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

[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.

One thing that I try to do most times before posting can help keep the content of postes quite understandable. The technique is simple, read what you just wrote. And not read silently. Read it outloud, or at least on your breath. Because many grammatical errors, and sentences make no sense, and cannot be discovered until you read it to yourself. This helps me to remain somewhat coherent on here.

Also, welcome, may this new home for the next 4 (or more, hopefully) years of your life be enjoyable. Also, don't let all the scary people with very forcefully presented opinions scare you off.

[Schnabel]

Don't take anything too seriously! I'm serious.

[indieFan]

In addition to reading the full manual, make sure you read the Updates that FIRST puts out.

If you have time, cross-reference the Updates and the Manual. (i.e., actually write in your manual at rule x.x.x that it was replaced by Update 3, Page 2)

indieFan

[Chris Hibner]

Here's a BIG one for me:

If you start a new thread PLEASE be sure to take time thinking about the thread title - make sure it clearly encapsulates the point of the thread. The thread title of this thread ("What Would You Say To The Newer Members Of CD - 2nd Edition") is a great example of a good thread title.

Usually at the beginning of the year I try to be helpful and read all of the threads. After a while there is just too much clutter and I don't have time to read everything. If I don't know exactly what a thread is about by the title and I don't have all day, I tend to skip it. A good thread title let's people know if they can help before they have to spend time reading the thread.

Examples of poorly thought out thread titles:

"Help"
"Control System Help"
"CMUCam"
"The Chamionship"

Making good thread titles out of the above poor titles:

"Help Needed With printf()"
"Help Needed With Reading A/Ds"
"CMUCam Parameters - How to Compensate for Ambient Light Changes"
"Are there good places to eat near the Georgia Dome?"

[Ian Curtis]

If you are not 100% sure of an answer, do not answer a question without checking your answer. If it's something you can't check it for some reason, don't answer, there are more than likely plenty of people here who can.

If you answer a question about rules, please, please, please reference the rule, ie <R32>, or even better, put the rule directly in your post via the nifty quote function, denoted by the speech bubble on the toolbar on the "Reply to Thread" page. As an example (and if you don't know, you get the header for the quote by putting an = directly after the word "QUOTE", the tag below would be [quote=1.3.37 "Really Important Rule"]

Originally Posted by 1.3.37 "Really Important Rule"

Be sure to review the manual before posting a question. Also, check the official FIRST Q&A to be sure it has not been answered there. And always remember, rules from prior years do not apply this year.

[JaneYoung]

I realize that I am resurrecting a thread but I puzzled over where to post for a bit and decided to post here.

We are at a point in the season where new members are participating in ChiefDelphi and it is a new adventure for them.

I'm noticing red reps being given to new posters who have less than 3 posts in the fora so far. I would suggest that veteran posters take a moment to help the new poster rather than hitting the red rep button so quickly. If the poster is making multiple posts rather than using an edit button to add to the original post, take the moment that you would spent hitting the red rep button and send them a PM with an explanation of what the edit button is and how it works. Don't assume that everyone knows how to post in CD and is familiar with its features.

It doesn't take any time at all to be helpful and to be kind, helping to insure a good start to the season for all.

Jane

[rsisk]

There is a tremendous value in these forums, all there for your benefit.

Find it, know it, love it, nurture it.

You will find some of the most intelligent, knowledgeable, helpful people in the world on these forums, ready to share their wisdom with you, no matter who you are.

You will learn things you never expected to learn so be sure your mind is open to new things and leave your preconceived notions and attitudes at the door. You will have a much richer experience if you do.

And when you are ready, give a little back to CD, because it is all about iterative process improvement. CD makes you a little wiser, then you make CD a little better, making someone else a little wiser. Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

[dqmot17]

Don't read to literally into what people say - They are trying to help you, not make fun of you or criticize you.

Also, try and make friends. This is a great place to meet people that maybe could gain you some things in the future. You never know when that person you talked with is now head of the team that's kicking lots of butt and you want them to pick you.

And finally, dont be afraid to ask questions. Sometimes what you may think is a stupid question is what other people want to know but are afraid to ask. This is like a happier school environment.... except here most people know what they are talking about

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by dqmot17

Also, try and make friends. This is a great place to meet people that maybe could gain you some things in the future. You never know when that person you talked with is now head of the team that's kicking lots of butt and you want them to pick you.

You also never know when a friendship will spring up, or what you will end up with. I've developed great relationships just by posting, and by other means (Twitter, a little Facebook, AIM). I've gained a custom pair of Converse shoes, several people who give great advice, an appearance at a demo, and several fun hours of playing Pokemon TCG, among other things. This doesn't even include the friendships I know I'll keep for a lifetime, the insights I've gained about all aspects of FIRST, and the changes in my personality.

Basically: stay involved, make friends, and dnt' sp33k liek dis pl0x

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

I realize that I am resurrecting a thread but I puzzled over where to post for a bit and decided to post here.

We are at a point in the season where new members are participating in ChiefDelphi and it is a new adventure for them.

I'm noticing red reps being given to new posters who have less than 3 posts in the fora so far. I would suggest that veteran posters take a moment to help the new poster rather than hitting the red rep button so quickly. If the poster is making multiple posts rather than using an edit button to add to the original post, take the moment that you would spent hitting the red rep button and send them a PM with an explanation of what the edit button is and how it works. Don't assume that everyone knows how to post in CD and is familiar with its features.

It doesn't take any time at all to be helpful and to be kind, helping to insure a good start to the season for all.

Jane

I'm noticing this too ... and I'm wondering if CD is making it red because their rep is 0.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur

I'm noticing this too ... and I'm wondering if CD is making it red because their rep is 0.

0 (neutral) is supposed to be gray.

[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.