[Jon Stratis]

I think the real question is... where does coopertition end and mentoring start?

A team can call you up and ask if you have a part they need but can't get from the manufacturer in time. That's a team actively seeking your help... but you aren't really mentoring them. A team might give you a call because they can't get their radio working after a competition, so you give them some pointers. How is that different from posting the question on CD? Again, it's mostly coopertition, and not mentoring.

When you get into mentoring, in my opinion, is with more drawn out involvement with a team. Just answering a random question or a quick request doesn't count. But if the team comes to you with questions repeatedly over the build season, it might be mentoring. if you help the team through an entire project, it's probably mentoring. If you help a team get started, it's probably mentoring.