So i have been wondering. How and why has CD grown to such popularity? I mean plenty of teams have forums, most of which nobody ever visits at all, but CD is huge.
Hm… it’s gotta be partially due to Brandon’s dedication to constantly updating this site and making sure it’s useable and full of features.
I find it interesting to check out www.archive.org and look at the progress of some websites. If you look up ChiefDelphi.com on the takemeback machine, you can look at the progress of this site through the years. The different phases are certainly interesting.
I’m wondering the same
Well… here’s what i think…
CD was one of the first web forums… So… mabey back 6’ish years ago when CD was small, had another team started a forum, and for whatever reason, people liked that one better, that other forum could have taken over CD. But now, think about it… one web forum is pretty much the same as any other… yeah… one may have different smilies, or an extra function here or there, but that’s not what people care about.
What people do care about is the nearly 5000 members that visit CD. I mean, why would people want to discuess/post/ask a question on a forum with 25 people, when they can do it on CD with 5000 other people. Pretty simple. More people = More ideas.
The only thing that could hurt CD would be if it became unreliable (down a lot, posts lost, unfair moderation, lots of spam…) But, as long as Brandon’s the the helm(sp?) I don’t think any of us need to worry 'bout that for a while. Now, in 50 years when Brandon retires (;)) and isn’t so intrested in web programming, if there isn’t anyone else to take over CD, then people might move else were… but that’s a ways off…
My $.02
Brandon and the Chief Delphi Web team are definitely a big reason this website has gone so successful. Without their hard work there would never have been a website with a forum in it. I remember back then it was Brandon and an adult on Chief Delphi (an engineer I think) who wrote the forum in pearl.
Another reason the Chief Delphi Forum is so successful is because of their goal to create a better FIRST community. Chief Delphi decided to serve the community better by creating a forum so everyone can talk about FIRST issues before and after the competition. They have the goal and they set out to do it. They spread out the words to other engineers and mentors, and other students. They got the really cool people in FIRST to come in here and chat about different issues that’s important to them.
I remember I used to go into the WhoamI gallery, see all the pictures of all the users in the forum, remember their face with their name, so I can meet them in person and thank them for how much I’ve learned from their messages. There were about 30 or 40 people posting back then, and each of them seems to enjoy the discussion so much because it was all great people to talk to.
I remember names like Joe Johnson, Raul, Bill Beatty, Andy Baker, Chris Hibner, Jason Morrella, David Kelso, Andy Grady, Kate Leach, and others inspired me to be a more dedicated, thoughtful person in FIRST. I remember my high school team captain Daniel Lehrbaum from team 192 having so much fun by being so involved with the FIRST community instead of staying in our little corner in California. We already have a great community, the website just serve as a conduit to serve that community better.
The cool factor had a lot to do with it back then. It was great to see what the cool people have to say about certain things I never thought others would think about. It was great to see the cool people argue about certain issues and learn so much from them without embrassing yourself. It was great to be that little ignorant kid back then who are afraid to speak out in front of the cool people because I was so afraid nothing meaningful would come out of my mouth. It was great having a lot of role models to look up to and learn from.
Then I suspect every one of those cool people enjoyed it show much they decide it is beneficial for their own team members to join, and that’s how we get this crowd we have right now.
Another big reason why CD forum is so successful is because they are willing to listen to the suggestions and comments from the rest of the community. They listen and listen, and try to make this forum better and better with new features and improvements. They never said “hey, this is my place, I do what I want.” They always say “what can I do for you?” Now that doesn’t happen often.
Again, hats off to Chief Delphi for building this place, and hats off to the rest of you who make this community great!
I remember getting “advertising” about chiefdelphi very early on. I think it came from FIRST but I could be wrong.
I don’t think that would ever happen. I’m here for the long haul. :]
Yeah, way back in the beginning there were business cards, and other things, handed out at kickoff, regionals, nats, and other events.
Yeah i don’t think our good buddy Brandon will be going anywhere anytime soon. What would he do with all that free time other then spend it with the wife. he’s probably the most dedicated web master i have come across since I came into the FIRST Community. And I hope he plans on keeping it that way. Brandon what ever you do! DO NOT CHANGE. 
One day we shall meet in person maybe when i go to pontiac MI for a summer vacation
As far what Ken said I agree with you 100% and couldn’t put it better terms no matter how much time you gave me 
I wonder if anyone still has that stuff… :]
Here is something to really get all the oldies going…does anyone out there remember the original Web Hug, and the Manual Message Board that Delphi had at Nats in 99? For those who weren’t there, the Delphi team advertised the website a bit, and allowed for people to leave messages on a big board in thier pit. It was awsome.
As for reasons this site is the number one place for everyone to communicate is two reasons in my opinion. One, Delphi being one of the big sponsors in FIRST had a great website to start, and people just happened to find the forum easy to work with. Two, Brandon and everyone else who put the time into this forum have done an amazing job in upkeeping it, and making it better time and time again.
If I had it my way, Brandon would win the Woodie Flowers award one of these years. Without him and the dedication he has put into this website…FIRST would be a very different thing right now…and probably not nearly as good. His affect on EVERYONE in FIRST is just as high as any engineer or teacher who does wonderful things for a team. Thank you Brandon.
Also, dont overlook the affect all the great people who have visited this website over the years have had on keeping this thing going. Lets hope it keeps going for years and years to come.
Good Luck All!
-Andy Grady
I agree with you totally on that one Andy. This is one of the parts about the Woodie Flowers award that I wish could be changed because currently you can only nominate a person on your team. I hope that for next year during the “FIRST Forums” that somebody will present this to the Woodie Flowers Award board and take this into consideration.
I think there are some members on my team that are defentally deserving of the Woodie Flowers Award, but I just believe it would be great if we can be able to nominate others outside our team, not necessarely on another team but more of a “neutral” person in FIRST.
I imagine there are some members of teh WFA Committee that browse these boards daily and I recommend that you take this into consideration for next year… hint, hint… cough, cough
:]