[DampRobot]

Although we all like to think that FIRST is special in regard to the standard it holds its participants to, it really isn't. Almost all sports and activities support respect, service, responsibility, etc. in varying degrees. The only special thing in FIRST is what we call it: Gracious Profesionalism and Coopertition.

The simple fact is that the behavior described on this thread is not acceptable anywhere.

I suppose what a lot of people are referencing is the "good old days" when "everyone" understood how to behave at an event. Because of the rapid growth of the FIRST community (and Chief Delphi), the original feel of an exclusive organisation is lost and replaced by a more mainstream feel. FRC is no longer a handful of teams and students who deeply care about growing FIRST and its high standards. There are simply too many people not to have a few who don't represent FIRST positively.

Is this behavior acceptable? Of course not. Is it understandable, given the growth FIRST has experienced? I think so.