[FRC BLOG] This isn't a Robot, Housing, and Throwing Things

[IndySam]

Will the enforce this any better than no seat saving?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by IndySam

Will the enforce this any better than no seat saving?

It may be a little bit easier to enforce. It's a little more obvious when UFOs are spotted airborne. Identifying the originator(s) may be a little less easy than spotting violations, but a couple of announcements of "Will the persons throwing paper airplanes from Section XYZ please cease and desist before event staff arrives to enforce cleanup" ought to do the trick.

[Jonathan Norris]

The bigger story here should be the video. It really is great (if you can get past the "hydraulic arms" part), its captures how powerful a tool FIRST can be for positive change, and why I support the program. I think they finally got their messaging figured out, now how do we spread this message farther.

[Cory]

It's really cute how people think that there won't be paper airplanes everywhere just because there's a rule about it now.

Maybe if FIRST had said something 6 years ago when it first happened, there was a shot at that, but at this point they're closing the stable door well after the horse has bolted

[MARS_James]

So does this also mean no more beach balls bouncing around the stands?

[Tom Line]

Originally Posted by MARS_James

So does this also mean no more beach balls bouncing around the stands?

They are things. So yes. No beach balls.

I'd also like them to make a point of mentioning lasers. For the past 2 years there has been a small group firing lasers around the dome. It hasn't gone unnoticed though they might think it has.

Finally - it's time to print up some signs and hang them at the entrances to the stands.

FRC Rules in the Stands
1. No throwing things.
2. No saving seats.
3. No lasers.
4. Clean up after yourselves!

Then folks who are having trouble remembering the rules can be given a gentle reminder. We shouldn't need this sort of thing, but it's pretty clear that mentors from some groups simply don't keep a close enough eye on their team members. Finally - stop giving out so many copies of the programs, etc. Have them where they can be picked up, in the pits, by people who want them. That will deprive a lot of people of their ammo.

[OMGRobots1]

Originally Posted by Tom Line

Finally - stop giving out so many copies of the programs, etc. Have them where they can be picked up, in the pits, by people who want them. That will deprive a lot of people of their ammo.

In my opinion, the programs are super useful for the members of the public who have are interested in STEM but have no experience with FIRST. They help explain what is going on. If there are fewer programs available and they are hard to find, it would do little to reduce the paper airplanes but make it harder for the totally new people to find them. This could result in more confused members of the public, and, they would be less likely to create new teams, which is the real goal here right?

That's just my 2 cents.

[efoote868]

Originally Posted by Tom Line

They are things. So yes. No beach balls.

"It will be against the rules to throw things from the stands or bleachers at our events."
I wonder if the beach ball is originated from the floor, into the stands, if that would be permissible.

[jnicho15]

Originally Posted by efoote868

"It will be against the rules to throw things from the stands or bleachers at our events."
I wonder if the beach ball is originated from the floor, into the stands, if that would be permissible.

What if drive teams accidentally throw stacks of paper into the stands then the people in the stands return it to them in plane form.

[efoote868]

Originally Posted by jnicho15

What if drive teams accidentally throw stacks of paper into the stands then the people in the stands return it to them in plane form.

The drive team would probably be awarded a red card.

My point is the rule doesn't have to necessarily rule out beach balls, especially if the beach balls originate from the volunteers on the floor.

[FrankJ]

Originally Posted by efoote868

My point is the rule doesn't have to necessarily rule out beach balls, especially if the beach balls originate from the volunteers on the floor.

Volunteers don't have the authority to modify the rules. Even if the rule didn't apply to the floor, to continue to throw it from the stands would still be against the rules implied in the Blog. Keeping in mind we have not actually seen the 2017 rules.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by FrankJ

Volunteers don't have the authority to modify the rules.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say "it's a venue rule" or "it's an event rule" whenever something was enforced contrary to the Manual, I'd have... several dollars. Some volunteers at some events sure do seem to think they can create rules to supplement or override the Manual.

[FrankJ]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say "it's a venue rule" or "it's an event rule" whenever something was enforced contrary to the Manual, I'd have... several dollars. Some volunteers at some events sure do seem to think they can create rules to supplement or override the Manual.

Say it ain't so Smokey. I know of a few of those myself. But. The lead volunteers FTA, Head Ref, LRI, ETC are the final interpreters of the rules. There are occasionally legitimate disagreements in what the rules mean. The lead people have the final say. Sometimes a less than perfect decision is made in the pressure of the moment.

[efoote868]

Originally Posted by FrankJ

Volunteers don't have the authority to modify the rules. Even if the rule didn't apply to the floor, to continue to throw it from the stands would still be against the rules implied in the Blog. Keeping in mind we have not actually seen the 2017 rules.

I'd expect that if a beach ball originated from the stands and gets to the floor, it'd be confiscated. But if the MC, a judge or VIP tossed a beach ball into the stands from the floor during a timeout or field reset, there wouldn't be too much fuss.

If the rule means that beach balls are no more, that's a small price to pay to get rid of the paper airplanes. And to everyone that threw a paper airplane in the past: that is why we can't have nice things.

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Cory

Maybe if FIRST had said something 6 years ago when it first happened, there was a shot at that, but at this point they're closing the stable door well after the horse has bolted

Especially when they bring top men from the Air Force up on stage who ask everyone to do it.