Obsessed

[dipmeinaluminum]

Originally Posted by acdcfan259

I can't stop thinking about robotics. my god it's got to be unhealthy. Does anyone else just zone out in class and start wondering what next year's game will be. As soon as i get home its right on to CD to check if anyone responded or there's anything interesting. I know i'm gonna be obsessed now and then probably forget about it over the summer. Then get just as obsessed next year. I think FIRST puts something in the water cause i can't stop coming back.

Hi, I'm Michael Vilarelle I'm 24 years old,
I have an adiction to FIRST and have been on it for 9 years
I got a Robot Controller tattooed on me with my team number.
I realize my addiction thats the first step, congrats for voicing your addiction.

you came to the right place.

[Molten]

I've spent whole class periods drawing sketches for a robot and missed every word the teacher said. It is normal.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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

[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.

[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.

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by The Lucas

So in summary: Everything in moderation.

Agree in full.

Though seriously sometimes it gets kinda creepy guys, back off. 6 weeks of build and then some for regionals is sweet, but then if you keep going you weird people out.

Join a service club. Join a sport. Add variety. It's the spice of life. And if anybody younger than me tries to quote me and challenge my points, don't, you're wasting your time, I've been through this.

*goes to bed so he's not cranky anymore*

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Herodotus

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

You'd be surprised, actually. It hasn't been so healthy for the 4 254/968 mentors who are/were on the 7+ year plan for college.

The best advice I could give any current high school seniors would be focus on your education first. I wish I had taken my own advice, 4 years ago.

[Herodotus]

Originally Posted by Cory

You'd be surprised, actually. It hasn't been so healthy for the 4 254/968 mentors who are/were on the 7+ year plan for college.

The best advice I could give any current high school seniors would be focus on your education first. I wish I had taken my own advice, 4 years ago.

Oh, I would definitely agree. I want to become involved in FIRST again later, but first I'm going to make sure I have my own life set. How can I help others if I can't help myself?

[Cow Bell Solo]

Originally Posted by Joe Matt

Agree in full.

Though seriously sometimes it gets kinda creepy guys, back off. 6 weeks of build and then some for regionals is sweet, but then if you keep going you weird people out.

Join a service club. Join a sport. Add variety. It's the spice of life. And if anybody younger than me tries to quote me and challenge my points, don't, you're wasting your time, I've been through this.

*goes to bed so he's not cranky anymore*

sorry but I have to fight you. I am in our concert band, jazz band, Drumline, Ultimate team, Scouts,(all of this is going on at the same time) and I am still doing robotics full force.
Ultimate is 4 days out of the week and I do robotics on the way to practice and after practice along with wearing my FIRST hat and sometimes a robotics shirt. plus many people ask me about robotics at ultimate.
In scouts I talk about robotics. One of the other scouters is on another FIRST team and I got 2 other scouters recruted for our team for next season. plus with scouts being almost every weekend and everyother week plus since I am an older scout I go out and help shop for food and supplies for the trips.
In my three band activities everyone knows that robotics is my life. they ask me about it. I bring and do robotics in band.
All of my teachers know that I know nothing else than robotics.
And in all of my time that I have left I am always doing something robotics related, to the point were my parents are about to rip robotics out of my life(but I won't let them)