2016 NASA Grant Announcement Day

[Chris is me]

Dude, they're giving hundreds of teams $5,000, how could that possibly be a thing to complain about? They're taking slightly too long to give you a massive amount of money?

The thing that fazes me the most about your attitude is that you don't seem to care at all that you're being really, really rude to people that are, again, giving out $5,000 to hundreds of teams. You don't seem to care because you think it won't come back to haunt your team, this particular grant cycle. Your priorities aren't in being nice to people giving out tons of money to help you, but in not being caught being rude to those people.

If you must think about this from a purely utilitarian, how-can-this-help-me attitude instead of a simple issue of respecting generous organizations, then think of it this way. Hundreds of teams rely on these grants to get through their seasons. If the powers that be at NASA see the FIRST community as a bunch of ungrateful, immature jerks who constantly complain about not being instantly handed a lot of money, they will probably be less willing to give out more money in the future. Why potentially ruin it for your team and others in future years?

[robochick1319]

I agree that being polite and patient is definitely the way to go in this situation BUT I can understand how teams applying for funds can be anxious about waiting for this announcement.

If funding is the primary determining factor on when/where/if you compete for 2016, the sooner you have it secured the better. Some regional events are in locations where hotels are difficult to come by and so far away from our home towns that securing transportation in the fall is essential for spring travel.

I feel for the teams applying for funding who don't have the answer yet because planning in the fall is sooo important for a successful 2016 season. It is a shame that the only answer you have is TBA soon but it is what it is so try focus on other things.

A watched pot never boils or something like that....

[PayneTrain]

If the mods aren't too busy can they please erase:

a) this thread
b) my memory of it

[s_forbes]

I think it's a little funny how some of the folks in this thread that are shutting down the complaints have consistently complained about things that FIRST does. Never change, CD!

It is getting pretty late in the season to know whether or not you have the funds to cover the cost of events/parts/travel. That's a frustrating position to be in. Try being more helpful and empathizing a little instead of yelling at someone you don't agree with on the internet.

[Knufire]

Originally Posted by s_forbes

It is getting pretty late in the season to know whether or not you have the funds to cover the cost events/parts/travel. That's a frustrating position to be in. Try being more helpful and empathizing a little instead of yelling at someone you don't agree with on the internet.

Which is completely reasonable, but there's a difference between constructive criticism of the process and blatant disrespect.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by s_forbes

I think it's a little funny how some of the folks in this thread that are shutting down the complaints have consistently complained about things that FIRST does. Never change, CD!

It is getting pretty late in the season to know whether or not you have the funds to cover the cost of events/parts/travel. That's a frustrating position to be in. Try being more helpful and empathizing a little instead of yelling at someone you don't agree with on the internet.

As paying "customers" of FIRST - complaining makes sense.

As someone hoping for a handout for a company - insinuating that the people handing out MILLIONS of dollars are lazy and not doing their job[1]? Yeah, that's just being a prick.


[1] Or more accurately, something outside their job that they are likely not even getting paid for (or getting paid only a small percentage of the time it takes)

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by s_forbes

I think it's a little funny how some of the folks in this thread that are shutting down the complaints have consistently complained about things that FIRST does. Never change, CD!

It is getting pretty late in the season to know whether or not you have the funds to cover the cost of events/parts/travel. That's a frustrating position to be in. Try being more helpful and empathizing a little instead of yelling at someone you don't agree with on the internet.

Considering we pay FIRST a giant stack of cash every year, complaining is valid.

This is a completely different situation.

$5k is nothing to fundraise as well, if your season depends on the NASA grant entirely then you need to evaluate your business plan.

[alextound]

As chief complainer of this thread...I disagree with complaining in general form of FIRST (and NASA) as they do a really great job and considering the cost of $5,000, it really isnt too much given KoP and venues and other things they allow for. But for all of the complainers (and myself) I think (at least for me) an updated message would more than suffice to quench our complaints. We all obviously love NASA and everything they do and to think anyone is saying otherwise isn't really paying attention to the issue. Also the grant money is a HUGE deal for almost any team, except for the elite top 10% who may have enough sponsors in other places.

[Mark Sheridan]

Don't feed the troll....

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

As paying "customers" of FIRST - complaining makes sense.

As someone hoping for a handout for a company - insinuating that the people handing out MILLIONS of dollars are lazy and not doing their job[1]? Yeah, that's just being a prick.


[1] Or more accurately, something outside their job that they are likely not even getting paid for (or getting paid only a small percentage of the time it takes)

Not even a company--a government agency that many in FIRST and other sectors would say is one of the most critical forces in moving our nation and the world forward as it has since its founding!

[Cory]

Originally Posted by s_forbes

It is getting pretty late in the season to know whether or not you have the funds to cover the cost of events/parts/travel. That's a frustrating position to be in. Try being more helpful and empathizing a little instead of yelling at someone you don't agree with on the internet.

I feel terrible for all the people who have to wait 3 more days to find out whether they can compete or not this year, by receiving $5,000 in FREE money!

/Sarcasm

[alextound]

Originally Posted by Cory

I feel terrible for all the people who have to wait 3 more days to find out whether they can compete or not this year, by receiving $5,000 in FREE money!

/Sarcasm

Its going on 5 and if they were to say, "Hey, it'll be a week" I'd be happier, and while its not a big difference between free money and grant money, it still changes a lot for a lot of teams. Another side of this argument is that the future employees of NASA along with FIRST just expects more. . .

[ChuckDickerson]

I continue to read this thread in amazement at the since of entitlement some people have. Give it to me and give it to me now seems to be all too common in this country these days.

[cgrace]

Originally Posted by alextound

Its going on 5 and if they were to say, "Hey, it'll be a week" I'd be happier, and while its not a big difference between free money and grant money, it still changes a lot for a lot of teams. Another side of this argument is that the future employees of NASA along with FIRST just expects more. . .

NASA has better things to do than update a website with a different message in order to satisfy readers. (In case you didn't know, they've sent people to space and are trying to explore the farthest reaches of the universe.)

Like what many others have stated before, no one has a right to complain to such a great organization who is basically offering thousands of dollars to teams. They don't have to give away all this money, but, again, they are offering it because they are encouraging students to get into STEM education. So, please, be thankful that NASA has provided this opportunity for FRC teams this year.

[MrBasse]

Originally Posted by Cory

I feel terrible for all the people who have to wait 3 more days to find out whether they can compete or not this year, by receiving $5,000 in FREE money!

/Sarcasm

I've been annoyed by this thread for days, but this is the first time I have been offended a bit. Not every community has the support that you might have in California. We have made the payment deadline every year by days at most and by hours at the least. Every year is a challenge and every year is hard work. We make it, but $5k is a season changing amount for us when our budget is typically user $10k. Also, when your state starts to grow FRC at a rate that can shake the most steady hand, sponsors start to run a bit thin.

The kids who work hard for days on the application might also take offense to the "free money" comment too. After all, time is money. The fact that it is a 16 year old students time doesn't change that.

I guess I hope you do feel terrible for teams who rely on funding like this, because there really isn't time for much else now.