The institutionalization of FRC teams, and the toxicity it creates

[WorldOfRobots]

Originally Posted by Zebra_Fact_Man

Your post does not reflect a team mentality, but rather an individualistic mentality. Family ties and politics has no place in a drive team. Personality clashes only happen when individuals are thinking about themself and NOT the team. In my opinion, a team-first mentality is the key to a successful team. When individuals sacrifice self for the greater good of the team, things are accomplished and work gets done...

I think you would have been more accurate OP if you had said your team is now more focused on its status than actual accomplishment. This creates entitlement without work ethic, which is doomed to fail.

To answer some of your points, I do understand that family ties have no place in a drive team. This wasn't a decision by a parent, which at least would have made sense, but rather a choice made FOR political reasons, by mentors with no students of their own, because they didn't want to offend parent who were helping to fund/sponsor the team.

I don't feel it's just my team, either, or even just FRC. I'm starting to see in in FTC as well. This is a game that should be played and won by robots and innovation, not political maneuvering and who comes out on top of squabbles.

I'm not trying to disparage large teams, but it does seem easier to avoid these conflicts on smaller teams, or less successful ones.