Update #16

[mtaman02]

I have to say over the past 5 years in being with FIRST they have done nothing but change the rules in such a way that it makes it hard to concentrate on the competition. The people at FIRST believe that what they are doing is right but in the long run it is hurting the teams tremendously. Heck they didn't even say exactly what was banned or not.

I seen many teams use 18v Circular Saws and Drills and the likes extremely safely & they always were wearing the proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) To say this rule was created b/c of safety or you did not make it available to all teams participating is wrong. I know one team that lends out 99.5% of all their tools and if they didn't want to lend it out to a team b/c they were afraid of it being damaged they made sure they did the job for the team.

Maybe the reason why this rule was created was b/c the people using tools show no respect during opening / closing ceremonies and are using such tools. All you heard at the NJ Regional was power tools hard at work (Espicially during the National Anthems being sung) even when the Pit Announcer announced that such tools were not to be used during the ceremonies.

FIRST has a couple of non-common sense rules this just falls right in line with them b/c now teams are forced to "wait" in line and have it done "by a supposed professional".

I have a funny feeling the company I work for the MTA NYCTA has lent out the How To Make Stupid Rules Up as You Go Along book to FIRST which was written by books for idiots & dummies. You think the FIRST rules are questionable work for my company for a month and you will find at least 15 rules that eliminate one another to start and another thousand that don't make sense.