Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolyn_Grace
Also, a noisemaker doesn't go off every ten seconds, to a point where you can start ignoring it.
|
By the 3rd day of competition, a quieter voice can often gain more attention than a loud obnoxious one.
I saw far more dangerous set-ups for the robot traffic incurred by the guests than I did by the robots on their way to queuing. My question is,
why do the competitors have to contend with this? If baby strollers are not allowed in the pits, then why do the guests with baby strollers take up valuable time arguing with the safety advisor when told to move out of the way of the lane of robot traffic immediately and remove the baby stroller from the pits? Why does everyone have to be involved in unsnarling constant tangles in the lane? Which is what it should be - a robot traffic lane. No more, no less.
It's a dumb waste of time and energy that could be managed so easily.
Jane
P.S. Here's my thinking on guests. They can be welcomed in the pits but they have to have an understanding of what that means. Scenario: new mentors with new families - how much prior training/understanding of the competition pits has been given to the mentors so that they can share that understanding/information with the families? Parents/relatives/friends of students and mentors on the team - same thing. How much training and information has been given to the guests so that they understand the value, importance, and reasons for the pits' existence? Many relatives, etc., are used to things like science fairs and museums, where they are free to roam and not be an obstruction in anyone's path. No one likes to be told to get out of the way or to leave the pits or to MOVE! No one likes feeling stupid or that they are in the way or that their shoes are bad. How much effort on the part of each team would it take to kick the training/flow of information up a notch? It could start with visits to the team's build session, teaching the guests how students and mentors conduct themselves in the shop and why that is important. If leaflets are to be handed out, they should be handed out there - explaining the reason for safety glasses, hair pulled back, and closed shoes. It could also be helpful if guests are given the information containing the team name, number, and where they are from - not just: 'come to the competition on Saturday - it's cool.'
Venues could scale back on times that the pits are open to the guests and the teams could have ambassadors to help with the guests/flow of traffic, etc. Lanes could be identified with tape on the floor. Teams are very good at following tape lines and guests could learn to respect those tape lines.
Nobody has to be the bad guy and get yelled at - constantly.