~INCIDENT AT THE RAMBOTS FIRST CHAT~ Please read!

FIRST General Forum
1

Posted by Lora Knepper.

Student on team #69, HYPER (Helping Youth Pursue Engineering & Robotics), from Quincy Public Schools and The Gillette Company.

Posted on 2/27/2000 6:27 PM MST

I have a bit of an incident to relay to all members of the FIRST community, and it pains me to have to do so:

This evening, a chat was going on over at the RAMBOTS page, between friendly members of FIRST teams from around the country. It was interupted, however, by several people who will remain anonymous. There was vulgar language, and putting down of other teams…General un-sportsmanship like behavior. They were warned repeatedly, but the inappropriate behavior continued, forcing Anton to close the server. He is now in the process of raising the security of the chat server, something that should never have had to happen. Please, if you were the people who caused these actions, do not abuse a resource that someone has given his time and energy into providing for us. If you were not there tonight, please let this be a reminder that no matter how much we talk about ‘Gracious Professionalism,’ we need to practice it.

Lora Knepper
Team Leader and friend of FIRST
Team 69 HYPER

2

Posted by Anton Abaya.

Engineer on team #419, Rambots, from BC High / UMass Boston and NASA, Mathsoft, Solidworks.

Posted on 2/27/2000 7:24 PM MST

In Reply to: ~INCIDENT AT THE RAMBOTS FIRST CHAT~ Please read! posted by Lora Knepper on 2/27/2000 6:27 PM MST:

Indeed, it’s unfortunate that such obscenity had to occur. But again, it is a product of the society in which we live in to be competitive in a competition. But often times, competition is usually mixed in with aggression. I would say that the spirit of FIRST is to redefine the definition of being competitive.

I am proud to say that like any discussion forum, any online medium of communication, its integrity can be salvaged. I have imposed stricter rules and implemented tighter policies on the chat server.

We, Rambots, will not tolerate this on the chat server. We wish to make it as clean as possible and to further support FIRSTs spirit, the act of gracious professionalism and peaceful, respectful, and fun competition.

ANTON ABAYA
team leader
RAMBOTS, #419

ps. to the people who made a mess earlier this evening, please do come back. an apology is not needed, but we hope that you understand the need to keep it clean and appropriate.

: I have a bit of an incident to relay to all members of the FIRST community, and it pains me to have to do so:

: This evening, a chat was going on over at the RAMBOTS page, between friendly members of FIRST teams from around the country. It was interupted, however, by several people who will remain anonymous. There was vulgar language, and putting down of other teams…General un-sportsmanship like behavior. They were warned repeatedly, but the inappropriate behavior continued, forcing Anton to close the server. He is now in the process of raising the security of the chat server, something that should never have had to happen. Please, if you were the people who caused these actions, do not abuse a resource that someone has given his time and energy into providing for us. If you were not there tonight, please let this be a reminder that no matter how much we talk about ‘Gracious Professionalism,’ we need to practice it.

: Lora Knepper
: Team Leader and friend of FIRST
: Team 69 HYPER

3

Posted by Quentin Lewis.

Engineer on team #42, P.A.R.T.S - Prececision Alvirne Robotics Technology Systems, from Alvirne, Hudson NH.

Posted on 2/27/2000 7:41 PM MST

In Reply to: the tradeoff of anonymity posted by Anton Abaya on 2/27/2000 7:24 PM MST:

> I am proud to say that like any discussion forum, any online medium of communication,
> its integrity can be salvaged. I have imposed stricter rules and implemented tighter
> policies on the chat server.

I have just set-up a page with your Chatserver code on it…does that still work? I try to use it and it complains with a Java Error…something about a Bad Magic Number.

Any info would be appreciated…

-Quentin ([email protected])

4

Posted by Anton Abaya.

Engineer on team #419, Rambots, from BC High / UMass Boston and NASA, Mathsoft, Solidworks.

Posted on 2/27/2000 7:47 PM MST

In Reply to: Will our pages with your CHAT code still work? posted by Quentin Lewis on 2/27/2000 7:41 PM MST:

the chat server was down between 9:00pm to 9:30. i had to implement the security issues.

try it again. the BAD REFERRER thing you can ignore. that’s merely a counter. the chat should work.

email me if you have more questions or post them here.

ICQ # 3865407

ANTON ABAYA
team leader
Rambots, #419

:
: > I am proud to say that like any discussion forum, any online medium of communication,
: > its integrity can be salvaged. I have imposed stricter rules and implemented tighter
: > policies on the chat server.

: I have just set-up a page with your Chatserver code on it…does that still work? I try to use it and it complains with a Java Error…something about a Bad Magic Number.

: Any info would be appreciated…

: -Quentin ([email protected])

5

Posted by Michael Betts.

Engineer on team #177, Bobcat Robotics, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.

Posted on 2/28/2000 7:27 AM MST

In Reply to: ~INCIDENT AT THE RAMBOTS FIRST CHAT~ Please read! posted by Lora Knepper on 2/27/2000 6:27 PM MST:

:… There was vulgar language, and putting down of other teams…General un-sportsmanship like behavior…

To the FIRST Community,

I have been informed that one of the ‘disruptive’ influences at the referenced chat event had identified themselves as being affiliated with Team 177. As team leader of Bobcat Robotics, I have a very difficult time believing that any of my team members were involved. We have a great group of individuals on our team and they have all demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship in both actions and attitude.

Nevertheless, the image of Team 177 has been tarnished. Accepting the possibility that one of my team members was involved, I wish to publicly apologize for this incident.

I will do by best to investigate this incident but, given the anonymity of the net, my chances for success may be problematic. If anyone has any first hand information about this incident, please call me at 860-727-2478 or email at [email protected] in total confidence.

And finally, to the person(s) responsible:

You just don’t ‘get it’, do you? It is far easier break, or leave broken, something (robot, team or community, it does not matter), than to make it work. What you miss, by taking the easy way out, is cultivating a genuine respect for yourself and your own potential. You have learned nothing.

It does not matter if you are a member of my team or not. Your lack of this basic understanding means that both I and my team have failed you. You, also, have my sincerest apologies.

Mike Betts for Team 177

6

Posted by Joe Johnson.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]

Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 2/28/2000 7:47 AM MST

In Reply to: Re: ~INCIDENT AT THE RAMBOTS FIRST CHAT~ Please read! posted by Michael Betts on 2/28/2000 7:27 AM MST:

Mike Betts,

You face a difficult situation and you have handled with respect and class.

Once again, I am pleased and proud to be associated with the great group of people that have been drawn into the FIRST activity.

Keep up the struggle.

Joe J.