Something to Keep In Mind About Your Leaders

[Bill_B]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

If you disagree feel free to say why!

I don't mind people posting the "whys" here on CD, but tomorrow afternoon I'm going to try to abolish the "whys" as the team begins to toss out ideas about the strategies and possibilities for our game play and robot design this season. I will make it clear that we need the ideas FIRST and the "whys" can follow later if necessary. Maybe as early as Sunday, if I think we've run out of new ideas.

My reasoning behind banning the "Whys" is to forestall discussion/argument/enthusiasm/disdain/acceptance/rejection for any particular ideas before they have a chance to germinate. I may even involve the use of my loud referees whistle to signal rejection of "whys" and "Why-nots" statements. All ideas, whatever the source, MUST be listed among the season's possibilities BEFORE we try to determine their value. My hope is that team members who might be intimidated by the prospect of saying something too "foolish" will get the idea that we want all the possibilities to be considered. I further hope that the concept of ownership of any particular idea will be concealed if not forgotten among the extensive list of options we tally after seeing what horrors the GDC has rained upon us.

I hope I remember to print this before leaving for the kickoff.

[Chris is me]

I like that logic but there comes a BIG problem with that when you do that before you decide on your game strategy. If loud-enough teammates like an idea enough, they'll steer every other decision in favor of it, compromising your strategy. I've inadvertently done this myself before :/

I think "decide strategy, then free brainstorm (no striking down ideas)" is better, that way your strategy decision is unadulterated.

[Akash Rastogi]

I meant if you disagree with this post, say why. Not if you disagree with a design idea. You understandably (I fixed it now) interpreted what I said the other way. I believe David understood what I was trying to convey though.

[thefro526]

Well said Stogi, you brought up some interesting points.

Glad to see you're not totally on Hiatus. Miss you bud.

[Akash Rastogi]

Thanks Dustin,

I will try to see you around.