[moderated] Collaboration

[Dan Richardson]

Tho somewhat dissapointed with the descision, I still believe they gave justification for it.

FIRST is about the furthering of science and technology and in their eyes it does.

I still believe however that to keep up teams now must collaborate, or else in a sense be pushed out of any chance to win.

However its just a new avenue, nearly like everything new thing FIRST throws at us, it might not be readily accepted. It is to be taken in stride and I believe it will bring new dimmension to FIRST, and I'm excited to see where it takes us.

So all in all good job FIRST, I'm not sure where this road less traveled will take us in the coming future, but I am sure excited to find out.

Dan

[Greg Needel]

I have been thinking a lot about this collaboration issue since the first threads were posted and have realized that this is what FIRST is all about. If you look at the games they have produced they have changed in format from every team to themselves to a complete collaboration of forces and now and alliance. I disagree with all aspects of a team’s robot being the same but at the same time I understand how input from many different sources and people who have different experiences. Take this message board for instance, at the beginning of ever season there is talk of strategies, ideas and how things will be played for that season and in a cense that is collaboration.

I guess my overall point is that collaboration is part of every aspect of FIRST and teams choose for themselves how much they wish to work with others and this is why we have such diversity in this competition


On a side note I think that the official FIRST response to the situation was very professional and a good solution to the "problem" at hand.

[Ken Loyd]

Bravo to FIRST!

Bravo to CD!

Bravo to the bulldogs and poofs!

Bravo to the beginning of Regionals!

Let the fun Begin!

Ken Loyd
Team 64

[Andy Grady]

Here is my take...

1. I am not in favor of the decision.

2. I wasn't in favor of alliances at first either.

3. I was dead wrong about alliances.

4. Put 2 and 2 together.

Lets put it this way, Kingman and the Poofs went out on a limb to try something that could shape the future of FIRST. They faced a huge firestorm from many members of the FIRST community for their efforts. They handled themselves in a very admirable and exemplary (sp.?) way. If all the teams who collaborate in the future carry themselves like Kingman and the Poofs did...it might just work.

Finally, Kudo's to FIRST for the well thought out and explained answer. Like I said, I may not agree with the answer, but I am very happy with how FIRST handled it. I said in the past, for FIRST to make games interesting, they have to take chances. All of those chances are hit or miss. Here is another one of those chances...and I hope it works out well.

Good Luck,
Andy Grady

[Joel Glidden]

I am reminded of something that Dean said at the 2003 kickoff.

Originally Posted by Dean Kamen

The game isn't fair. It was never supposed to be fair.

I believe that this ruling is not fair in the context of the game. But, I agree that it is consistent with the higher level ideals of FIRST. I believe that collaboration at some level is a good thing for FIRST. However, I am worried about what collaboration on the level seen this year will mean for the future of FIRST.

My personal motivation for volunteering in FIRST is twofold. I strongly agree with the ideals and high level objectives of FIRST. I go to bed at night feeling good about having done something positive and contributing to my community. But, when I go in early, stay late, design, strategize, motivate, and pour my sweat and blood into a robot, I do it because I want to do whatever I can to help my team win.

I don't want to come off as melodramatic, but, in all honesty, if FIRST abandons fairness, I will abandon FIRST. I'll have to see how this all plays out in the next few years.

The bottom line is that if the rules of the competition create an environment in which there is no reasonable chance for my team to win, I will find something else to do with my time, money, and energy. I do not need FIRST if I want to have a positive impact on my community. FIRST needs me and others like me if FIRST wants to continue to grow.