Noticed again in Atlanta

[234smidget]

Just curious:

Does your team advise you not to show affection (PDA) for that special other of yours at Competition and Events.


Do you think their should be a team rule if your team does not have one?


Another topic, how do you feel about the students outside sun bathing and hanging outside (especially seen at Atlanta) during matches and competition?


Anyone want to touch on the subject? Agree or disagree.


My personally opinion. I feel that at competition it is a professional event with sponsors, friends, and family there. PDA is not appropiate. I believe that we students are here to learn and grow from the experiences of FIRST. This is not the place to hang all over or even kiss your special someone.

Again, there is alot to gain and learn from FIRST even at competition. I understand that some may have free time at competition and playing sports with other teams is great but when the time is right.

(i think it is bad to see students who will go find a spot to sleep on the nice couches in the building where the pits are at as well in Atlanta) I do understand that the day is long, I promise you that.

[Andrew Y.]

I dont like PDA and agree that it should be KEPT PROFESSIONAL.
I dont mind hand holding, occasional hug, but groping, holding eachother for LONG LONG periods of time, or kissing....its a no no on our team. not to mention private school rules lol

then again i want my kids having fun. I encourage them going out to throw a football or frisbee or play kickball as long as we dont have a match, they dont have a job, and they ask a teacher befo. I like to run the team as sports team. There are rules to follow and sponsors to represent. Keep it classy, but HAVE SOME FUN!

The sun bathing in a bikini i suppose? thats pushing it...

[flyingcrayons]

i agree to an extent... if someone is giving someone a friendly hug, or holding hands, so be it, they are not really doing anything inapporpriate as per my standards for a public place... if they are engaging in further PDA's (idk if i can say stuff like that here) you cant really stop them, but if they have finished, you can advise them that there are children, and adults, and it may be inappropriate to them... tell them that they try to restrain from doing things they wouldn't do in front of their grandmothers...

oh and if people are sunbathing in bikinis and the such, they shouldnt be at a FIRST event... there is definitely more to do at CMP's than working on your tan... besides, you have the whole summer for that

[Overyourhead]

[quote=234smidget;852624]Just curious:

Does your team advise you not to show affection (PDA) for that special other of yours at Competition and Events.
Being and all male team we don't run into this problem.


Do you think their should be a team rule if your team does not have one?
I don't think it would be appropriate for a couple to be groping or spooning in the pits or on the field, but I think it would be okay for them to hug after a win.


Another topic, how do you feel about the students outside sun bathing and hanging outside (especially seen at Atlanta) during matches and competition?
It's perfectly fine for people to hang out outside. My team takes shifts at championships for lunch and eating. Maybe the kids outside are eating lunch. Also, it's a cool place to meet new people from other teams. This year I remember seeing a hacky sack game with students from about 8-9 teams. I thought it was pretty cool that kids from so many different teams were able to meet up and have a casual game of hacky sack.

[smurfgirl]

The Championship is not the place for PDA. I can understand hugs and high-fives between team members after an exciting match or a win, but couples who are hanging all over each other constantly are not okay. You have to realize that you are not just representing yourself, but also the rest of your team, your sponsors, and your school. This is very unprofessional behavior and it makes some people uncomfortable.

As far as hanging out/playing sports goes, there is also a time and a place for it. People need some downtime or they will go crazy. If you play during the lunch break or after matches end for the day because you don't have an important job to do at that time, it's perfectly acceptable. If you're playing during matches or when you're needed for something, it's not okay. The competition should be your primary focus, that is why you came to the Championship. After you take care of your responsibilities, then you can let loose.

[AndyB]

PDA doesn't bug me too much-- as long as its nothing too over the top. I can handle a casual kiss and a hug, but pretty much anything past that could be deemed "inappropriate". I'm more concerned about whether or not the person needs to be doing other things instead. (Scouting, watching matches, pit support)

As far as sleeping on WCC/Dome couches, I really don't have an issue with it. The couches are there for people to rest. I know how exhausting it can get during a competition. I'd prefer if a student needed a nap, that they would take care of it outside of the pits.

[Katherine Lake]

As far as PDA goes, FIRST is stressful (especially when you have problems with the robot) and I'm fine with handholding/hugs if it's used for support and stress relief. I suppose I apply the same rules that are at school to being at a FIRST competition; if you would get in trouble at school then I don't want to see it, you know?

As the captain of one of said teams (the only team, I think) being hobos on the couches outside the pit area, I'd like to say that there are some battles I'd prefer not to fight. If the choices are between clogging up the pit while people are working, clogging up the aisle where people are moving robots, and hanging out on couches, couches are the best option. We may be a group of particularly respectful highschool students, but we are still highschool students and occasionally we act like it.

[PlatyPi Gunner]

PDA: nothing more than a kiss or a hug and holding hands, most people won't do more than that. Yelling PDA! at people usually embarrasses them too much to continue if they go over the top(I wouldn't recommend doing this to strangers).

We have a few couples on our team and we have rules set for the hotel as well, such as if there's someone of the opposite gender in your room, the door is open, and there has to be at least three people in the room

As for sleeping in the lounge, I must say there were quite a few people guilty of that at the championships, including me and much of my team. But, getting off your feet for a while and taking a nap makes you feel soo much better. That, and isn't that what the lounge was there for? resting and napping? Sleeping in the pit is a different issue, it's not safe and it's probably not very comfortable

[EricH]

My team's rules were: Follow the school Code of Conduct. Pretty much that meant no PDA's. Pretty much. Also a dress code (T-shirts are approved) and follow the team leaders' decisions. And with the school vice principal often along on our trips...

