These are just some thoughts I had about the loading zone, tomorrow I will post an idea for interpreting the original and enforcing the rule at competitions, called the Sunlight Rule.
Not to be lawyerly, but I think we can all agree that a "zone" can is accurately defined as "An area or a region distinguished from adjacent parts by a distinctive feature or characteristic." In this case, the distinctive feature is the HDPE triangle.
Also, I think we can agree that there are all sorts of zones. An end zone (as in football), an elevator, and a house all qualify as a zone, as they are each regions that are distinguished from adjacent areas by lines, walls, etc.
Now, in examining zones, we can see that being "in" a zone takes on different meanings depending upon the type of zone:
-To be "in" an end zone in football, you must be touching the ground within the end zone (there are one or two exceptions, but they don't seem particularly relevant).
-To be "in" an elevator, we can all agree that you need not be touching the elevator at all. So long as you are contained within the elevator, you are "in" the elevator.
-To be "in" a house is analogous to being in the elevator.
Which type of zone does the loading zone most closely resemble? --I realize there might be other types of zones, but it is 1:45 and I can't think of any more--
The loading zone is NOT an enclosed, 3-D space. Therefore, based on analogy alone
, in order to be "in" the loading zone, it makes sense that one must be touching the zone in the same way that one must touch the end zone in football.
I offer these statements just as thoughts.
-Andrew