Quote:
Originally Posted by sanddrag
I see it as a safety hazard more than a safety practice. Here's why.
The problem I see is that it's being yelled so often, and so many times without purpose, that two things are happening:
1. People hear it so often they are tuning it out. It has less meaning now. It's like the boy who cried wolf.
2. Teams are gaining a false sense of entitlement that just because they yell "ROBOT!", other people will immediately move out of their way, and they proceed forward quickly whether the path is clear or not.
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I agree wholeheartedly particularly with point #2. I've seen and been the recipient of a collision with a robot cart because someone has taken the attitude that because they yelled robot at the top of their lungs they are not responsible for running into people.
In regards to point #1 the fact that people yell it at the top of their lungs means that it is ineffective. There really isn't a way to determine if it is coming from 2 isles over from someone yelling at the top of their lungs or someone using a reasonably loud voice coming down your isle.
In regards to those who say the access to the pits should be restricted I just don't agree as that goes against the goals of first. Sure it is good to see the matches but getting up close and personal with the robots in the pits and seeing older kids putting so much effort into working on their robots is much more effective at sparking an interest in future generations of FIRST'ers.