[archiver]

Posted by Chris Hibner at 2/2/2001 7:06 AM EST


Coach on team #308, Walled Lake Monster, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW Automotive Electronics.


In Reply to: The message FIRST is trying to send... and we should hear...
Posted by colleen - T190 on 2/2/2001 3:42 AM EST:



: since when was it less important to make something happen than it was to get credit for it...?

Let me tell you when: 1999 - the year alliances were introduced. The problem is that teams must pick alliance partners. Therefore, everyone that doesn't qualify must try to make a case for their team to be chosen. To do this, it is important that they give some proof that they are a worthy partner. Therefore, if teams want to be chosen, they must take credit for as much as possible so that they prove themselves as a worthy team.

What you're seeing is that people are gettting better at playing the political game. In 1999, the politics weren't that bad since this aspect was new to teams. In 2000 (after everyone learned their lessons from 1999) most teams realized that they would need a pretty good sales campaign if they wanted to be in the finals; thus, the rise of the crazy political game last year. As long as we choose alliances in FIRST, the politics will continue (and most likely become more involved).