Obsessed

[Herodotus]

FIRST may very well be the healthiest drug on the market.

[chessking132]

My life is the same way. I never stop thinking about robotics.

[Libby K]

My life is the same way. I never stop thinking about robotics.

Hi, Welcome to Chief Delphi. Take a look around, you'll find many others with the same 'problem' (which is, in fact, not much of a problem at all!)

However, like The Lucas and sanddrag have said, keep in mind that one needs a life outside of FIRST and CD. FIRST is exciting, but there are things that come before FIRST- family, school- figure out what's really important to you, take care of it, and then come on back to the party

[Billfred]

With time, you'll shift from "What is next year's game going to be?" to "How can I apply this to my robot?" (Substitute "team" or "program" or other related aspect as appropriate; I find a lot of things that might work for the team but would be silly on a robot.)

[JVN]

Originally Posted by Herodotus

FIRST may very well be the healthiest drug on the market.

Obsessing over anything can become unhealthy without moderation, even something as positive as FIRST.

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by dictionary.com

obsession, noun,
1. an irrational motive for performing trivial or repetitive actions, even against your will; "her compulsion to wash her hands repeatedly" [syn: compulsion]
2. an unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation with something or someone

No problem -- your interest in FIRST is not irrational, not trivial, and certainly not unhealthy. I prefer to think of it as:

Originally Posted by dictionary.com

dedication, noun,
1. complete and wholehearted fidelity
(...)
5. the act of binding yourself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action; "his long commitment to public service"; "they felt no loyalty to a losing team"

See, you are dedicated to a higher purpose, not obsessed!

[DarkFlame145]

I love FIRST and everything FIRST related. Heck, I'm going to try to fit working with an Orlando area FIRST team into my college life. (If i can since i have to uphold a part time job and school) But it get worried about having to miss one possible 2 years of FIRST. Also FIRST is going to dictate where i move to after im done going to school. As i tall all of my non-FIRST friends, it's a powerful drug that keeps you coming back year after year for the same beating and mental stress, because it's worth it in the end. For 2 years of my FIRST student career i drove 20 miles each way to attend meeting 4 days a week, in the up state NY winters over some nasty hills. I even wrecked my car once. After taking a week off and fixing up my car i was back at FIRST. I'm very proud to be addicted to FIRST, because o really believe in this program and this SPORT.

[acdcfan259]

Don't worry I do other things. I'm on Track and i hang out with people and i almost got straight A's on my progress report (one B). I'm not obsessed enough to got 83 hours straight on CD and end up dying.

[chessking132]

I was designing a new part for next year and my mom tells me to get off of the computer. When i ask her why she says you spend to much time on the computer and you never go out side. Then i proceeded to tell her that i was doing robotics work, she the proceeded to insist even more. Then i told here that it is educational and that i am learning engineering. Next she says alas you ever do is sit on the computer, you need to go out side and hang out with friends, then she walked away to go do something. 2 hours later the part is finished and i am typing this post. I guess FIRST is my social life.

Matthew Simpson
Team 75 Driver

[JaneYoung]

ok so here's the deal from where I sit, which is often in front of CD, I admit.

as an adult, I have to ask myself -
- is my work done?
- are my chores done?
- did I go for that walk?
- did I do something fun that was not robotics related?
- have I fulfilled my responsibilities to my family, myself, and those who count on me? An example: the water bowl is always filled and fresh for my animals friends. Their food bowls are clean and filled. The fish are in healthy water and their needs have been met. No one is grumpy that Jane is reading CD. If they get grumpy, there is good reason.

as a student -
- are you maintaining your grades?
- are you meeting your deadlines?
- are your teachers satisfied with your work and participation in class?
- are the teachers complimenting your team/coach - or are they complaining about your work to the teacher/coach?
- are you representing your team in a positive light in class, in school, in general? Are you working on the self-discipline it takes to find a balance?

There are a lot of demands placed on students, mentors, and everyone involved in the FIRST program, that is true. A lot of it is fun and does pre-occupy thoughts - but there is a great big world out there away from the computer and day dreaming. Don't forget that.

[ManicMechanic]

I love this quote, which I swiped off the FLL-Freak website:

Obsessed is a word used by the lazy to describe the dedicated.
So go out and be obsessed.
-Caitlin Heim

[JesseK]

Originally Posted by ManicMechanic

I love this quote, which I swiped off the FLL-Freak website:

Obsessed is a word used by the lazy to describe the dedicated.
So go out and be obsessed.
-Caitlin Heim

I should tell my ex that. She told me I was obsessed with robotics around mid-February.

Honestly, it's easy to turn all of the extra thought and energy into something useful. Priority one should be to spread the feeling around. Second, do some pre-design for next year. Detail out the parts of the game and other robots you found interesting and figure out how it all really worked. Then create something you can use for next year, even if all you do in Week 1 is rip the design apart with how it should be better.

Based on what I saw in 3 competitions of '08, I've already CAD'ed an ultra-light mecanum concept frame that requires very little machining. My next step is going to take the concept to detailed prototype and post it for critique on CD. I doubt we're going to use a mecanum drive next year, but perhaps someone else will.

[Cow Bell Solo]

I am always thinking robotics, man I am ALWAYS doing robotics, Even during band I am working on programming our teams website(percussionist so easy to do)and I do it without the teacher knowing. I CAN'T STOP!!! And then once back at home I am doing something robotics related, always wearing something robotics related. I might be overdosed with FIRST robotics. I need HELP. not ANGER MANAGMENT I need ROBOTICS MANAGMENT

[joeweber]

As an old kid I tend to think about robotics too much. I come up with new and in my mind great ideas that they have not been done, like and idea I am working on for next season’s robot drive system. When I tell the team and friends they look at me with a blank stair and say so!!! It’s strange how exited I am about it but every body else thinks I’m crazy or I have just another idea, not that the past ideas are bad. Even after eight robot seasons I still get excited over the new game release. I think about designs and team ideas all of the time and it may be unhealthy but it sure fills a lot of time when I am doing a mindless job that requires no thinking. I can redesign a system in my mind on a trip up north or when I am on my way back from a competition. (yes that is un safe driving) For an addiction its not bad.?? I don’t drink, smoke or party.....

[Herodotus]

Originally Posted by joeweber

It’s strange how exited I am about it but every body else thinks I’m crazy

Don't worry, everyone still thinks I'm nuts. I try to tell them that I am NOT a threaded fastener.