The Butterfly Effect

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by davidthefat

Also please do not judge my team by my behaviour, I am an individual, one individual's actions do not reflect the group as a whole, only the individual.

One individual's actions most certainly do reflect on the groups thy are a part of. Suggesting that they don't is merely a way for individuals to try and avoid taking full responsibility for their actions.

Everywhere we go and everything we do reflects not only on us as individuals but also on any groups we may be representing at the time. People will always perceive our actions as representative of our generation, our gender and/or our social class. At any given time we may also be representing a host of other groups including schools, religions, hometowns/states or clubs/groups/teams.

We must always be mindful of how our actions will affect others, especially in circumstances where it may be easy to forget such as internet forums.

Everyone makes mistakes, we show our true colors in how we deal with them. We can either reflect, learn from our mistakes and move on, trying to minimize the damage or we can continue to repeat the same mistakes, digging the hole deeper and deeper.

Most people come to Chief Delphi for selfish reasons, usually looking for an answer to a specific question. After that initial experience there are three possible paths:

1. Disappear until you have another question to ask. This is one way to use CD, as a personal Q&A. You probably won't run into any conflict, but you also won't enjoy all the benefits this community has to offer.

2. Stay on CD with a closed mindset. This type of poster may learn more from CD than Type #1, but they are also much more likely to run into conflict because of increased participation.

3. Approach CD with an open mind. This community is made up of an incredible group of people, both students and mentors, technical and non-technical. No matter what you bring to the table you can always learn new things here. The key is to be open to all the opportunities for growth that are present here. Avoid being too attached to your thoughts and opinions. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't express them or defend them, merely that you should be open to allowing them to change. Contribute when and where you feel you can dd value to a discussion. If this means you post all the time great, if this means that you don't post for days or weeks, that's fine too! By approaching CD with an open mind and by contributing what you can, not what you think you are obligated to, you will be able to get the best of what the community has to offer.