Medals or pins--A poll

[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.

[Bongle]

I'd love pins - you could stick them on your jacket and gradually collect a bunch of them, each a reminder of a year of competition.

I've got a ton of medals and ribbons from my competitive swimming days and they just sit in a box at my parent's place. You can't go around wearing medals and ribbons, but you can stick a pin in a hat or on a jacket and people will see it and ask about it.

On a practical spread-FIRST level, I think pins would be the way to go. More people would probably be willing (and allowed, in the case of those that have to wear business wear to work) to wear the pins day-to-day than would be willing to wear FIRST t-shirts or their medals. This means that more people will ask about FIRST, more people will hear about it, and potentially you'll get more mentor or volunteer support.

Those FTC pins look amazing, makes me want to switch to FTC.

[NalaTI]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pockets

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

I voted for other... could almost have been both... but don't want both unless the team earns the medal, so... "other"

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by JesseK

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.

The objects all fit on a table. That's kind of a big deal no?

[ATannahill]

Many of you should rush over to http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/ right now.

[Molten]

Originally Posted by rtfgnow

Many of you should rush over to http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/ right now.

If this was during build season, that link would have crashed his blog by now.

[EricH]

Given the picture shown, I think the pin wins over the medal.

I look at my bedroom bulletin board where I have a bunch of medals. Guess what? They all look alike other than year and color. But a pin can look different year-to-year. Take the one shown, then do one for Overdrive with flags, or for the 2010 game with the 2010 game object... Variety, cost savings, and ease of display. (Have a bulletin board? Stow the back piece of the pin somewhere and stick the pin in. Or pin to shirt.)

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by EricH

or for the 2010 game

....traffic cones

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

....traffic cones

Guess I should say, that there are 4 of those in my family's garage right now (obtained for use with soccer--goal posts). I'd guess they weigh about 8-10# each, but they're plenty tough. (I think one of them has a minor crack, but that's it.) Barring sharp robot parts, you'd probably only need 2-3 spares per event--and if you needed more, you'd just have to find the nearest store that sells them.

[johnr]

2010 game piece--- participation medals

[bigbeezy]

during my first year, i thought the bronze medals we got were for making it to the elimination matches. This was, to me, a sort of 3rd place medal. when i came to learn that they were a "thanks for coming" medal I was sort of bummed. I dislike participation medals. Since then I only accepted a bronze medal if we were in the elims.

I would say if participation awards must be given, pins would be the best choice. Regionals could customize their own pin design. I would like to see bronze medals go either for making it to the elims, or for the semifinals.