[archiver]

Posted by Jason Morrella at 03/22/2001 3:01 AM EST


Coach on team #254, Cheesy Poofs, from Bellarmine College Prep & others and NASA Ames/Cypress Semiconductor/Unity Care.


In Reply to: Re: missing the point
Posted by nick237 on 03/21/2001 5:29 PM EST:




: Dont confuse discontent with concerns because I am a perfectionist and im concerned that FIRST is losing its
: perfect rating. Some times some thing can grow too fast and then the whole organization suffers.
: My mother always told me to look after the little things in life and they will take care of the big things. I hoped that I was trying to take care of the little things before they became a disaster.
: Last year two of our students were hurt trying to get the robot off the field, one fell over the 18" rail and one was hurt trying to manouver the robot cart around the corner off the stage at the UTC Regional.
: We asked if they could put a gate in the frame work so you didnt have to step over it, we also asked for lights on the side of the stage and a less degree of turn off the side stage.... "guess what" nothing was done and again a student was hurt.
: Those are concerns not complaints. FIRST didnt listen.
: Enough babble, have a great time in Florida and hopefully next year will be better.
: nick237


Nick - that is exactly my point. If you had noticed, two of the kee klamp fittings on each side of the field are different and one of the bars on each side of the field this year is removeable. Teams have the option of using it if they feel they can not safely lift their robot over the bar. Check the field at the regional this week - you will notice this is true. Also - this addition is due 100% to team feedback FIRST recieved at the team forum over the summer.
Teams did complain about possible injury carrying robots, FIRST DID listen, and they tried to provide a solution. The solution is by no means perfect, and you will undoubtedly say it is not good enough - the point is that you continually say FIRST DOES NOT LISTEN - you are very mistaken about that.
Teams also asked for a way to size their robots without having to push it into the box sideways (because it was damaging the wheels and robots) - again they listened, and we now have a sliding tray to put the robot on at the bottom of the sizing box. Again, all because FIRST listened to teams.
My point was NEVER to stop pointing things out Nick. I agree with what Joe Johnson said, and I would never ask anyone to stop giving "constructive" criticism. Many of the ideas people like Joe Johnson, Andy Baker, and others have given are now part of FIRST and have made the competition better for everyone. But just because FIRST has not used EVERY ONE of their ideas, it doesn't mean they aren't listening. There is nothing wrong with pointing out ways to improve things - but there is a place, a time, and a way to do it. At the end of the year, I will have many suggestions and ideas to improve things - just as will many others.
The reason I made my post is because sometimes the tone of some of these posts is VERY disrespectful and rude towards FIRST. Anyone who would ever imply the people at FIRST don't care about the teams or listen to their concerns is just wrong. They have showed year after year that they try VERY HARD to listen to the teams. Are there always things to improve - absolutely. Do they try every year - absolutely. I have no problem with expressing your ideas about FIRST - I express many myself. I apologize if you thought my post was telling you or anyone else not to share your observations and ideas to improve FIRST. Just please don't make any more comments about FIRST not listening to the teams - it sounds petty, it is unfair to FIRST, and it is not true. Other than that - save up all your ideas & suggestions - many of them are very good and I agree with some of them. FIRST needs to hear them at the Team Forum to prepare for next season.