Proposed Gentleperson's Agreement: Don't rank your own team.

[Billfred]

(If you're in a real rush, read the bold parts.)

I see it everywhere.

"I don't know why my team wasn't picked, we hang 5.321618 ringers per match and did 2@12..."

"I think our team was the best at hanging at Magnolia..."

"We were on a lot of teams' lists in the Baker division..."

It's getting old. We know your team is great, but there are only so many times one can listen to others bring up their own team's greatness.

Therefore, I'm going to propose something. Follow it or don't follow it, your choice.

Whenever posting in any best/worst/should've been/shouldn't have been thread, please leave your team out of it. Predicating it with "I don't want to (undesirable attribute), but" doesn't help, either.

Now, if you've got hard data on hangs per match from the Magnolia Regional where you competed, go ahead and post it. If folks have mentioned your team, go ahead and acknowledge it with your own contribution to the thread (example). And, obviously, sharing your technical knowledge remains perfectly fine and welcome.

But please, spread the love around. Thank you.

[Conor Ryan]

I agree with this gentleman, there is a reason why Dow Jones doesn't list themselves on any of the Dow Jones Averages.

[Fireworks 234]

I agree whole-heartedly and believe that it would be very nice to see teams omit themselves because people are biased.

[caraddicted101]

I agree, we are all out to have fun and do our best. Setting your team on a pedestal is not part of FIRST gracious professionalism and our right rude to other teams out there.

Thank you

[artdutra04]

Good call.

Just some food for thought: just because your team can score exceptionally well, there will be times when other teams will be picked over yours. At events like the Championships, there are more Regional Champions and Finalists competing than spots in the elimination rounds.

No matter what the outcome is, just keep moving forward. That's all that matters. The outcomes of past competitions cannot be changed, so instead of whining, think about and take action upon how you could improve your robot, game strategy, and drive team in time for your next competition.

[BornaE]

I agree. In my opinion our robots autonomous was the best but i posted the "Best Autonomous" thread to see what every body else say about it

[Vogel648]

I disagree, it is much more fun to discuss things that you actually have strong feelings about(like your own robot), I certainly think that in most posts where you talk about your own robot as your percieved best you should mention at least 1-2 more runners up. Just going in and saying "we're clearly the best", is not interesting, but if you say, "well I think our robot was pretty good, explaination of how you were pretty good, other than us though I thing XXXX and XXXX were pretty good. Explaination about how they were pretty good"

[Viper37]

I agree with what Vogel said. There is nothing wrong with ranking your own team, as long as you are doing it objectively and rank others among yourselves.

[Alex Cormier]

Billfred, i don't agree with you often enough. but on this point and stand i do! I have had it in my signature from the day after Champs.

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by 0705920

I agree. In my opinion our robots autonomous was the best but i posted the "Best Autonomous" thread to see what every body else say about it

How do you agree when you blaitently do the same thing you just agreed to not doing???

[XaulZan11]

I agree that is gets really old. When I read one of those threads, I look at whos is posting. If someone is nominating thier own team, I almost always dismiss it. It's just human nature to feel your robot that you spent 6 long weeks on is better that it actually is. So, just don't nominate yourself, because most of the time (for me atleast) it's just dismissed.

[The Lucas]

The problem with trying to objectively rank your own team is you are not objective. You are a member/alumnus of that team that ruins your credibility. These "Best" threads start up with posters actually discussing which (other) teams they think are good and pretty soon it is nothing but "my team is the best" every post. That doesn't add to the discussion, it is just noise. There is a thread to talk about your robot and it is in the Robot Showcase sub forum.

What do you hope to accomplish by CD-hyping your own team? This year I even saw someone post "Watch out for team XXXX in Atlanta" then they proceeded to change their profile from "team XXXX" to "no team" (left the hometown). Do I think any higher of team XXXX after reading that? No, I don't even remember team XXXX's number, but I think less of the poster. Do any scouts out there up grade a team because they posted how great they are? It is ok to post basic robot data and functions in the designated scouting threads, but leave the boasting behind.

I think we should all take a page or two out of Don Wright's book. It doesn't matter what people on CD think about your robot before a competition, it matters what you do at that competition. If noone is talking about your team, consider it a blessing that you are "flying under the radar".

Chief Delphi Hype doesn't earn trophies, your performance on Friday and Saturday does. The Hype can only earn you increased defense and more efforts to counter your strategy.

[FourPenguins]

Originally Posted by Billfred

(If you're in a real rush, read the bold parts.)
I'm going to propose something. Follow it or don't follow it, your choice.

Whenever posting in any best/worst/should've been/shouldn't have been thread, please leave your team out of it.

I've always followed this policy myself. Glad to see someone has the guts to ask everyone to. I know I wouldn't.

[Joe J.]

I agree I'm sick of reading every thread thats supposed to be about good robots and seeing every other post is sombody trying to brag about their robot, if yours robots good other people will recognize it.

I've been guilty of thinking that my teams might have been a better pick for an alliance partner, but deep down I know that those who are picked were selected for a reason.

[Jonathan Norris]

Thank you,
This is something I have tried to point out before to try and cool down one of the threads I felt was feeling the symptoms of what I refer to as 'Name Pimping'. This sickness seemed to rear its ugly head around Championship time this year, and wasn't as widespread during the regional season. I guess the excitement of the Championships and successful regional seasons lead to this reversible sickness.

On a less sarcastic note:
It is great to see members excited by the success of their robot and team, just remember to try and not sound too boastful while celebrating your achievements.