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At the Championship event, there are countless areas where scouts could relocate for better visibility.
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This is very untrue. This year we tried to be very dedicated to scouting and changed our location every day in search of a better view. The first day we had prime seats, almost bottom and center, but unfortunately we couldn't get those seats any other day. Otherwise, we were at the top, with the hopes of being able to see over everyone else (again, doesn't quite work at the Championship), and on Saturday, we were almost off of the field and at the top, running into the same situation. Some may not realize that if you are scouting with a laptop, you cannot stand up to look over those standing in front of you, when it is difficult to see even when they are sitting.
In the end, a team shouldn't have to go through extremes to try to see a match. Other teams should be courteous enough to realize that there are people behind them, and with only 6 or 7 matches, EVERY single match is vital to collect worthy scouting data.
Apparently, most have taken sides on this issue and a few have become offended by pleas to remain seated during the match. Again, I look at it like this, what difference does it make if you are standing and cheering during the whole match? Have you ever tried sitting and cheering during the match? Do you feel as if you are less spirited, or as if there is a loss of enthusiasm? If you didn't get a chance to stand, would you have gone "Oh man, if I was standing I would have been so much more spirited to my team and I guess I am going to have to sit and mope now!" I doubt it. A new twist to FIRST: a lesson in self-control to deal with. Try sitting and cheering for a few matches, just for the sake of everyone behind you.
How about this, if there was an actual rule about it, would you still stand and cheer? Probably not. You would think of better ways to show spirit according to the new ruling. Just because someone doesn't tell you to play in traffic doesn't mean that you should.
Hopefully FIRST will officially address this by next year with a fair solution. I'm sure we have better things to discuss than common courtesy.
-No L