Where is Looking Forward?

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Is Looking Forward around?
Is he/she going to make predictions this year?

I hope so. I enjoy his/her insight into the teams and regionals.

[Peter Matteson]

It's early in the day. As I recall from last year LF didin't post until later in the day most weeks. I suspect we will see something before the competition starts tommorrow.

[Dave McLaughlin]

I have been looking forward to looking forward as well. Looking back to last year, the week one post came out on a Tuesday, and I believe he/she/they followed suite for the rest of the weeks.

[Looking Forward]

Unfortunately, there will be no week-by-week regional/district predictions this year. The current method for creating the LF is unsustainable, and would be virtually impossible to continue to follow while both keeping the standard high for the posts and keep other commitmens to work/school/FIRST/life intact. Rather than half-$@#$@#$@# a result and sacrifice the quality, the best option seemed to be to simply put the regional predictions on hiatus for 2010. Trust me, we're as disappointed about the lack of predictions as you are.

We're optimistic that a more sustainable method of researching, writing, and editing can be developed in time for 2011.

However, there will still be coverage of the Championship event in 2010. You can look forward to that.

-LF

[hipsterjr]

Noooooooooooooooooooooo!

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by Looking Forward

Unfortunately, there will be no week-by-week regional/district predictions this year. The current method for creating the LF is unsustainable, and would be virtually impossible to continue to follow while both keeping the standard high for the posts and keep other commitmens to work/school/FIRST/life intact. Rather than half-$@#$@#$@# a result and sacrifice the quality, the best option seemed to be to simply put the regional predictions on hiatus for 2010. Trust me, we're as disappointed about the lack of predictions as you are.

We're optimistic that a more sustainable method of researching, writing, and editing can be developed in time for 2011.

However, there will still be coverage of the Championship event in 2010. You can look forward to that.

-LF

Now, I am truely sad.

LF, thanks for all that you've done, and I look forward to your championship review.

Should you need anything to help make your predictions more sustainable, please let me and the rest of the community know.

[Racer26]

ACK. Was itching to read LF posts... Maybe someone will pick up the slack?

I would try, but my knowledge of non-Canadian teams is limited to the Flint, MI and North Brunswick, NJ areas where we compete in off-seasons, and even then isn't great outside the heavy hitters.

[Enigma's puzzle]

I am really disappointed, its really too bad. But i commend you on being responsible enough to walk away when you realized that it impeded on your own life.

Originally Posted by 1075guy

ACK. Was itching to read LF posts... Maybe someone will pick up the slack?

Do you think it would be possible to do a collaborative effort using people that would write about their own area/regional/districts?

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by Enigma's puzzle

Do you think it would be possible to do a collaborative effort using people that would write about their own area/regional/districts?

I read the LF Post earlier and decided to do some predictions for New Jersey on my own. They may not have all of the wisdom of LF behind them but I think they're pretty good. If someone does decided to get some sort of Collaboration going let me know and I'll be more than happy to help.

[Racer26]

As I recall, LF *was/is* a collaborative effort by some of FIRSTs most well known and well respected mentors from around the world. Without their help and wisdom, it would be difficult to get a quality result.

[BrianT103]

Originally Posted by 1075guy

As I recall, LF *was/is* a collaborative effort by some of FIRSTs most well known and well respected mentors from around the world. Without their help and wisdom, it would be difficult to get a quality result.

LF was in fact a collaborative effort, however, it was organized, edited and compiled by a single person. I think that it would be a lot easier for that one person to write weekly posts if he had more QUALITY tipsters that are able to discuss possible tips and locks for a whole entire regional (similar to what thefro526 did for New Jersey). The problem with the regional posts is that they are much harder to write because not everybody has released pictures or videos on their machine, therefore a lot more research has to be done. Not everybody is cut out to contribute to LF posts. The person has to possess an unbiased opinion on all of the teams and be well-versed in the specific regional they are writing for (past winners, style of gameplay, history etc.)

People on CD are accustomed to quality LF posts that have a strong and specific author's voice. If LF was to turn into an even more collaborative effort with individual posters writing full-length analysis's of different regionals, it would lose that strong voice and possibly diminish its reputation among FIRST.

Am I disappointed that LF isn't doing weekly posts? Yes. Do I think that there are enough people that are willing and have the skills necessary to continue LF? Yes. Do I think the quality of the posts would diminish? Probably.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur

Should you need anything to help make your predictions more sustainable, please let me and the rest of the community know.

What he said.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by Enigma's puzzle

Do you think it would be possible to do a collaborative effort using people that would write about their own area/regional/districts?

I doubt it would be as amazing as a true Looking Forward post, but if you wanted to make some kind of post in a regional thread I doubt anyone would really mind.

Sad to see the Looking Forward machine go. It'll make those Championship predictions all the better!

Originally Posted by thefro526

I read the LF Post earlier and decided to do some predictions for New Jersey on my own. They may not have all of the wisdom of LF behind them but I think they're pretty good. If someone does decided to get some sort of Collaboration going let me know and I'll be more than happy to help.

Cool post. I just might do something similar for WPI when the time comes, I already post a little blurb of prescouting on my team's forum anyway. Wisconsin's a Week 2 event too...

[Pjohn1959]

How disappointing! Those posts were always a pleasure to read.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Looking Forward

Unfortunately, there will be no week-by-week regional/district predictions this year. The current method for creating the LF is unsustainable, and would be virtually impossible to continue to follow while both keeping the standard high for the posts and keep other commitmens to work/school/FIRST/life intact. Rather than half-$@#$@#$@# a result and sacrifice the quality, the best option seemed to be to simply put the regional predictions on hiatus for 2010. Trust me, we're as disappointed about the lack of predictions as you are.

We're optimistic that a more sustainable method of researching, writing, and editing can be developed in time for 2011.

However, there will still be coverage of the Championship event in 2010. You can look forward to that.

-LF

Here I was all ready to get my kids all fired up when we get blown off by you guys again and we can use self righteous indignant rage to drive us to victory but noooooooooooooooo you had to go and leave us to our own devices.
Great .
Now we got to use actually skill and strategy to win.
Thanks a bunch!