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Unread 01-01-2014, 20:40
Oblarg Oblarg is offline
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Re: Annual Reminder--Please Read the Manual!

Quote:
Originally Posted by DevenStonow View Post
I don't necessarily agree with the way the GDC answers certain things (2012's 'grab, grasp, grapple' definition for example) but I understand why they won't look at a picture or design and give a ruling; pictures and descriptions are great, but the problem is they might not fully convey the design/look completely different in person. Also, what happens when Team XXXX gets a ruling based off a picture on Q&A, Team YYYY does something similar, doesn't get a ruling? Are they able to reference Team XXXX's Q&A? It, in my opinion, overly complexifies the Q&A system and adds another burden on the GDC if they start openly reviewing designs via the Q&A.
It seems to me that this is a fundamental problem with the consistency of the rules; if they can't give reasonable rulings of this nature during the Q&A session, how are they supposed to do it at competition? Do they really think the inconvenience of hampering the Q&A process outweighs the inconvenience of teams showing up with illegal designs which they could not have possibly known were going to be illegal?

Obviously, a picture can be flawed, and the judgment given based on a flawed picture will be flawed. That said, is the proper way to address that really to take a blanket approach of "we will not give rulings on the legality of specific designs?" I think that this cannot possibly be the best solution.
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Member, FRC Team 449: 2007-2010
Drive Mechanics Lead, FRC Team 449: 2009-2010
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