Quote:
Originally Posted by Karibou
You would tell them the same thing that you would tell them if you burnt out a BaneBots motor, but couldn't use the globe sitting on the shelf. Why can't we use a different 12V battery that is the same size and same weight but not the specific model*? Now, I'm not sure what the response would be, but it's the same kind of thing.
[snip]
I'm so sad to see our happy FIRST community fall apart because of this.
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There seems to be a lot of lingering bad blood that won't go away, but I think the reason more people might take issue is the clarification following the update: "Supporting FIRST means supporting FTC and FLL and their kits." This is true, but I think many teams "support culture change" with Vex, and take offense to the implication that FIRST is the only way to "change culture." I don't think FIRST is saying that... but I think many are taking it as an implicit assumption.
In the thread I linked to above was an IFI press release, saying that TSA had chosen Vex as their robot kit of choice. The thread title was
"VEX beats Tetrix and others in bid to develop a robotics competition for the TSA".
Dave pointed out that turf wars are a waste of everyone's time, because only about 5% of American high school students have access to FIRST's programs (and other nations are probably in the same ballpark). We are best served by reaching outwards.
Another good quote:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by dlavery
And that is the one blemish that sits on this whole discussion. The creation and implementation of the TSA/IFI program is a wonderful accomplishment. It is one of which both TSA and IFI should be proud. However, "VEX beats Tetrix and others..." is one of the most off-putting introductions to this story that I could imagine. To present it in a chest-thumping "Look - we beat Tetrix!" yell of bravado is both unnecessary and short-sighted.
I have said it before, and I will say it again: If between them FIRST, IFI, BotBall, BEST, and PLTW are collectively dedicating even a single neuron firing to the contemplation of how to beat the "other guys," then collectively they are all fools.
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