[Mike Martus]

Following the extreme path even farther ....... would putting down tools include Shutting off ChiefDelphi.com? Should FIRST and Innovation FIRST disable all the tools (programming) they have provided? Should FIRST shut down their web site for the time period?

Should we all stop fundraising? Should we all stop mentoring activities with youth? Should we stop promoting our team? Should we stop organizing travel, room arrangements, and details for events?

Even more remote and extreme should all students stop learning about robots, motors, programming, animation, welding, electronics and go to veggin out in front of the mindless TV programs, making sure to turn of the science channel and any science related education that relates to the FIRST experience?

Hey guys, I do not think we can even ask people to stop thinking about their robot, what it will do or could do, how to make it better. Thinking about the excitement of the coming game, changes you could possibly make at the event are the spirit of FIRST.

In my opinion this rule could evolve into anti-FIRST, anti-education and if any of the above come true the destruction of the FIRST Organization in a very quick crash and burn.

To sum up - I think restricting teams from making practice robots would be a serious error on the part of FIRST.


BTW-at the regional meetings last year FIRST people asked how many teams built a second robot. Better that 1/2 of the teams there (MI) did. If there is going to be a rule change not allowing this, there willl be a lot of unhappy teams if they wait to long.