"Spare Parts" Rules Are Broken

[jimfortytwo]

Ken's observation represents a literal reading of what the black and white says. The counterpoint relies on an interpretation of those rules to expland their meaning, primarily based on previous year's experience (what has been dubed "common sense"). If we read and write the rules so that the newcomer may take them literally and understand whats going on-- thats fine. If we read and write the rules and ensure everyone understands that a great weight of old-time momentum, past precidence, and unwritten rules apply-- that could be fine too. The transition, however, is killing us.

I understand how difficult it is to write bulletproof rules, and particularly how impossible the feat is on the fly. However, this "commen sense" only can exist in the minds of those who have already played the game. And if KenWittlief and dlavery can't agree on what the rules say, who knows which interpretation a rookie team is going to run with?

More ink has been spilt this year arguing over what "common sense" is than was in the rule book to begin with. Lawyers don't argue over whats written in black and white -- they argue over whats written in grey.

Anyways. My team won't be partying at midnight in the parking lot over by team XXX's mobile machine shop, but if someone else was I wouldn't be able to hold it against them until after someone warns them what we've decided the rule means.


EDIT: While I was typing this WebWader125 probably expressed my sentiments in a more gentile manner.

Theres another competition I do where every year a three page "uP policy paper" has to get passed around to explain rules that used to be in the book, but now veterans all just take for granted. Everyone sort of understands that this document is a ton of work for the one crusader who publishes it, and is a result of holes and ommisions in the existing rules... but one no wants the event rules themselves to break 2 pages (it wouldn't be pretty in the competition manual anymore.)

I'm sure everyone will survive the season, reguarless of whether or not team XXX needs a friendly tap on the shoulder to remind them to wrap it up at 7:00.