Medals or pins--A poll

[NorviewsVeteran]

I like the medals, and here's why.

You put on a pin, and people can miss it in the fold of a shirt or see it upside down on a hat.

You WEAR a medal, and you remember you're wearing that medal, partly because people see it and maybe ask you where you got it.

I think that is part of the R in FIRST.

[Stormnnormn]

I thinks pins would be interesting.

Also: While FIRST is not about winning, the competition aspect is what is attracting NEW people to science and technology. After all, FIRST is the Foundation for the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. If we lose the competition aspect, we will likely lose some inspiration and recognition.

[BrendanB]

I vote pins.

Medals were cool in FLL, but they didn't exactly mean anything significant to me and they seem cheaply built. I prefer pins as they are small, I can put them on anything, wear them at competitions and not feel as though a medal will get in the way, and they have an overall professional look over medals.

But the gold, silver, and chairmans medals are still cool with me.

[Molten]

I voted neither. I honestly don't think there is a need for a rewards system. Just being able to say you did a good job and look forward to next year, is enough for me. I don't see why we need more. Never have. I guess I'd rather they cut out the rewards and lower the entry cost.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Molten

I voted neither... I guess I'd rather they cut out the rewards and lower the entry cost.

Exactly! Guess I should've said this from the start.

[EricH]

I find it interesting to look at the poll results--not the numbers, but who votes which way. What type of person votes for each option says a lot, at least to me. It's actually surprising, to some extent.

[Boydean]

The more I think about it the more I like the idea of the pin. But then the more I think of the medal the more think I'll miss it.

[Mr. Pockets]

I'm more curious what was in mind for "other". It got a vote so now I'm interested.

[JesseK]

Looks like a dead even heat for one vs. the other.

And I thought CD was relatively quiet this summer.

[smurfgirl]

Originally Posted by JesseK

Looks like a dead even heat for one vs. the other.

And I thought CD was relatively quiet this summer.

I was about to make the same observation. I'm surprised it's so close. I'm sure whatever decision is made, people will be willing to adapt, though.

[Bob Steele]

I think the reason that the poll is so evenly divided is that the question was not medals only or pins only. Or for what? Medals are great for winners...not so good for participation....

My opinion (which is similar to many here..) is to do medals for champions (gold), silver for runner up... medals for Engineering Inspiration, silver, chairman's award gold... I don't know how you give out "third place" medals...it already takes a long time to bring up all the teams for Champions (3 teams) and Finalists (3 teams)... to bring up 2 more alliances would mean bringing up another 6 teams.... too long... so I say we should keep it to gold and silver

Everyone else should get pins... I like pins for participation ... You can wear them all at once... and collect them...

I have lots of medals at home.... they are hard to display... or to store...
Pins can be stored in a single frame...

The only thing worse than medals is giving trophies to everyone....

I would imagine that the budget for the bronze medals is HUGE...

I also wish there were a way to give back the bronze medals if you win one at a regional and then win gold or silver at a later regional... I know that this really doesn't help FIRST because they have to make enough for everyone. Our team has two boxes of bronze medals that were not even used because we had gold/silver ones from a later regional...


Pins are a good idea for participation or patches....
I personally like patches (with the year's logo on it...) They can be sewn on a jacket or blanket... a good reminder... Patches in bulk would be MUCH less money....

What would be even neater would be regional patches... LOGO and regional name.... but that would be tougher logistically...

I can imagine having a letterman type jacket with all the patches of the regionals that you attended on your back... pretty cool

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pockets

I'm more curious what was in mind for "other". It got a vote so now I'm interested.

Anything besides the options that are up there--trophies for everyone, T-shirts, bear hugs from Big Mike, game hints from Dave, photoshops from Heidi, book tours, you get the picture.



Some hyperbole included in this post.

[ExarKun666]

I think little customized pins would be awesome for all the teams who didn't get first, and second. I noticed in the other thread they had a question " what about the winners?" - well my answer is that like pokemon cards, they could get a 'special' holographic pin for the winners.

[Mr. Pockets]

Originally Posted by EricH

...bear hugs from Big Mike, game hints from Dave, photoshops from Heidi...

Wow! Next year's game hints like 10 months early? I'm sold ^_-

Originally Posted by EricH

I find it interesting to look at the poll results--not the numbers, but who votes which way. What type of person votes for each option says a lot, at least to me. It's actually surprising, to some extent.

It's also very curious that despite the vast majority of the posts in this thread being supportive of pins, there are more votes in favor of medals. Odd.

[JesseK]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pockets

Wow! Next year's game hints like 10 months early? I'm sold ^_-

Bill's Blog was already trying to spur some game hint discussion with a couple of references he made to the objects on the table at a recent GDC meeting where they were laying out the field.