[TubaMorg]

I have been following this discussion for quite a while, but have refrained from saying anything, largely because this is an important discussion, and a coherent response hadn't gelled in my mind.

My team discussed the strategy of scoring for our opponents early on, though not seriously. We talk about scoring for the other alliance most years, as a way to keep the score close or to avoid a skunk. We also conclude every year that we are going to try and win every single match we play. We build our robot the best we can to win matches. Some years we don't get there. Other years we preform pretty darn well. We haven't competed yet this year, so we don't know for sure what kind of robot is going to take the field. We do know, however, that even if we have the saddest robot in Texas, we don't want anyone scoring points for us. The only thing worse than loosing a match, is having someone LET you win. That is the lowest form of respect you can ever show an opponent and we flat out refuse to disrespect our opponents. Conversely we refuse to be disrespected and will actively block all attempts to do so.

A rose is a rose, and throwing a match is throwing a match. Before the update there were some arguments that perhaps the 6 v 0 strategy was part of the master GDC plan so therefore an easier pill to swallow. I was skeptical, and it turns out throwing a match is not, in fact, part of the spirit of the game. If your team chooses that route then proudly state you are throwing a match in order to maximize seeding points. Or would you prefer to call it rigging a match? Whatever you call it, don't get mad if other people call it for what it is. If the term "throwing a game" is upsetting, perhaps "playing to win a game" should be your only strategy.

If your argument is that your team plays to maximize seeding points, regardless of the outcome of the match, more power to you. As long as you are also playing to win the match, you are welcome in our alliance. Otherwise we may have a problem.

It's all fine and good to adopt a strategy that wins you a high seed for tournament selection but is it really true that maximizing seed points should be the goal at any cost? That appears to be the argument for those still advocating the 6 v 0 strategy. I truly don't think that is the spirit or intent of coopertition.

Team 1480 Robatos Locos has a number of slogans:
"Slow is fast"
"If we're going down, let's go down swinging"
"Respect"

If you want to employ the 6v0 strategy during one of our matches, then we RESPECTFULLY decline.