Quote:
Originally Posted by GaryVoshol
I see no contradiction. Accomplishments include much more than winning.
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I personally agree with your notion about accomplishments, but the comment in question (to split hairs
) was made specifically in reference to awards, so I
do see a contradiction. Regardless, everyone's entitled to their opinion, even the original poster, despite what many seem to think.
Awards are indeed not everything, and the simple process of building a robot, and competing with it in even one regional, has many intangible benefits in its own right -- benefits that won't ever be done justice by a trophy or medal.
But awards do matter, let's not kid ourselves. Especially those championship eligibility awards, which not only represent tangible recognition, but also something more important: opportunity. Opportunity to go to that next level, as well as to be exposed to more sources of learning and inspiration.
And no one likes to be denied opportunity -- especially when that opportunity must be earned.
Which is kind of what it smells like, to me, when what was previously a merit-based championship slot is suddenly relegated to the random waiting list. It was originally a merit-based slot for a reason (one would hope), but suddenly, for no other reason than because some team merits a slot
so much that they in fact already have one, the meritocratic principle is simply cast aside.
That's what aggravates me as it relates to this topic.
And I think it's an easy thing to fix.