What happened to the FIRST community I call my family?

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Cuog

I'm almost convinced its just this year. Almost everyone I know has been having problems since New Years, both in and out of FIRST.

Originally Posted by Arefin Bari

I so wanted to include that in my post. You read my mind.

I blame it on Pluto being pissed it's not a planet anymore and throwing the cosmos out of whack. LOL
That's my official standpoint on the lighter side.

But on the serious side, something is definitely "up" this past year.
I see it within FIRST and also within my personal life (family, friends etc..)

Kinda sad really.

I remember back in the day in FIRST when the only real stress was at competitions or build season, and even that stress, looking back on my 7 years in this program, wasn't anything a good team or person couldn't handle effectively and maturely.

Lately it's gotten out of control. It's very hard to explain, but then again, so many people know what you are talking about without saying a word that it's so easy to explain at the same time.

I guess that just happens when an organization gets bigger, and more people with differening opinions and personalities are introduced into that system.

I've said this many times before this year when I actually got a chance to think about things, that the dream to "change the culture" is happening, but when you just say "change the culture", isn't a change in any direction, for the good, for the bad, side is still a change?
Maybe what our goal which everyone assumes is the case, but without any assumptions should be to enact a positive change on the culture.

And Arefin, our FIRST family tree is still alive and kicking. It's just (as in every family, or team, or group) every once in a while you see more of the bad apples on that family tree than the strong folks who act as the roots who make up the tree's mighty backbone.

Don't give up hope on this family tree, for it has weathered a lot in the past, and will continue to hold this organization strong with it's effort in the future.

</$0.02>