Preparing for the Town Hall Meeting on the New Championships Format

[PAR_WIG1350]

Originally Posted by MrRoboSteve

Alan, if you read CitrusDad's original post, this thread is a problem-solving one, dedicated to developing alternative proposals to make at the town hall meeting. One way you can distinguish serious discussion from venting is whether it includes emotionally loaded statements like spite, bait-and-switch, and segregation. Those words are fine if you want to let off steam, but they will cause the decisionmakers at the Town Hall Meeting to discount any ideas you have.

Please use this thread if you want to vent.

With all due respect, My post was a serious attempt to contribute to the conversation in a productive manner. I certainly must admit fault for the emotional nature of the endnote, but that is why separated it from the rest of the post.

Honestly, I chose the term "bait-and-switch" because that is how FIRST's actions would be perceived if they attempted to change the terms of their contract with the Host cities after it was signed. Also, perhaps "spite" was a bit strong of a word to have chosen, but I Don't feel that its use invalidates the rest of the post.

My intent when writing the the first section of the original post was to acknowledge the fact that FIRST will likely be unable to meet the expectations of both the FIRST community and the host cities at this point, and that compromise is probably the best course of action. The second section of the post was the compromise that I was intending to present to the FIRST community. My intent was for the idea to be criticized and possibly improved upon by others. Instead I was criticized for my word choice. I will do my best to avoid similar misunderstandings in the future.

-Alan