High schoolers and younger students are much more likely to at least show an interest in robotics when they see a robot and are explained the mechanical workings and even the explanation of how a code works on a dumbed down level over a poorly produced parody video. Older audiences might see constant parody videos as an option to diminish the value of time and effort that is put into robotics because the media being presented at those events isn’t focused on the robots itself if they aren’t really into the scene. I understand that FIRST is trying to let people know that it’s more than just the robot aspect of it, but showing Chairman’s videos can definitely provide that in a typically better produced and more respectable fashion than parody videos.
While parodies are fun, I would personally be okay with just the better produced and better quality parodies than a bunch of lesser. I think one of the few (if not only) shown a few years ago was FRC Rhapsody and every time it was on the whole regional would sing along to it.
I’m definitely not trying to bash anyone for the work that goes into a parody, but I do think FIRST needs to rethink what kind of media they’re playing on the large screens (which also goes onto the livestreams) for events. People are there to primarily watch robots and be interested in that part, so I think it should stay focused on that. Especially on a livestream, there’s a definite waiting gap between matches and it’s definitely more exciting when robot-based things are kept in it.
