[Mike Betts]

Mike,

I'm going to sidestep the MI discussion and try to throw out a few ideas toward your initial query about frustration.

A lot of the issues we are having are due to how FIRST is growing. There are over 2000 teams this year (an increase of over 14% from last year). There are over 400 new (rookie) teams and some 48 regional competitions (not counting Michigan).

1. With an increase in regionals, there is inevitably going to be an increase in the "non-uniformity" of those regionals. As FIRST continues to grow, it will take some dramatic changes to maintain a semblance of uniformity. I'm not sure that FIRST has a plan as to how to do that...

2. With more teams comes more people posting. This website has "crashed" a few times this season just due to the large number of people using the site. The FIRST website has had similar bandwidth issues.

3. Along with #2 and a "normal" distribution of online personalities, you will have more "fringe" posters. These fringe posters can be more antagonistic, less knowledgeable and/or just more verbose. Note that not all of this fringe are students...

4. Along with #2 and #3, you have a greater number of pseudo "experts". These are folks who post their opinions as factual without citing the rules or demonstrating good, practical, common sense. Along with this, many hide behind the cloak of the anonymity that an internet persona can provide. Once again (and quite unbelievably), not all are students...

5. Now let's look at the rookies, second and third year teams and members of veteran teams who are new to FIRST... Their numbers are swelling as well... Yes, they sometimes ask questions that have been asked before or seem naive but that does not negate the fact that they need assistance. Yes, there is a bounty of material and websites to help them but that shear volume of material that they have to digest is overwhelming.

6. Lastly, the number of "veterans" seems to be slipping. Add to that the number of posts has increased to the point that we can not keep up (at least I can't).

These are some of the reasons I see why frustration is seemingly growing and, unfortunately, will continue to grow into the future as FIRST continues to grow.

However, I'd like to end this 4AM digression on an upbeat... The squeaky wheel gets greased. The righteous indignation and angst will continue to grow as FIRST grows but so will the number of people who take away a positive experience. Maybe they don't post as often or, when they do, their posts are overshadowed by the frustration in others but I believe their numbers are also growing.

Otherwise, what are we doing this for?

JMHO,

Mike