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

[1359th Scalawag]

Alot of the time, saying stuff like "our robot was the best, we should have won, ours should have been picked into finals, etc..." is pretty annoying. If your robot really was the best robot out there, wait for other teams to say something about it. If another team says your robot rocked, then it did. But when you see someone promoting how thier own robot did, it doesn't give much of a reason for anybody to listen because it's given that they loved thier robot.

If you need to show off how awesome your robot was, post a link to a video. That way, people could find something that might help them agree.

In all, I'd say it's ok to brag as long as you include other teams and dont say that yours was the best. That's for the other teams to decide. Self proclamed glory is worth nothing.

[BornaE]

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

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

I said that because that was the only reason i posted those two other threads.

[65_Xero_Huskie]

I agree whole heartedly with this thread. Teams are to biased when talking about their own robot. I know a lot of people on our team thought that we were under rated this year but we kept telling them that its not important if we are rated high or not, its all about performance. Like team 503 (who i thought was MAJORLY underrated) they did not care that they were underrated when we were talking to them. I like that about their team, they do their own thing and whatever happens just happens.

[Kelli Fultz]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Norris

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.

i totally agree.. it is still nice to hear teams talking about how they did or different things that they've accomplished, but without saying their team is the best! It's fine to think it or talk about your team's greatness with your own team.. just not where other teams might read or hear it!

[1359th Scalawag]

To some people, it may be annoying to read other people boasting about thier own team but my point is that you get more recognition if you wait for others to point you out.

And if you never get mentioned, all the more reason to do something really cool next year.

[DonRotolo]

I just can't understand why we weren't picked, we scored almost one tube all day and were able to defend sometimes. We managed to get the ramp to work once, although it was at the beginning of the match...

Seriously, I agree. It's much like the teams that come to us and ask us to pick them for an alliance. Our scouting team determines that, not the drive team or pit crew...

Don

[Kris Verdeyen]

You're all wrong. There are a ton of teams in FIRST. There's no way you're going to hear about all of them (even all the good ones) unless team members tell you. If you want to discount whatever is said by someone about their own robot, go ahead (I do), but whatever: These people worked just as hard as you did on their robot, and if the only way it's gonna get any airtime is to talk it up themselves, then that's what they gotta do. The trick here is to find a way to self promote without looking like a shameless self promoter.

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by Kris Verdeyen

The trick here is to find a way to self promote without looking like a shameless self promoter.

Bingo! We have a winner here, folks.

Marketing your team in FIRST is tricky. It is something you must do, in order to get some attention. However, too much will annoy other teams.

Be honest. Be consise. Don't repeat yourself. Don't repeat yourself.

If you are blatantly saying "my team is the best yada yada", then people will not pay much attention. If you give others their due, and then sneak in a "hey, check out our team as we are decent at doing this yada yada", then you will be more accepted.

This marketing stuff takes experience and tact.

Andy B.

[Ryan Albright]

Anyone can quote how many ringers you put on in practice at your place of build. The only thing that sticks is how you perform in a match.





Albright out

[K. Sehgal]

It's common for teams in all competitions to rate higher their own score. Everybody does it!

[Steve W]

Originally Posted by Ryan Albright

Anyone can quote how many ringers you put on in practice at your place of build. The only thing that sticks is how you perform in a match.





Albright out

And whether or not you complete what you promise (hint, hint)(nudge, nudge)

[Ellery]

Hmm I always thought this type of thing was just inherently understood. Marketing is one thing but being outright pompous is another. Oh well to each their own- it's just being simply polite I guess..

[1359th Scalawag]

Good point Kris. For the teams who dont get very much recognition from other teams, I guess they might have to self-promote. But it's not easy to get recognition by just saying you did good.

Here's a simple solution. If your team already went through the season and didn't do too good, in ways, you could actually get more recognition by complementing other teams on how they did. Possibly talk about how they did with or against you in matches or how they might have helped you in the pits. Saying so might give them something to say in return. Complements are usually followed by complements.

And if you find that your team still attracts no attention, put even more effort into next year. Go overboard on spirit or imagery and you'll definately be seen.