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Originally Posted by Ryan Gordon
Is that really the spirit of FIRST?
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Playing by the rules? I think so.
FIRST spirit involves playing fair.
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Originally Posted by Ryan Gordon
Isn't it more about being able to have fun and play with a working robot?
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I entirely agree. However, not all teams see it in such a way. Many maintain an "in it to win it" attitude, which sometimes causes them to bend or break rules. Several teams I saw misusing a badge were in no danger of having a broken robot, but instead chose to have a technical mentor down on the floor to tweak the 'bot.
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Originally Posted by Ryan Gordon
I know I would not want to compete in FIRST and put in all that sweat, energy, time, and money if that's the kind of connotation being portrayed to the students.
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I don't understand. FIRST has designated a team media badge for team
media use. I think it portrays the wrong ideas to a team's students to say it's OK to do anything to win.
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Originally Posted by Ryan Gordon
Let me also point out that if that is the case being made, subjection based on ID, then are you saying that it okay that a captain or a human player or a driver goes out and makes adjustments after they place it on the field? Why is the politic here being limited to media badges?
Should FIRST just disallow anyone touching the robot at all, except placement on the field and to turn it on, if this is the point being made?
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Members of the drive team could always work on the robot.
If a team could use a media badge anyway they wish, there would be no media. FIRST has a team media badge so that teams can have a photographer or videographer down on the field to document the team. Good photos can be especially helpful in promotional materials for teams looking to get new sponsors, or keep old ones. I've heard stories direct from mentors about how good pictures have helped get funding. I would hate to see a team miss out on a chance to get pictures of the team in action at the Championship because other team members decided that the media badge is best used by someone who can help fix the robot if needed.