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

[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.