[moderated] Collaboration

[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.