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

[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.

[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.

[Oblarg]

Originally Posted by 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

This is probably true, and while I applaud FRC taking a firm position on this (finally - there's nothing worse than when people don't know the official policy), I think it would have been better (both in terms of chance of success and people's enjoyment) to have channeled the "tradition" into an officially sanctioned "paper airplane contest" of some sort (preferably one that does not result in award ceremony participants and robots being showered with projectiles).

[216Robochick288]

First off, videos like that give me the warm fuzzies.. even more so when the underrepresented Upper Peninsula in Michigan is in the opening shot (#Bravebots)

Originally Posted by Libby K

In case I haven't said this enough...

FRANK, YOU'RE THE MAN.

+2

Originally Posted by 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.

As a coach and a volunteer I will certainly be reinforcing it. Im sure it will go out in emails to the coaches, and it should certainly be something they reinforce within their own teams. I might just have a copy of the rule saved to my phone to show to teams who may not believe it. Its a serious issue and I think if all adults speak to their teams about it we can eliminate it. In a similar note, to the quote below, I hope FIRST puts out another reminder about this. It needs to be self policing (or adult policing) but I find more often than not, the adults are the problem with it. Maybe some people can pull their heads from their bots and read the rules

Originally Posted by IndySam

Will the enforce this any better than no seat saving?

[Koko Ed]

I'm glad to see there won't be any more paper plane throwing allowed. I'd love to see how it's going to be enforced (just saying it's bad and should be team enforced is a limp-wristed approach).

[GaryVoshol]

So where is this rule going to be published? There's no more Admin Manual. It'll be buried somewhere on the website.

[Eric Scheuing]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

I'm glad to see there won't be any more paper plane throwing allowed. I'd love to see how it's going to be enforced (just saying it's bad and should be team enforced is a limp-wristed approach).

Agreed, but I don't really see how else they can enforce it. With so many people in the stands, are they going to have guards policing for airplanes/other "things"? That seems a little absurd as well.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Eric Scheuing

Agreed, but I don't really see how else they can enforce it.

Maybe mentors can step up, set a good example, and make sure their team isn't doing it. Besides ejecting people from the building there is no punishment/penalty that FIRST can impose on a team at that point in the season.

As a team, we've had a no paper airplane (or extreme littering as I like to call it) rule for a few years with no issues.

*I'll never forget seeing a kid dump a paper box of used scouting forms over the railing while an adult on their team just watched and laughed. No remorse either when confronted...

[niklas674]

Originally Posted by Rick

Maybe mentors can step up, set a good example, and make sure their team isn't doing it. Besides ejecting people from the building there is no punishment/penalty that FIRST can impose on a team at that point in the season.

As a team, we've had a no paper airplane (or extreme littering as I like to call it) rule for a few years with no issues.

*I'll never forget seeing a kid dump a paper box of used scouting forms over the railing while an adult on their team just watched and laughed. No remorse either when confronted...

It seems like that rule goes against your team name.

[Eric Scheuing]

Originally Posted by Rick

Maybe mentors can step up, set a good example, and make sure their team isn't doing it.

That's what I was saying though. There's really not another way to enforce the rule, but as Ed said:

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

(just saying it's bad and should be team enforced is a limp-wristed approach).