[JVN]

Okay. Let's recap the "facts" briefly.

-FIRST has now issued an official ruling that collaboration is legal for 2004.

-They have mentioned that collaboration is a POSITIVE thing, and even likening it to the "coopertition" the organization is so proud of.



This is my personal opinion:

I have no affiliation with 60/254, but I am a member of these forums, and feel very strongly about all of this.

A lot of people voiced a lot of opinions on this subject in a VERY short period of time. Many of these posts came off as attacking in nature, and downright slanderous of teams 254 and 60. Many people presumed to speak "for FIRST" and transcended "simple interpretation of the rules". These attacks left a VERY sour taste in my mouth. I was extremely disappointed by the way certain individuals handled this entire thing.
On the other side of things, I felt that those individuals from 254 and 60 handled this very well. The posts issuing from this side were all positive, and informative. They made their arguments very well, and didn't lower themselves to the level of the "lynch mob" that was persecuting them.

I do not think it is unfair to call for an appology by all those who gave in to "mud slinging" during all this. It is one thing to disagree with what went on, it is another to directly attack and slander these two teams, who have had such a TREMENDOUS positive impact on FIRST and the FIRST community.
Those members of these forums who have done so, have done a disservice to themselves, to their teams, and to these 2 teams.

Now, remove your foot from your mouth, and issue an applogy to these two GREAT teams.
(a PM would probably be appropriate)


I'm only sorry this wasn't said sooner. It is time to heal the damage that has been done.

John Vielkind-Neun
College Mentor - 229