If All Mentors Stopped Posting In Chief Delphi...

[JaneYoung]

Understanding that CD has become a part of a way of life for the mentors who participate - that isn't why I created this thread.

I'm asking what it would be like if mentors did not participate in CD. Another way to gain a perspective in thinking about it is to go back 5 and 8 years and apply the same question. If mentors had not been contributing to CD over the past few years, what would that impact be? Let's make it even more specific and say engineers.

Also, what would be the impact on the development of technical and organizational white papers if mentors and engineers were not and had not been contributing? Or stopped?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

Also, what would be the impact on the development of technical and organizational white papers if mentors and engineers were not and had not been contributing? Or stopped?

Jane, there wouldn't be a whitepaper section in CD-Media. There'd be one or two mostly-useless papers in obscure threads or in the old papers section.

Now, if there was a sudden stop, then the papers would be there, but they wouldn't be updated, and new ones wouldn't be added. How many teams use JVN's whitepaper on drivetrains? As I recall, he was a college mentor when he wrote that... and certainly when it was updated.

Oh, and another thing about all mentors stopping posting--if they'd stopped a few years ago, AM wouldn't be nearly as popular as it is now.

[smurfgirl]

If they all stopped right now, there probably wouldn't be too much of an impact right away. Current student members of the forum recognize who they are, and their wisdom, and they appreciate their insight. Their previous posts are still around and will still be taken seriously, as will their quotes at the top of each page. I think the change will trickle in through the seasons as younger students join and haven't fully realized the importance of mentors in the program. They won't get the benefit of communicating with mentors anywhere besides their own small region, maybe even their own team. And if that happened, Chief Delphi would be a very sad place. The mentors are important people here... I hope they don't leave.

[ATannahill]

If mentors just stop posting right now than this sentence wouldn'


This community is very much what the people posting make it, what do you think would happen if the mentors stopped attended your team meetings? The quality of the robots will fall. Also think about the other things that will be lost. The excellent papers and quick and accurate response to questions will not be here to assist those who need it.

[Akash Rastogi]

This is how life on CD would be....

Rookie members asks question: Hey guys how's this doohickie work? What do I do with that thingamabob over in that kit box?

Akash and RC's response: Don't use that doohickie, I don't know what that thingamabob does either. You're better off leaving it out.

EricH's response to all this: Akash, RC....that's a battery.....just go stand in a corner and be quiet.

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

This is how life on CD would be....

Rookie members asks question: Hey guys how's this doohickie work? What do I do with that thingamabob over in that kit box?

Akash and RC's response: Don't use that doohickie, I don't know what that thingamabob does either. You're better off leaving it out.

EricH's response to all this: Akash, RC....that's a battery.....just go stand in a corner and be quiet.

Lol, Me agree.

-rc

[EricH]

Actually, it's more:

Akash, RC, that's a battery, here's the instructions on putting the leads on, tell me when you're done so I can find something else for you to do.

[Cynette]

It would definitely change the perspective and balance of CD. All of the questions and responses would be from the student perspective, and one of the extra avenues of mentorship would be closed.

This would change the perspective of many teams since teams would only know their mentors and have interface with other teams mentors only at competitions.

I think this would also change the interaction between teams by the mentors and the sharing of best practices, tips, and helps that mentors get from one another. Our source of ideas would be limited.

I could see this even impacting the off-season competitions. Much of the advertising for off-seasons is either local or through CD. The students would have a tougher time trying to convince their team to attend a more distant off-season event without the mentor participation on CD.

Finding volunteers for events would be more challenging as well. Students may not capture and communicate all of the needs for upcoming events to be able to recruit the nesessary help to run events.

I don't think all of the effects would be bad, but it would be different, that is for sure!

(and I would have about a quarter of the FIRST friends that I have )

[Rick TYler]

Without mentors, chiefdelphi would turn into 4chan. Just say no.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by JohnBoucher

chirp.......chirp...........chirp

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

I'm asking what it would be like if mentors did not participate in CD. Another way to gain a perspective in thinking about it is to go back 5 and 8 years and apply the same question. If mentors had not been contributing to CD over the past few years, what would that impact be? Let's make it even more specific and say engineers.

Also, what would be the impact on the development of technical and organizational white papers if mentors and engineers were not and had not been contributing? Or stopped?

What, indeed?

Would the general quality of the answers people received to their questions go down? This may be preaching to the choir, but it really befronts me mightily when people answer a question with wrong information, because they don't know (they why are you answering?) or did not look it up (again...then why are you answering?) or are just guessing (then why... you know).

Or, would the students predict this effect and impose martial law, chastising those who post "junk" and praising those who post truth and fact and research and wisdom and insight?

I fear the former and hope the latter.

A bad answer is worse than a wrong answer. The blind leading the dumb is no way to do this. Do not answer a question on CD unless you know - really know - the correct answer and can defend it intelligently.

Certain forums - chit-chat, rumors, etc are exempt of course. I'm thinking primarily of the technical forums.

Do we generally respect the responses given by the likes of Dave Lavery, Alan Anderson, Andy Baker, John V Neun, and several others? OK, what do virtually every one of their posts have in common? They are accurate, competent and reasoned answers. Not off-the-hip, just guessing, "I Think" answers.




My 2 cents.

Don

[Cody Carey]

Hmmm... (Roots around the internet)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww&feature=player_embedded\

/Average thread in 10 years

[JaneYoung]

Discussions regarding student-led and mentor-led teams frequent the ChiefDelphi fora. The discussions seem to end by trailing off, never coming to any conclusion. The closest we arrive to is an understanding that teams are free to choose how they organize, develop, and who the team is led by.

Many of the posts in this thread point to the differences the absence of engineers and mentors would make in Chief Delphi, specifically in the technical areas. It is the same in teams. By inviting engineers and mentors to be a part of your team and partnering with them in building a robust team and robot for the FRC competition and program, it brings added value, depth, strength, expertise, and wisdom to the team and to the overall experience.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts in this thread.

Jane