Body painting and first

[omutton]

I am all for the body painting/ face painting. I think it is an awesome way to show spirit. I totally agree with the notion that you shouldn't be allowed in the pits with no shirt on, seeing as it's a safety hazard. I don't agree with the idea that body paint conveys an image FIRST doesn't want. Just because we are nerds doesn't mean we can't show spirit! I have done full face paint (see WAI pic) and 4 of us did our team number on our chests 2 years ago at the Canadian Regional and weren't hassled for it.

So body paint in FIRST? I say GO FOR IT!

[Jason Kixmiller]

I think another real issue is that FIRST is still in a somewhat new state...while those of us involved with the program can understand the excitement and the team dedication/spirit, outsiders to the program (like corporate sponsors, mayors, governors, etc.) might be a little startled by a bunch of rowdy, shirtless team members. Team spirit is essential and the excitement of the crowd is what makes competitions great, but sometimes decisions have to be made in the interest of those who might not have the same experience in FIRST as the rest of the crowd.

[Alex Burman]

lifes short party naked

[hoorayforpink]

at the ucf regional in florida a few of our students did that and they had to put their shirts on, the staff said they didnt want it smeered on the stands and seats and whatnot

but to say it doesnt convey the spirit of First i believe isnt rite

[Tetraman]

I think it's more of the person's personal beliefs too. I'm sure any FIRST-respsecting volunteer would allow it, but someone with their personality-factor going into it might make a difference.

We were going to paint our chests, but we didn't have enough paint. So we went with faces.

[65_Xero_Huskie]

I think this is just an issue at the venue
At GLR this year there was this really strict security gueard
she kept coming over to us when we were hitting baloons around in the stands and taking them and poping them. i mean come on...balls were flying around ont he field, so whats the point?
and last year at Midwest regional we wernt aloud to get up and dance or do anything or else security would come over and tell us to sit down and stuff.
personally i think you should be able to show spirit as long as its not hurting anyone, people had their shirts off at GTR but i dont know if anyone said anything to them.

[GlitterRave113]

Ya, some of us had that problem at the philly regionals as well. every time we would stand up and cheer for our robot, people would complain. i understand that we were blocking them, but it was for like ten seconds! I think that everyone should be able to express their spirit, especially when their robot is up, but hey, that's only my opinion... I think that they should make a huge assigned section for people that want to dance, that way we wouldn't block anybody and we could cheer for our teams properly! Maybe they could even make this assigned section a place for people who want to show off their paint!

[Dillon Compton]

Originally Posted by GlitterRave113

Ya, some of us had that problem at the philly regionals as well. every time we would stand up and cheer for our robot, people would complain. i understand that we were blocking them, but it was for like ten seconds!

Really? We were loud, had a couple hundred ballons (At one point), big blue streamers on 10ft pieces of PVC, and the only thing we were asked to do was to keep the ballons off the field/in the stands!

-Dillon Compton
Team 1394

[GeorgeTheEng]

Originally Posted by GlitterRave113

Ya, some of us had that problem at the philly regionals as well. every time we would stand up and cheer for our robot, people would complain. i understand that we were blocking them, but it was for like ten seconds! I think that everyone should be able to express their spirit, especially when their robot is up, but hey, that's only my opinion... I think that they should make a huge assigned section for people that want to dance, that way we wouldn't block anybody and we could cheer for our teams properly! Maybe they could even make this assigned section a place for people who want to show off their paint!

That's surprising... It definitely not the judges that prompted that... And I doubt the regional director, refs, or field volunteers would mind... They'd be all for that type of spirit. In fact, the judges are looking for that kind of spirit for the team spirit award.

One thing that should be remembered throughout this discussion, the vast majority of people at the events are volunteers. I'm not saying that excuses them, but before being too harsh, everyone should remember that these people are giving up there time to help out. Personally, I see no problems with it myself as long as the half-naked painted spirited individuals are still decently attired... My team did this a number of years ago at VCU, Philly, and Epcot with no problems...

[KenWittlief]

Keep in mind at EPCOT we were in a glorified parking lot.

They will not let you into any of the theme parks now without a shirt. I suspect its because, if they do, then sooner or later some organization will get behind some woman who files a lawsuit for 'equal access'.

If guys can run around wearing nothing but shorts and body paint then.... ?

(Whenever something doesnt make sense at face values, there are lawyers involved :^)

[Mr. Freeman]

This year our team had some face paint on. I don't recall any teams having body paint though.

However, last year the pink team came to the Colorado regional (I have never seen more pink in my entire life) and I think that some of the pink team members were wearing body paint.

[Jay W.]

Originally Posted by Mr. Freeman

This year our team had some face paint on. I don't recall any teams having body paint though.

However, last year the pink team came to the Colorado regional (I have never seen more pink in my entire life) and I think that some of the pink team members were wearing body paint.

Yeah, theres been a really pink Pink Team at UCF the past few years. As for being fussed at for cheering for your team, I don't agree with that. There seems to be a general concensus in the stands that teams can stand up can stand up and cheer for their team while their on the field..as long as they sit back down!

Body painting doesn't bother me, just like dying your hair- its showing spirit.

"Look out! Its a balloon! It'll take your head off! Pop it quick!"

[nobrakes8]

I saw you guys at hartford during the timeout in the semi-finals.. There was nothing wrong with what you guys did.. Plus Dean Kamen's goal is to make students excited about FIRST and have the events run like a sporting event.. I don't think I've see any college basketball or football game on TV without seeing fans with body paint..

The fact that somebody told you that you can't go into the pits without a shirt means that a pit admin or supervisor saw you guys and didn't see anything wrong with it, as long as you weren't in the pits where you could get cut up on some machines... I'm under the impression a voulenteer (probably an adult one) saw you guys and they probably felt you were out-of-line.. But, I'm sure guys did the right thing and shut up and just put on your shirts. If this happened before lunch you could have asked to talk a supervisor or somebody on the planning committee and I'm sure they would have told you that you were OK to have the body paint.