What Do You Think The Purpose Of Chief Delphi Is Intended For? What Is Its Value?

[Jared Russell]

In no real order...

1) Networking and coordinating with members from other teams, various FIRST organizations, and industry (NI, Sun, Luminary Micro, etc.)

2) Keeping up to date with FIRST-related happenings and discussions. CD is about as comprehensive as it gets.

3) Seeing what other teams are doing. What works in a FIRST context, what doesn't work in a FIRST context, what am I going to be seeing a lot of at Regionals - it's all part of the research that goes into making an effective competition solution.

4) Historical purposes. I enjoy looking at years-old threads to see what the talk was about. I also enjoy reading my posts from years ago and watching how my own opinions and feelings about FIRST have changed over the years.

5) A place for honing (technical) communication abilities. From time to time I like to give a detailed technical answer to a question not only to help others, but to also dust off my writing skills.

6) A resource that is frequented by experts in almost any subject. Most non-robotics questions here get the same exceptional responses that FIRST-focused ones get. I have gotten my interest piqued in many topics that I would have otherwise had minimal exposure to without reading these types of threads.

7) Entertainment. Caption contests, jokes, photos, etc. There are many smiles and laughs to be had here.

[Tom Line]

1. What is valuable here in CD and why is it valuable to you?

I use Chief Delphi as a research tool. I get design ideas, utilize their media section for white papers and pictures, and investigate new designs from other teams here (from which I shamelessly steal to improve our robot ).

2. What do you contribute?

Hopefully, I contribute answers to other teams technical questions. More often than not that falls within the labview / programming spectrum because I am the team's programming mentor, though I have a degree in mechanical engineering.

3. What are your favorite aspects of CD and why?

My favorite aspect of CD is the flow of information from experienced teams to newer teams. Conversely, my most un-favorite portion of Chief Delphi is the flow of information from any poster that is either ill-informed or simply rude/snarky/horribly formatted and typed.

I often wish that a mandatory portion of signing up on Chief Delphi required an email authentication system that utilized a mentor from each team as both an approver prior to allowing people membership and a policeman that could be contacted on any given team to directly address issues with posters.

4. If you are a veteran CD member and think that it has changed - what has changed, why, and what can be done about it?

I've watched Chief Delphi since my first 'First' year of '97. As the community has expanded I've seen an influx of newer and generally younger members. The board has changed somewhat from what used to be a collection of more technically oriented individuals. This goes back to point #3, in that many of the newer members do not seem to understand that this is not a personal facebook or twitter forum. It is a technical forum where spelling, grammer, punctuation and style are all important and valued.

5. (I'm adding one here). Potential improvements: I'd like to see a re-vamping of CD Media with drill down style topic menus that allow people to read through associated topics without simply utilizing the search feature.

[fuzzy1718]

Originally Posted by Tom Line

This goes back to point #3, in that many of the newer members do not seem to understand that this is not a personal facebook or twitter forum. It is a technical forum ...

Only if this is assumed to be a technical forum. Chiefdelphi is one of the few ways where FIRSTers can exclusivley connect to one another. It may not have started that way, but it is that now. This is one of my favorite things about CD, the interaction of people thousands of miles apart, who all share a similar interest, collectivly communicating in one location. It is here that one can truely see how FIRST is differant in each region. It actually was here that I truley got my first taste of GP.

If CD only featured techinical discussions then it would almost turn into a Q and A where experianced mentors would do most of the talking, as they are the ones with the answers. It would be an analog of the FIRST Q and A, just unofficial and with sharing of designs. Oh and pictures... those help too. CD would lose some of its value and flavor.

Nothing should be taken away, but more should be added and those additions should not hinder that which is already in place. No one is forcing you to read the posts from "any poster that is either ill-informed or simply rude/snarky/horribly formatted and typed." (not sure how to double quote...sorry) just skip them. It is their loss that you did not reply or didn't read the post.

Great thread Jane. This is a topic that is long due for examination and the results may be a bit interesting.

+ $0.02

[kenavt]

When I joined Chief Delphi this year, I was just hoping to somehow gain insight on robotics and FIRST from people all across the world. I knew you could ask for technical help there, but I thought that was all it was. I was, obviously, wrong. CD has proved to be so much more. I love to see people from teams that I recognize (33, 67, 1189) and look up to talk about deep issues like this thread, and fun odd stuff like http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=85964. Then, I can post in a technical forum and get help almost instantly on some problem that’s gripping me.
As well, seeing what others have posted on CD (like the rash of 6WD chassis designs recently) gives me inspiration to pursue my own projects, like a special backpack I’m working on that’s basically going to sum up all of the skills I have learned this ‘first’ year, as well as try new things with the robot for next season. Most of all, robotics has given me some fun things to do in life, and then I feel that CD is a natural extension of that – a market square where ideas from all of life can be tossed around, molded, and put back in to whoever’s hands who want it. For instance, I didn’t really know what Gracious Professionalism was until I read on CD about the wonderful things teams have done to really embrace that spirit.

[OZ_341]

Originally Posted by Jared341

In no real order...

errr.....You forgot semi-valid excuse to avoid your actual work.

[kstl99]

I have to agree with most of what was said above including the thanks to Jane who always seems to have the most interesting and thought provoking posts and threads.

I like the variety in the threads from the technical to the humorous and the philosophical. I am constantly amazed at the quality of the site and the people that contribute. It has added to my enjoyment of my first year of FIRST but it is also a great resource for learning.

As for Tom's comment about spelling, I would tend to not let it bother me except that after 30 years in the workplace I know how one misspelled word will distract the reader from the intent of what was written. I think that since FIRST is partly for training it is important for students (and some adults) to get used to using proper grammar and spelling.

I just wish there was a Chief Delphi for real life.

[Jared Russell]

Originally Posted by OZ_341

errr.....You forgot semi-valid excuse to avoid your actual work.

That goes without saying.