Least favorite rules?

[tcj103]

The kinds of rules I dislike most are the ones where due to some random act, you are penalized. This year, it happens when a human player tosses a ringer, and it snags on the robot, most of the time on your alliance flag. Once that 'bot "controls" another ringer, it's like a 10 point penalty for controlling two ringers. Very annoying.

Also, the tape rule, which I saw in an earlier response. Maybe not the rule itself, so much as the blind and somewhat arbitrary enforcement. I understand not using tape to hold your gripper together, but there how about the intended use of some kind of tape being allowed? Example this year was skateboard grip-tape, which can be used for traction on a ramp. A team was told this was not legal, unless the tape was glued on, after removing the adhesive.

After writing this, the tape rule, for the above reason, is my most dis-liked rule. A rule that states the intended use of a tape, if it's a specialty item, should be allowed. ENGINEERS DESIGN TAPE AND ADHESIVES. FIRST IS NOT RECOGNIZING THE ENGINEERS WHO DEVELOPE AND ANALYZE THESE PRODUCTS! They are basically saying that any tape product (other than electrical tape for insulation) is "beneath" the standards of FIRST.

I'm going to contact 3M about this...