[Steven Smith]

To the OP:

So in this thread, as is typical on CD (as you know), you have a combination of prudent advice, snarky comments, and a bit of sensationalism. Technical topics tend to draw out less of it. Topics where there are stronger differences of opinion, or an "us vs. them" feel can draw out stronger responses. I do feel (though could understand if a newer member doesn't) an underlying respect for each other within the CD community, so I am able to overlook some of the negative and come away with a net positive.

I agree that it can be a deterrent and intimidating to students. I think I understand what you are attempting to achieve with the F4 Connect. I can see an independent forum with a dedicated group of students that are sensitive to how student questions are answered as providing some positive outcomes.

I won't go through and echo every comment, but the ones regarding privacy and duty to report are worth heeding though, and a "disclaimer" does not absolve you of everything legally. Even if it did, if the net effect of the poor advice or privacy breach was a student being left in a dangerous situation or making a poor decision, the damage is still done. Mentoring is a skill in and of itself, and we all learned by observing and working with other mentors, bouncing ideas off "more senior" mentors when our knowledge falls short. I would encourage you to continue to do the same.

Regardless of your experience starting the F4 Connect community, I would always encourage people to first look at building up an existing platform before attempting to create something new from scratch. Whether intentional or not, every attempt to improve an existing platform by creating a new invariably fragments a user base more. Chief Delphi is likely not going anywhere soon. If you want to improve the dialogue in a shared mentor/student forum, you can do so by preempting posts with well worded answers to that new member that doesn't search before posting. I personally believe a better solution to the problem (which again, I agree exists) is for students like yourself to encourage students to join CD, and to do your best to provide feedback, even when there is a chance someone may disagree with it.

Either way, best of luck. Maybe as you suggest, you can use it as a way to drive students to existing resources, or to help coach them as they join the larger FIRST community and CD.