You know you're addicted to FIRST when...

[sean_killey]

-Your conversation with your parents for the day is:
Mom: "Where are you going?"
Sean: "Robotics"
Mom: "See you tomorrow"

-When you get home at 1 in the morning... only to say "I dont have time for homework now"

-Havnt talked to your sister in 3 days

-Invent seanny dont

-Your conversations are filled with "I'll [insert verb] you!"

[rbayer]

...you know the correct size tap and clearance hole drill bits for any size screw.
...you no longer need Band-Aids because the machine oil permanantly embedded in your hand clots cuts for you.
...you can recite the densities of every material used on your robot.
...you don't need a manual to know what wire gauges are required for the various motors.
...you can accurately guess the size of something down to 1/16".
...your hand feels akward without a drill in it.
...your computer's desktop is filled with all the drawings for your robot.
...you always carry a pad of graph paper with you in case you get an idea for the robot.
...your average response time to an email about programming is less than 30 minutes.
...you spend 200+ hours writing software tools for robotics in the off-season.
...you have an RC, an OI, and a box of old motors in your room for testing stuff.

[hacksaw692]

When you are named after a tool.

When people outside of FIRST address you by said tool-name.

When said tool name goes into senior quote/sig.

When you make a quiz to pick the field coach and human player without looking once at the manual.

When you are disappointed at said quiz because the quiz taker got less than 95% right.

When people claim that FIRST is your passion.

When you force your closest friends to join the team.

When you doodle design sketches in class.

When you the manual becomes your bible.

When you get nervous and figity because you are away from the robot.

When you get excited whenever your english teacher (or some other teacher) even remotely mentions something about robotics.

When you force every conversation you have with other people outside of FIRST towards robotics.

When all you have to talk about with your dad anymore is the robot.

When you have an urge to bring the robot home because you haven't yet finished a certain component but it's time to call it a night.

[sevisehda]

...machining oil and aluminum chips become pizza toppings.

[Lord Nerdlinger]

when the people at the local hardware store know you by name and welcome you back everday.

[T967]

When you don't care that, "hey my hands are covered in oil and aluminum, maybe I shouldn't eat that slice of pizza."

When you realize that the First updates will never e n d and your response to one is yelling and moaning. (13 updates! come on give us a break!!!! Please!)

You can get cut by cardboard but not extremely hot, and sharp, flying aluminum shards.

When you get tired of the 200 track mp3 cd.

You no longer have a full name, just a NEW, one sylable, type name.

[Francis-134]

-when you are seen mumbling incoherently about the robot while you draw a design on an etch-a-shetch

-when you become a member of RA (Robotics anonymous)

[FAKrogoth]

. . . you consistently find aluminum shavings in your shower drain

. . . you compare drilling scars with your friends

[Specialagentjim]

- When you can relate ANYTHING back to robotics
ex. Our technology program just moved into a new building at our school. The floor was supposed to be all tile, but our robotics room has a special 8 foot by 8 foot (I think 8 foot..) square carpeted area for the robot. While sitting in english you suddenly have the urge to design a tether arm to extend out from the wall to come out over the robot, allowing for tethered robot control and power from an AC transformer so you don't have to change batteries while testing, and dropping down a flashlight to look inside the crevices of the bot, all without tangling up the robot by using a tension holding reel mechanism desgined by you and the lead programmer for the team...

- When your current choice of music was inspired from robotics 4 years ago (In 7th grade, I was introduced to techno through robotics competitions and animations...now techno makes up most of my playlists )

[RobDeCotiis]

...when you tape a whiteboard w/ marker above your bed so you can write down your idea when you get one in the middle of the night

...when your teachers start asking you why you're not skipping class to work on the robot..

...when you spend time thinking up reasons you're addicted to FIRST...

...when you build the bot AND animate(i did that last year and the year before).. get home at 10 after building, and stay up until the next day animating... repeat daily.

[EddieMcD]

You know your addicted to FIRST when:

10) You still participate in the FLL.
9) The workshop is your "home away from home".
8) Chief Delphi is your "home away from the workshop".
7) Tigerbolt is your "home away from Chief Delphi".
6) You despise Battlebots/Robot Wars, etc, and Viacom for featuring a Battlebot-like event in one of it's Nickelodeon cartoons.
5) You always use the phrase "inhales audibly".
4) You realize that set-screws really do suck (yes, I mean suck)
3) "Gracious Professionalism" is your motto.
2) You belong to the Holy Order of FIRSTism.
1) You grow your hair long and wear a pin vest to every FIRST event you attend (uh, not that I know anyone like that).

This has been an official "Eddie's Top 10 List". The top 10 list is an official property of and sponsered by The Holy order of FIRSTism, and my not be copied, reproduced, or retransmitted in way without the expressed written consent of The Holy Order of FIRSTism.

[Joe Matt]

Originally posted by EddieMcD

1) You grow your hair long and wear a pin vest to every FIRST event you attend (uh, not that I know anyone like that).

HAHAH! LOL! Or you can dress in all denim and talk with a slow New England accent about helping the world too.

When you girlfriend complains about you spending more time on the robot.

When you daydream about how to make the animation perfect

When you'd walk in a blizzard up to the local electronics store for parts.

When that calc midterm takes a backseat to testing autonomous mode.

When you teacher pushes back all the tests, quizzes, and assignments for the robot.

When the teacher stops teaching so the class can work on the robot.

When you actually get over 10 girls involved in the project

When you dream of it.

When school security no longer finds it odd that teenagers are lugging in a large objects in the rain with a coat on top and many many wire protruding from it.

When you can tell where a pneumatics leak is occuring from across the room just by hearing it.

When you spend 6+hours desiging logos for the team.

When you start making physics puns outside of physics class.

When people get tired of calling you a nerd because of robotics.

When you close that crate and a piece of your soul goes with it.

Good luck to all teams. It's really been a pleasure.

[George]

When its all over, and you can't wait for it to START again!

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!

Geo.

[Kyle]

when you can maneuver Delphi fourms with out looking at the screen until you are where you want to be