Why don't we use reddit.com/r/frc

[Ekcrbe]

I think this thread itself is actually a good example of why we all like to stick with CD. Imagine if we all did use Reddit, and this thread came up. Now, obviously, it wouldn't because it's a moot point then, but imagine that you were proposing something else of the same nature.

Here, most people are not jumping on your side and are instead providing critiques and counterarguments. Nonetheless, a useful discussion is ongoing because this thread's activity is keeping it high on the Portal's Recent Activity list and people are seeing it. If this question were posed in a voting system forum, it would see a small reaction in the beginning and then be modestly downvoted (I presume, just based on how people are responding) because it's not a popular idea, and would be seen at the top no longer, essentially killing it off. None of this productive dialogue would occur, and that would be a shame. As a population, it takes challenging thoughts to keep us sharp and active, and we are making CD a better place because of it.

[TimTheGreat]

Originally Posted by Ekcrbe

If this question were posed in a voting system forum, it would see a small reaction in the beginning and then be modestly downvoted (I presume, just based on how people are responding) because it's not a popular idea, and would be seen at the top no longer, essentially killing it off.

You don't downvote because you disagree, you downvote "bad" posts. Like if someone posted a photo of a cat, you'd downvote that, not because you don't like the photo, but because it serves no purpose to FRC.

[Ekcrbe]

Originally Posted by TimTheGreat

You don't downvote because you disagree, you downvote "bad" posts. Like if someone posted a photo of a cat, you'd downvote that, not because you don't like the photo, but because it serves no purpose to FRC.

I think that's an overly-idealistic take on things. Anywhere there is voting involved, the end result to some degree reflects a popularity contest. And even if it didn't go down, it would probably stay not much better than neutral and would nonetheless be partially drowned behind hot-button or hugely popular threads like the game hint and the never-gonna-die over-3400-posts-strong "You know you've overdosed on FIRST when..." threads.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by TimTheGreat

You don't downvote because you disagree, you downvote "bad" posts. Like if someone posted a photo of a cat, you'd downvote that, not because you don't like the photo, but because it serves no purpose to FRC.

And how many people would actually adhere to that?

Again, you're giving too much credit to the humans around here. Look at Joe's post above: of the top 25 currently on there, 19 are that cat photo, or some reasonable equivalent!

[z_beeblebrox]

Originally Posted by TimTheGreat

You don't downvote because you disagree, you downvote "bad" posts. Like if someone posted a photo of a cat, you'd downvote that, not because you don't like the photo, but because it serves no purpose to FRC.

In theory, that's how it should work. In practice, people downvote what they don't like and that's a hard behavior to change.

[Joe G.]

Originally Posted by TimTheGreat

You don't downvote because you disagree, you downvote "bad" posts. Like if someone posted a photo of a cat, you'd downvote that, not because you don't like the photo, but because it serves no purpose to FRC.

Just because you and I don't, doesn't mean others won't.

In addition, when a subreddit reaches a certain size, "not upvoted" is basically just the same as downvoted. These communities are dependent on topics and comments catching the interest of the small percentage of users who browse by new in order to achieve widespread visibility. Again, see the list of posts I made which naturally gravitated to the top. All universally appealing for a quick laugh, but of very little genuine lasting value.

I think that's an overly-idealistic take on things. Anywhere there is voting involved, the end result to some degree reflects a popularity contest. And even if it didn't go down, it would probably stay not much better than neutral and would nonetheless be partially drowned behind hot-button or hugely popular threads like the game hint and the never-gonna-die over-3400-posts-strong "You know you've overdosed on FIRST when..." threads.

This brings up another interesting point: Reddit's algorithm results in all posts, no matter how popular, drifting off the front page after a few days (and I don't believe that individual subreddits can alter this). Here, on the other hand, you see threads like this remain relevant for years. During the season, hot-button threads generate discussion lasting weeks, which doesn't work with reddit's rapid-fire algorithm.

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

I'm a moderator at CodeRanch, a large programming forum. We have discussed a number of times the differences between our discussion forum and Stack Overflow's Q&A format. They are different and serve different purposes. Reddit is a little different, but I think much of the same still holds.

Discussion forums like this (chief delphi) and CodeRanch have a few benefits:

1. Build community
2. Mentor new members on good conventions (downvoting doesn't accomplish that. And often you are downvoted without any explanation of the actual problem)
3. Professionalism (or GP here) - both CD and CodeRanch encourage real sounding names. People tend to be nicer when talking to someone who sounds human
4. A "be nice" rule. CodeRanch calls it "be nice". Here we call it GP.

Different formats are good for different things. Reddit isn't "the one true way." Neither is CD.

[Oblarg]

Because reddit is terrible.

[Munchskull]

Originally Posted by Abhishek R

Well... has anyone been to frccirclejerk.com ?

This.

Also on a more relevant note, chif delphi has to many good things about it tthat reddit would not have. Mostly the comfort of seeing frequent posters that are here on chief delphi.

[artdutra04]

Reddit is a terrible place for substantial conversations/debates and answering technical questions.

