wait, plus talking to the team does usually helps with recon just as much as a photo can, asking about strengths and weaknesses, how things have been going. It works a lot better when you actually try to make contact with the team, at least from my experience.

Re: A Courtesy
 

No, but if you review those often overlooked Amendments, you will realize that any American citizen has the right to take a photo of virtually anything, anywhere.
The Photographers Right

FIRST Regionals are freely open and advertised to the public. Your not in a place with a reasonable expectation of privacy. (IE: Bathroom/ Bedroom)

Re: A Courtesy
 

We sent a sketch artist around one year instead of a photographer.
That worked out really well and were my favorite scouting mementos. It took quite a bit longer than photos, but it was really cool.

When I've taken photos in the past they were not for scouting purposes, but just because I thought the robot was neat. I admit the manners I was raised with lead me to be as unobtrusive and non-disruptive as possible when taking my personal photos. I don't interrupt people working or ask people to step out of the way.
Sometimes the workers don't notice me at all, other times I'll get a glance then be ignored, and of course many step out of the way and invite me closer.

Re: A Courtesy
 

If a team isn't busy, I usually try to strike up a conversation about whatever mechanism I am trying to photograph. If they are working, I usually just take the picture and I'm on my way. I suppose I can see how it would be annoying to have flashes going off left and right while you are trying to work. If the photo is of a cool mechanism on the robot and not random things or team members in the pit, then its not a problem with me.

Re: A Courtesy
 

Any decent camera can shoot at a low AV at high ISO, no Flash required.

Re: A Courtesy
 

This is a thread with a specific request.
It also creates a great opportunity to talk a little bit about how Gracious Professionalism works when interacting with each other during the pressures of competition. I’ve had the pleasure of observing team interactions in FIRST venues such Lone Star and the Championship, and off seasons like Mission Mayhem. In all of these venues, I have noted the presence of respect and patience among the teams in the pit area. The rhythms and nuances of the competition are very evident in the pits and because all the teams are there competing, they are aware of them by and large. When scouting the teams/robots, the exchange of information and the interactions among the team members is valuable. That is where seeds of GP can take root when training new members, working with new rookie teams.

There are ways to develop this area of the team program. One way would be to plan in advance just how the pit crew is going to manage the demands of the robot and the demands of the scouts/visitors/VIPS/judges. We know all of this is going to converge at the same time and we know the stakes, the emotions, the time limits. The more advanced planning regarding how to manage all of this, the better the efficiency of the team and the smoothness of the process with regard to working as a team and also, interacting with others. Veteran teams can help rookie teams learn these subtle aspects of Gracious Professionalism and respect for each other. Veteran team members can train their new members in these areas.

A polite request to take a photo of team’s robot can be a part of this.

Re: A Courtesy
 

well, i can see that you have to ask to take a picture, but what could we do with it exept for studying it? make changes to our bot? (not allowed) Sabotag? (also not allowed

Re: A Courtesy
 

Certainly. But that has nothing to do with the waiver everyone signed.

Re: A Courtesy
 

Personally, I just grab a photo and go. It's not that I have no interest in how your machine works, it's that, even if you explained it to me, I'd have no idea what you were talking about. It does, however, spark my memory as to what I've seen that robot do on the field. Normally, my camera has a flash that can blind everyone in the pits, so if teams see it and want to say something (aka, we're still working on it), I'm happy to take note.

Past that, I don't bother people who are working in the pits. They're trying to get their job done, I'm trying to get mine done. If I go over, interrupt, they will likely (and politely so) try to get everyone out of the way so that I can get a good photo... and it turns into a 5 minute ordeal - not productive for anyone.

Re: A Courtesy
 

In the past, people asking for buttons has been infinitely more annoying to me then people asking for a picture. To those of you who claim that when someone asks to take a picture disturbs your team, Maybe you should have the person who answers all of the judges questions, also answer this question. All you have to say is sure, and go on.

Re: A Courtesy
 

At regionals I try and have my scouts take pictures of the robots in addition to talking to them. However, sometimes the robot isn't there when the pit scouting sheet is filled out, or the scout forgets to take a picture... etc. If thats the case I just send them out to grab a quick picture. It's not that we don't want to talk to you about your robot, its that we already have the sheet filled out and we have a very limited amount of time. As nice as it would be to scout every team several times, the day is only so long.

My two cents.

Re: A Courtesy
 

As for me and our team, I feel honored if someone wants a picture of our robot.
If they want to find out how we did something I will be happy to tell them.
If they want a copy of our drawings, our scouting information, our business plan, our safety plan... our code... whatever.

Sometimes we can't get it to someone right when they ask but we will make every effort to get it to them when we can.

Our team, and many, many others, lives to share the FIRST experience with other teams and anyone else that wants to hear.

I do know that sometimes pit scouts can be overzealous and a little pushy when they are trying to gather information. That is why we keep someone in the pit specifically to talk to them... that is their only job... this way we can get our work done without having to be rude or short with pit scouts.

Please come to our pit... we love company...

B

Re: A Courtesy
 

OK I by no means have any problem with photos. It is a pet peeve of mine, mainly because people take photos without even talking a lot of times. Thats what the pet peeve is. I'm well aware that everyone has has agreed to let things be photographed. Its just to me I always ask before a photograph gets taken. We have posted photos of our robot, I know that. Just be polite and say hi, ask if ya can take a picture and we will let ya into the pit and let ya take as many as you like. By no means am I trying to be secretive. I wanna meet ya and talk to ya. Thats what FIRST is all about.

So what I'm saying is, feel free to get a photo and ask questions. Don't just snap a photo and run!

Also as a note, most scouts are social and that is GREAT!

And what FIRST is about!

Re: A Courtesy
 

This is what I was trying to say Thanks!