[JaneYoung]

It seems that we have accrued several threads over this season that like to analyze numbers and stats. Wins/losses/possibilities. We also seem to like to analyze data that may be rumored or maybe not even analyze rumored data but analyze rumors - pick them apart.

We tend to get uglier and uglier as we move through some of these threads, each of us trying to drive home a point, sometimes in a pointless rumored discussion. We become so driven with our analyzing that we can even appear callous with regard to successful teams comprised of respected mentors and wonderful students, criticizing them and their well-earned and documented achievements. We allow our perspectives to become strong opinions in making statements about FIRST, of which many, if not all, of us are volunteer members.

ChiefDelphi is an amazing fora open to members of FIRST and visitors. It has always welcomed discussions and exchanges of information between members of the FIRST community. We seem to be taking advantage of this goodness in some ways; ways in which each one of us is accountable and responsible with how we post our opinions as well as our facts and data.

This is a time right before the Championship...the place where FIRSTers gather to compete, to celebrate, to recognize the achievements and developments of the 2008 FIRST season. That is no small thing and we should not diminish it with our own small thinking.

The proper place to ask questions regarding how FIRST conducts business is with FIRST. That will never change. Healthy, respectful discussion on CD is one thing, ugliness is another. The members of our FIRST community can recognize the difference and how it impacts short term and long term. I would like to see the ugliness cease.

Sincerely,
Jane Young