Airplanes. Airplanes everywhere!

[Anna3098]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

I apologized to the poor guy who had to clean it up saying that this isn't what FIRST is about. He said it was all good. You guys need to start thinking about your actions and who it affects. How would you feel if you had to clean up that mess and planes just kept coming down?

I brought this up to the rest of my team and they literally said "they aren't that hard to clean up, the just take a big broom and they have to clean the stands anyway." That seemed surprisingly disrespectful coming from them. I feel so awful for the people that take time out of their day trying to do us a service and end up having to pick up airplanes. Honestly I think FIRST should release some kind of serious statement about it next year - not just "please don't throw paper airplanes."

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Anna3098

I brought this up to the rest of my team and they literally said "they aren't that hard to clean up, the just take a big broom and they have to clean the stands anyway." That seemed surprisingly disrespectful coming from them. I feel so awful for the people that take time out of their day trying to do us a service and end up having to pick up airplanes. Honestly I think FIRST should release some kind of serious statement about it next year - not just "please don't throw paper airplanes."

It's hard to undo an Air Force official " ordering" everyone to throw planes.

And it wasn't just the planes. There was all sorts of trash including food trash all over the place. It reflected poorly on our program. It sends the message of "thanks for hosting us in your city, hopefully you've got someone to clean up our mess when we leave"

[Qcom]

I'm bringing this up here because I haven't seen it discussed.

If this is such a problem, why doesn't FIRST put a message on the screen before Einstein starts? The vast majority of kids at these events are not the rulebreaker type. And though I loath to say it, many mentors would crack down on airplane throwing out of fear of the all seeing judges nixing their chairman's award at the last moment.

[Anupam Goli]

Think of the airplanes as trash and litter in a different form. That's right, whenever you throw a plane, you're littering. Even worse, you're making your trash someone else's responsibility. Also some of these less aerodynamic planes really nosedive and accelerate, making them a safety concern. In a game themed with recycling, it would be nice to see someone recycle their unused program instead of turning them into planes and littering them onto the dome floor and in the stands.

I'm proud to say no one on my team even thought about throwing an airplane, because they all thought it was childish and was annoying. That, and I jokingly threatened to kick some of them off the team

[GaryVoshol]

Several years ago in Atlanta I thanked a maintenance worker and asked how we compared to a typical football crowd. "Oh, much better!"

I haven't had the opportunity to go to St. Louis because of school and work, but I really hope that is still the case - that FIRST is much better than a typical football crowd. If not, we need to make it happen again!

[Pauline Tasci]

Honestly, these airplanes need to stop. It is a pain not only for everyone in the stands (especially the lower levels who get hit with them) but for the people on the field needing to push them out of the way.
This is mass littering and sure it's fun to see your plane make it down to Einstein, but think about every single person who now has to stay 2 hours extra because you threw a plane.

[GreyingJay]

When I left the stands I made sure to clean up all of my own food and drink garbage, then I grabbed a popcorn bucket that someone sitting beside me had left behind, and I crammed into that as many paper airplanes as I could grab off the floor on my way out.

I participated in throwing some of those planes so I figured the least I could do was pick up more than I tossed.

In retrospect I should have set a better example by not throwing planes in the first place, AND asking my students to each grab a pile to throw out on their way out.

[Tinmint1]

I think throwing the planes at an appropriate time is fine and fun. During the time that a speaker is talking about something serious or personal is not cool. Also the ones made out of anything other than printer paper or line paper hurt.

Using first brochures that could be used for outreach is in my opinion a stupid move those could be used more constructively. My team loves getting their hands on first brochures to use when we talk to people at events and wasting those make zero sense to my team.

[Tungrus]

I got hit in my eyes, the plane glided right into my eyes from side, I had no idea it was coming. Some of these "planes" were not planes or gliders, they were just missiles. I don't know how many elderly people get hit with these stupid flying things and what will trigger FIRST to ban them. I don't believe if it will stop anytime soon. It seems Boeing, a sponsor was teaching how to make paper plane or something to that effect and one of the guest speaker mentioned he will give job to those who threw it close to VIPs (some thing to that effect). Fun should not come at the cost of others' safety or peace. Hope no one got seriously injured.

[bigbeezy]

One landed right in front of us while placing a stack on Einstein Semis...

For how awesome Einstein is and how well done everything looks and feels. Seeing a bunch of trash lying around really kills it. I also noticed when leaving the stands later that because of the airplanes (a.k.a. trash) people felt compelled to leave their own trash (food, drinks, candy wrappers, etc.) on the ground as well. Its embarrassing.

Thank you to the mentors who made sure your teams policed their areas and cleaned up after themselves.

[216Robochick288]

Originally Posted by bigbeezy

One landed right in front of us while placing a stack on Einstein Semis...

Head ref- "Hmm I'm sorry this stack of 6 and the RC and trash doesn't count as scored because there is an airplane under it"

I horribly wish that it would have happened and a match would have to be replayed just so FIRST would have to address the problem

[protoserge]

Originally Posted by Qcom

I'm bringing this up here because I haven't seen it discussed.

If this is such a problem, why doesn't FIRST put a message on the screen before Einstein starts? The vast majority of kids at these events are not the rulebreaker type. And though I loath to say it, many mentors would crack down on airplane throwing out of fear of the all seeing judges nixing their chairman's award at the last moment.

FIRST expects us to self-monitor and hold ourselves accountable for our actions. We need to set the example.

Again, our mess being "not as bad as a football game" should not be used as an excuse to trash the place. Would you leave your trash in the stands too? It's no different than throwing paper airplanes, wads of paper, or any other object. Think about it.