Quote:
Originally posted by Danimal
Amanda,
Your post highlights the need for people to avoid conduct that FIRST itself has stated is not Gracious Professionalism.
When a team takes an action that other teams consider outside of what is appropriate a degenerative cycle is created that leads to even more negative actions.
This, in turn, leads us farther and farther away from the ideals that FIRST is fostering.
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Thanks.
Indeed, I would like to hear what Dave Lavery would have to say about all of this, but moreover, if I could just have 10 teensy-weensy minutes with Dean Kamen to talk to him about this, I wonder what he would say? I'd live for the chance to just sit in the stands at a regional with Dean, and just ask him about his opinions.
All of the teams that are all for collusions... would you tell Dean about your arrangement? What about Woodie? Would you put it on your Chairman's Award submission? Or for the Woodie Flowers Award?
If you can go through this with a clear conscience and a grasp on gracious professionalism, that that is your decision, and no team is going to change your mind. This is what it comes down to.
You can argue yourself in circles about who is right and who is wrong. It's not who is right and who is wrong that matters. It's come down to, are you doing the right thing for these students and teaching them gracious professionalism, or showing them an easy way out?
Said it before and I'll say it again - There's nothing wrong with losing, especially if you lost fair and square. If you know you did a good job, have pride in yourself.
'Winning' and 'Losing' are just two words FIRST threw in this competition to make it interesting. The world doesn't end if you lose, you just go back to your pits, fix what needs fixing, and try it again.
That's the difference between other clubs and communities and FIRST - you still leave the regional shaking hands, admiring everyone else's work, and respecting them for both what they have built and how they have carried themselves during competition. Whereas a football team might badmouth their opponents at a game (no matter what strategy they use), FIRST kids think, "Wow, [insert team here] was really good last year. I really liked their [robot, handouts, attitude, friendliness]. I can't wait to play against them again."