As for having a team rule if the team doesn't have one, definitely have at least a guideline. All appropriate school codes of conduct should be reviewed when you form the guideline; if you don't have something like that, sponsoring organizations' codes should be followed.

Hanging outside: That's just fine. Professional companies have stuff like that fairly often, offsite (or on, in cases of, say, engineering competitions), in some cases.

Sun bathing outside is probably across the line. At least, it's across mine.

Also, if you're supposed to be doing something else, neither hanging out nor other things are appropriate. (Lunch break doesn't count as something else... until you stretch it deliberately to a game of Ultimate or something like that.)

[SaraBailey]

Just curious:

Does your team advise you not to show affection (PDA) for that special other of yours at Competition and Events.
We like to tease the team couples, but it's not really a problem. I met my boyfriend through Robotics and I think it's great that people have FIRST in common. Hand holding, sitting next to each other, and hugging is acceptable. I will even admit to being that friendly with people I'm not dating.
I admit to being a little strict in the hotel with the kids, but I'll admit it's because I was personally upset my boyfriend couldn't make the trip. Otherwise, I wouldn't have made it such a big deal.

Do you think their should be a team rule if your team does not have one?
We call it "Keep it G-rated" . I like that rule.

Another topic, how do you feel about the students outside sun bathing and hanging outside (especially seen at Atlanta) during matches and competition?
I am a little jealous of that also. I think that you shouldn't be doing that. I try to make jokes about it when i give VIP tours, but I think it's unprofessional.

Anyone want to touch on the subject? Agree or disagree.
Also, the naps on the couches? Well, you know what, I'd fall asleep on the floor. Our students get about 5 hours of sleep maximum during CMPs. Also, about 4 students were suffering from colds, and I fell asleep several times waiting for matches. If you need to nap in the midle of the day, then do it. You certainly can't hike 6 blocks by yourself to go to the hotel to do that.

[Mr_I]

(PDA? What's the matter with Personal Digital Assistants?)

But seriously ... Our team does have a rule barring PDAs (which parallels our school's rule), which was succinctly summarized by a mentor who wrote "If someone can tell you are boyfriend / girlfriend by your actions, you have crossed the line." Thus, we have no problems with hi-fives, hugs, etc. at the end of a (presumably successful) round, but we don't tolerate hanging all over, tonsil examinations, etc.

I personally don't have a problem with hanging around, frisbee, etc., outside; sitting in the sun is fine, but I sunbathing would be going too far.

It all boils down to the reason you're in Atlanta: If you're committed to the team and its activities, there won't be issues. If you make the trip so that you can simply go to the Atlanta equivalent of Epcot (as some of my students did 7 years ago in Orlando), find another team.

[delsaner]

My personal views on the topic...

Reasons one would need in order to go relax or hang out in the courtyard...

1. If one has nothing else to do. (If you have finished scouting, no one needs your help with the robot, there are no more workshops to attend, etc.)
2. If one is really sick, and was advised to rest. (I came down with a bad stomach virus during the championship, so my coach allowed me to wear comfortable pants, instead of khaki pants, which is part of the team uniform.)


PDA...

PDA is alright, but only if, as others said, it is not over the limit. There are two people on our team that are in a relationship, but they do not go off willy-nilly to make out. One of them goes off to help out other teams with electrical problems from time to time, and the other one goes off and scout. Only when both of them are finished, they cuddle and watch the matches.

Tanning...
Haha, I can honestly say that I have never sen people tan or sunbathe during the championships. If you mean sunbathing, as in people laying on the grass talking, then that is alright. But tanning and sunbathing in the middle of a few thousand people is a bit over the limit.

[Andrew Schreiber]

PDA has no place in public. End of story, no questions asked. If I see two kids kissing each other I will tell them to stop, even if I dont know them.

[Meredith Novak]

Your parents must be very proud of you! I have always remarked that Cyberblue is one of the most well-behaved and professional teams in FIRST. In fact, I was just saying that again yesterday. Although you will probably not change many minds on the need for decorum and respectful behavior at events (trust me on this as I beat my head against this wall constantly) please know that your mature attitude and actions serve as a powerful example. It is especially influential when seen in the light of the stellar success and reputation of Team 234. Hopefully some can connect the dots.

-

[Kim Masi]

Being from a city that was 35 degrees and raining when we returned makes me want to escape to the sun every chance I get. I am guilty of taking a couple of naps in the grass between matches as long as I had nothing else to be doing, and I don't see anything wrong with others doing the same.

I know after a long day of watching matches and scouting on Thursday, our students were ready for some energy-releasing time. Playing Frisbee in the quad let us have some fun and enjoy each others company after a long day.

As mentioned before if the students are into the competition, then there shouldn't be a need to be outside playing games. It is very tiring however to watch 60 matches in one day.

As for PDA, there is a time and a place for everything and no one should be setting any rules except for the teams and the school. My high school team always lived by the policy that we are still at school when at a competition, and school rules apply.

I also think it has to do with the age and maturity of the students involved. Instead of yelling at students for PDA-ing, or saying "thats gross", sit down and discuss with them what it looks like from an outside perspective, and how it is perceived. Explain why PDA reflects poorly upon the team, and make suggestions for what's appropriate PDA and whats not.