Cheering, standing ovations, and required team actions during matches and awards

[Kevin Sevcik]

Originally Posted by Andrew Y.

Before robotics was started at our school, alomst 100% of students attended our back to back to back to back etc. state championship basketball team. At every game, EVERYONE in the stands stood throughout the remaineder of the game, and that tradition has followed to our robotivcs team.

We stand for our team, teams we are close with, or if theres a really really good match. It has become apart of what our team is. For the past 4 years of our teams existence, we have stood up and cheered for those we thought deserved cheering. DEFIDENTLY durring the awards. This year is the first time i have ever heard of getting angry at our team when we stood up durring our teams match.

I do see the side of thsoe who want everyone to sit, but i also believe that the spirit and atitude in the stands reflect what FIRST is all about and speaking for alot of drivers, it really makes us feel good .

Eventually we decided it wasnt worth the people behind us complaining and yelling at us to sit down so we sat down. But i do hope that this changes and people see why we stand.

Andrew, your team is now officially recognized as team SuperSpirit in my post here. Please understand that neither I nor any other team here has any problem with you being as spirited as you want, nor do we mind you standing as long as you want. The fundamental problem is that you happen to be standing in our way. You say it wasn't worth the people behind you complaining and yelling at you. The fact that they had to yell at all should've started all sorts of alarm bells.
If you show up in a section of the stands and don't let people around you know that you're about to block their view for the rest of the day, it's a bit rude. They were there first. Similarly, it's not nice to do so in the middle of the stands, causing property values to plummet for 5 rows behind you. If you're going to stand for most of the matches, you could simply move towards the back of the seating where you wouldn't bother anyone in the first place. Then you could be spirited and other people could be happy. Presumably this is followed by doves all over the place, harp music, and angels descending from heaven, but all that is a lot more optional than being considerate of others.