I know this post is long, and tends to ramble, but if you read nothing else, read the last paragraph.
I have only ever been on reddit a few times, and found it rather confusing, I can see both sides to this story. Having had some of my own first posts on CD be negative, and having been called out by one of my own team members, I know what it can be like.
Also, it was mentioned that these forums seem like they are all mentors posting at times, I would like to point to Andy Grady's amazing Ri3D blog post today.
http://www.robotin3days.com/our-legacy/ Most of us mentors were you at one point. This is a point I make sure to mention at every drivers meeting I hold, and most students who I interact with know this as well.
We have met each other over the years, and I consider FIRST my second family. I talk to FIRSTers on a daily basis, and no, it's not just because I work for AndyMark now. I choose to maintain the friendships I have grown with people from various regions across the country and world!
When Libby originally started posting on CD, I had no idea who she was, and I honestly thought she was a spammer account. Then I got to know her as a person, and she truly is one of the nicest people in FIRST. I hate seeing friends bashed here, and in other places, when no one bothers to get to know who they are bashing. That's why I like CD. It is personalized in that way. I encourage anyone who wants to, follow me on Twitter, come say hi at a competition. This is how you meet the people you are afraid of on the forums.
While it had been a long time since I have been truly active here, and they may still exist, the web hugs were a fantastic place to meet everyone you only knew by profile picture and their posts. That said, I encourage every student to get to champs at least once in your student career, even if not with your team. You will get to see and meet some AMAZING people who will be more than willing to talk to you if they aren't super busy with a robot at the time.
If you can't do that, start volunteering! I had some students on my team last year make friends with other students because they were volunteers together and wouldn't have met otherwise. Volunteering has changed my life. I have volunteered for FRC, FVC(throwback I know), FTC, and FLL in some capacity since 2003(where applicable). That is where I met people like Libby, Billfred, Dave Lavery, Dr. Woodie Flowers, Dean Kamen, Will.I.Am, and more. While I may not stay in constant contact with Dean, I have stayed close friends with a lot of my fellow volunteers. Competition season is near and dear to my heart because it is my family reunion time every year.
Basically, the point is, CD is only what you make of it. I encourage everyone to make the most, and if you think you will get bashed for a dumb question, then find someone you respect, tell them flat out that you are worried about it, and ask them in a private message. If they give you a good response, maybe ask the community at large, but still, ask someone. That is how you learn, and that is how you can gain your confidence even amongst the biggest names on ChiefDelphi.