What Would You Say To The Newer Members Of CD - 2nd Edition

[Mike Schroeder]

The one thing i would say is this


Don't ever take anything Dave Lavery says seriously he is just playing with your minds

[Beth Sweet]

Originally Posted by "Big Mike"

The one thing i would say is this


Don't ever take anything Dave Lavery says seriously he is just playing with your minds

Are you kidding me? I know for a fact that last night when he was talking about the balloons that he was telling the truth...

Main thing newbies? DON'T GET INTIMIDATED! Honestly, we're not that scary. Remember that you are not just representing your team, you're also representing yourself. Be concious and aware to speak and act in ways that will reflect well on your team.

But honestly, this program is here for fun guys, so have fun with it! Get into it and learn as much as you can! If I can learn about how a motor makes a wheel move, trust me, FIRST can teach anyone anything.

[Billfred]

When I was in AFJROTC back in high school, the instructor would occasionally tell students to "speak clearly and distinctly." I'd apply the same wisdom here; the more details you can give clearly, the more likely you are to successfully get help. Generally, that involves a paragraph or two; one-line questions generally will result in some easy questions before we can get to the real core of the question.

(oh, and don't bump posts)

[efoote868]

Use the "add to reputation" feature with discretion. If the post makes a new, good point, go ahead and give a positive rep. If you do not agree with an opinion, do not give negative reps.

Be wary of flames, and recognize them for what they are.

Last, Search before you start a new thread. Chances are someone has already asked your question, and there will be answers in that old, dead thread.

[Cory]

Once build starts--

Read the manual.

Maybe even read it a second time. Hit ctrl-f and search the pdf file for a keyword pertaining to your question. Odds are it's already in there.

If you don't do the above, expect people to tell you to read the darn manual when you ask what the diameter of a poof ball is, or how tall your robot can be.

[Trent B]

Originally Posted by Cory

<snip> Hit ctrl-f and search the pdf file for a keyword pertaining to your question. Odds are it's already in there.<snip>

Little rewording of this.

Keywords not keyword as in the plural form.

I might call something 1x1 aluminum another person make call it extruded aluminum tubing another make call it square aluminum tubing. Same applies to the manual, while it defines at the beginning and continues to use constant terminology for parts of the field, it may use a different word than you would to describe an illegal action in a rule.

Think no running by the pool vs no jogging/sprinting/speed walking by the pool.

[Bill Moore]

Originally Posted by efoote868

Use the "add to reputation" feature with discretion. If the post makes a new, good point, go ahead and give a positive rep. If you do not agree with an opinion, do not give negative reps.

Be wary of flames, and recognize them for what they are.

In the same vein, don't take your reputation score too seriously. I sometimes see new folks with very few posts have significant negative rep. Usually it is because their wording of a post strikes others as being presented in a negative or discouraging tone. Don't leave CD if you feel that you were only misunderstood. Stay here and discuss your post (non-argumentatively) to see how it was misunderstood. If your intention is to be a respected contributing member of these forums, your positive rep will quickly overshadow your negative rep.

We have had many discussions, especially during the playing season, where diverging viewpoints are presented. Sometimes we come to agreement, sometimes not, but we strive to maintain personal respect for each other while we present our views. It is proper to have a disagreement, but it is improper to be disrespectful.

[Schnabel]

Originally Posted by dlavery

Setting Big Mike's comments aside (and if you have to think about the above post for more than four seconds, there is a problem), this entire thread should be required reading for every new user.

-dave

Originally Posted by dlavery

I really like Big Mike.


-dave

Press edit before you post a second time in within a matter of 24 hours. This keeps the threads a little bit cleaner.

Listen to Big Mike when he talks about Dave too!

Smilies are fun but they do get a little annoying! Just don't put too many of them in one post.

EDIT:There is a five smilies limit. :sad smilie:

[JaneYoung]

I did not know that, thank you Eric!

[BBnum3]

This has been said before but: Double check and read over your post before you send it so that it means exactly what you want it to. From personal experience I know that this is extremely important.

[Conor Ryan]

In my Meteorology class today, we were talking about seasonal patterns worldwide, some places get no rain for 9 months of the year, and then the rain doesn't seem to stop for the other 3 months. It's the same thing in FIRST, and on Chiefdelphi too, except we get "rain" almost all year long, the "floods" only come for a few months. Anyway, welcome new members, it's an unwritten rule here that you act the way you want to be treated, act the way you would while working on the robot, and thirdly, have fun.
Remember, it's just a game
Don't take first too seriously, remember you must be a student to be on the team (mentors are there to help and teach). So make sure you work as hard at your school work as you do on your robot (it'll pay off, big time).

Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question (some are just better than others).

When the Time comes, don't forget to RTFM (Read The First Manual)

It's time for me to go out and dance in the rain, have fun.

ps- Their just dots.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Conor Ryan

When the Time comes, don't forget to RTFM (Read The First Manual)

I thought it was read the FULL manual--as in cover to cover, multiple times, by the end of Week 1, and review for the next 5 weeks...

[Conor Ryan]

Originally Posted by EricH

I thought it was read the FULL manual--as in cover to cover, multiple times, by the end of Week 1, and review for the next 5 weeks...

How about both?

[JaneYoung]

I thought of one today - it goes something like this -
Gracious Professionalism does not take a holiday.

I thought of creating a thread asking what would happen if it did..but my toes started curling and that is never a good sign.

Busy season, slow season, bored season, stressed season, each of us works to spread GP in the Chief Delphi community. Our choice of words, our responses, and sometimes what we don't say - are very important in communicating Gracious Professionalism. It is a big part of what the FIRST community strives for when building robots and building people.

[Andy A.]

I've come to realize that, during the season, I manage to post one reply for every two that I start. That is to say I write twice as many posts as actually make it on the site. Half are worth posting, the other half get trashed by me. Don't be afraid to do the same kind of thing. It's never to late to hit the back button till it is.

I like to think about this in a signal to noise concept. Signal is worthwhile posts. The stuff that answers questions, poses important questions and is helpful. Noise is everything that shouldn't be posted in the first place or should stay in Chit-Chat. The ratio between the amount of worthwhile stuff and the junk is the signal to noise ratio of this system. When the signal outweighs the noise, things are productive.

Honestly read what you've written before you hit the post button. Are you adding to the discussion? Are you answering a question? Are you qualified to answer the question? Is this post signal or noise?

If your posts boils down to "I don't know the answer" then it's probably not worth posting. Educated guesses are usually fine, wild guesses are not. During the season people are usually asking important questions and looking for the correct answer. Wildly incorrect or pointless posts add up to a whole bunch of 'noise' when your looking for that bit of 'signal' that the answer represents.

If you know the answer, pipe up! But first make sure you are in fact correct. Then, fully and completely answer the question. Research your post and include pertinent links to information, quote the rule book, reference other posts that might answer the question. Do what it takes to communicate your self even if it does mean taking a few extra minutes. We all reap the benefits.

The better the signal to noise ratio, the better the season will run.

-Andy A.