Quote:
Originally Posted by Foster
Dear Patrick
(and Dear Others that think a team got robbed of a victory)
Thanks for posting and a bigger thanks for you volunteering to help out at the next two events. Your help will be deeply appreciated.
Video replay / electronic scoring isn't what you think it is. NASCAR races at ~30 tracks and has spent millions on putting sensors into the tracks to mark the position of the cars. MLB / NFL with their limited number of stadiums has spent millions of dollars along with more millions by FOX/NBC/CBS/ABC/ESPN on video technology to be able to manage video replays.
I'm super pleased that you've decided to dedicate you next two years to doing this work for FIRST and I'm super excited to listen to your announcement on the partner dollars you've signed up to contribute, your new TV funded dollars and how that charging people to come watch the event to also help fund this will work out. Or that you hit Powerball to pay for all of this and are donating the proceeds.
I'm hoping that a referee reaches out to you and has you come stand next to them on the field. One would think, from sitting in the stands, that being a referee is a piece of cake. In reality down on the field it's overly bright, it's noisy, it's a huge amount to watch.
Other than being the Volunteer Coordinator, there is no worse job in FIRST than being a referee. There isn't any upside since you are not getting paid, the pizza was pretty bad (cheese only really?) , and frankly you have a closet full of robot shirts. And I'm calling BS on that "Vertical Stripes are slimming"
Other than you are out there making a difference, making an effort to improve the world. Giving up your only non-replaceable thing in your life, time, to help other people.
To find out that they are ungrateful, condescending, and mocking your efforts to help them.
But, since you've signed up to be one of them at the next two events, I look forward to your post in 4 weeks to see how your world view has changed. Welcome to the world of being a volunteer!
Warmest personal regards,
Foster
(Why yes, that was filled full of snark and sarcasm. Make sure you send me your VIMS number on how many events you are helping at when you send your complaint mail).
[[ Edited to add: So I posted right after the post came up. I type slow and try to proofread, so I'm now number 6 behind an edited post. ]]
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I don't know if you read the edits before noticing themon your edit, but by no means am I trying to discredit referees themselves. I agree that you have it tough, students and mentors alike can be ungrateful at times. However, I have never seen a more respectful approach than the one my students on 395 took to the issue. They did not get nearly as angry as I did, they did not lose their heads, and they did not root against the alliance that advanced to semis. Instead they decided to start making efforts to stop this from happening in future years despite being largely composed of seniors. All FIRST volunteers deserve respect, especially Referees and Judges, but a change to the video policy would be a huge step in the right direction. No teams could feel like they have any right to feel unfairly judged because calls would be right every time, or at least far more often. The students deserve fair play, and the refs deserve respect for their efforts and a way to make sure they can deliver what students ask of them. A video review policy will help both groups get what they deserve. If this still offends you, I don't know what to tell you.