Poll:What do you think the effect of G14 will be?

Originally Posted by Rich Kressly

I'm sure many will throw rocks at me for this, but I think you're totally missing the point. The culture WE are RESPONSIBLE FOR CULTIVATING according to our founder and national advisors dictates that we find ways to compete like crazy and treat each other well in the process. This game has most clearly represented that ideal. If you choose to pummel an opponent, then there is a corresponding consequence. That consequence may or may not happen often at events.

I understand the point of FIRST being inspiring innovation and science, and I'm not going against that. However, with any attempted change, you need to penetrate the population before change can happen. If you just start doing something different, you'll be that odd group instead of a changing force. If you instead start with a competition, make it known, and then begin the shift, I'm willing to bet that change will happen MUCH faster.

Originally Posted by Rich Kressly

Secondly, the challenge we are given this year is differnt than in the past. If chassis innovation isn't it, then....I dunno ... maybe spending our time ensuring all teams can move well on this slippery surface might be a good use of our time??? Maybe looking into these cool traction control systems??
Maybe scheduling a few more outreach demos?

Already done all this. Is it too much to be allowed to compete like crazy too?

New chassis design: Check.
We can drive QUITE well on slick surfaces. Check.
If there were any rookie teams near us, we'd be helping them. Check.
Traction control: Check.
Outreach demos: Check.

Originally Posted by Rich Kressly

Sorry for sounding snide, but I see this whole thing as a wake up call. If we continue down this road and get too focused on our individual robots then we run the risk of caring too much about winning at the game which, in turn, leads to the same ills we have is sports and popular culture in general.

namaste,
kressly