The problem is that people use upvote and downvote as a proxy for "I agree" or "I disagree" with the content of posts. People like magical internet upvote points, so they tend to shy away from substantial boring conversation and go for the low-hanging fruit of upvotes, the posts that enough people will like to upvote and few will find faults with.

This results in the highest rated comments almost always being puns, memes, and reaction GIFs, even in specific sub-reddits.

Chief Delphi is better for a community like FRC for a few reasons:

1. Unlike Reddit, most people with accounts on CD have met other people from CD in real life at events/competitions/etc. As such, most people here tie their accounts to their real name/photo and/or team number. True anonymity is rare and discouraged by the site rules.
2. Forums like vBulletin (which is what Chief Delphi uses) are much better suited for long-term organization of topics based upon sub topics, like programming, motors, CAD, competitions, etc.
3. The "voting" on posts here is limited in daily quantity, limited to how often you can give it to one person, is entirely private in how they are doled out, but public in their rolling total. By "voting", I'm talking about reputation points. As such, it tends to be used more sparingly, and generally isn't used much in a negative way unless there is egregious behavior (trolling, baseless accusations behind veil of anonymity, etc).
4. Because of the above, trolling isn't very common here, and conversations are almost always civil and respectful.
5. Chief Delphi has been around for a long time (longer than some current freshman have been alive!), and has a very large and active community of students, mentors, alumni, and sponsors. There is a huge amount of knowledge here via threads, photos, whitepapers and more, and lots more available by just asking a question.

[fb39ca4]

I think both communities have a place, for silly stuff on Reddit and serious discussion on CD.

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by artdutra04

Reddit is a terrible place for substantial conversations/debates and answering technical questions.

The problem is that people use upvote and downvote as a proxy for "I agree" or "I disagree" with the content of posts. People like magical internet upvote points, so they tend to shy away from substantial boring conversation and go for the low-hanging fruit of upvotes, the posts that enough people will like to upvote and few will find faults with.

This results in the highest rated comments almost always being puns, memes, and reaction GIFs, even in specific sub-reddits.

Chief Delphi is better for a community like FRC for a few reasons:

1. Unlike Reddit, most people with accounts on CD have met other people from CD in real life at events/competitions/etc. As such, most people here tie their accounts to their real name/photo and/or team number. True anonymity is rare and discouraged by the site rules.
2. Forums like vBulletin (which is what Chief Delphi uses) are much better suited for long-term organization of topics based upon sub topics, like programming, motors, CAD, competitions, etc.
3. The "voting" on posts here is limited in daily quantity, limited to how often you can give it to one person, is entirely private in how they are doled out, but public in their rolling total. By "voting", I'm talking about reputation points. As such, it tends to be used more sparingly, and generally isn't used much in a negative way unless there is egregious behavior (trolling, baseless accusations behind veil of anonymity, etc).
4. Because of the above, trolling isn't very common here, and conversations are almost always civil and respectful.
5. Chief Delphi has been around for a long time (longer than some current freshman have been alive!), and has a very large and active community of students, mentors, alumni, and sponsors. There is a huge amount of knowledge here via threads, photos, whitepapers and more, and lots more available by just asking a question.

This is an excellent summary for why /r/FRC isn't a great community forum.

I know it was joked about earlier, but there truly is a hivemind on reddit, and that's not really welcoming to someone new. Chief has been the longstanding giant for the FRC community, and it's got a good system going. It's down to each individual user, but most of the time on here, when a new person posts (and is a little out of line) we gently remind them of the forum rules instead of red-dotting them into oblivion. Exceptions, of course, are made for straight-out rude or offensive posts.

As a contrast, I posted the same sort of reminder you'd find here on Chief (a game hint isn't a game hint unless FRC explicitly calls it out as one) and I got downvoted for ruining the fun. "You must be fun at parties", etc. Classy.

One of the things I really enjoy here is that even when you get 'dots', you're allowed to leave a response or comment - and even reply to it! You can't get that with downvotes. It's another tiny facet where CD allows for constructive discussion, rather than just 'I disagree with this, downvote'. On here, it's more of a quick way to leave direct, personal feedback and take it to PM's rather than calling each other out in the thread and detracting from the discussion.

Reddit is, as others have said - good for memes, and sharing 'look at this thing my team did', but Chief is the winner when it comes to long-term constructive discussions in this community. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

[GKrotkov]

This is definitely a less broad point than those above, and certainly one that effects less people, but Reddit is blocked on our school computers for good reason. It makes sense for it to be blocked on other school's computers, as well. Chief Delphi, on the other hand, is totally fine. If Reddit were the hotbed of FIRST conversation, accessing Chief Delphi during meetings would be harder/more annoying for at least 1712.

[Tungrus]

CD is: of the people, by the people and for the people.

Anyways about the game hint and flood of ideas, there is nothing wrong with it, its just a place where young adults with hyper active ideas come and showcase them. Some ideas are plausible and others are outrageous funny. I don't believe anyone reads the thread to find anything close to real game.

[JesseK]

This one's easy.

Reddit doesn't have an images and whitepapers section. It also doesn't have "comment-based reputation" which is really a feedback mechanism for the community to curb unwanted behavior.

Reddit is a bit too ADD for me, personally.