This was originally posted by me on the Solidworks' User Forum on March 31, 2021

-----

On the VERY slim chance this will have any impact, let me talk directly to DSS, ryan, whomever.

I haven't been a part of this forum as long as the ones who are truly angry. So, I have less invested and thus less irritation. So, maybe, just maybe, you won't dismiss this post as someone who is disgruntled, angry and opposed to change. It is easy when angry to use ad hominem attacks on DSS, it's executives, etc. But, let me put my cool cap on and try to help you understand the issues with your current decisions. These points have been made by others as well throughout this thread. I'll try to keep them succinct.

1. Even if the new site worked flawlessly as intended, it would still be a poor fit for a user forum.

-A user forum is not a variation of a social networking site. While a passionate and sociable community evolves out of most, if not all, popular user forums, their primary purpose is to serve as a repository of information for all users of said product/service. This is all based on IF the new site worked flawlessly. It clearly does not. So, that adds to the issues.

2. You cannot presume upon the volunteer efforts of others to compensate for deficiencies.

-Individuals choose to volunteer their time and resources when they find value in what they are doing. If you are determined to go down a path that is clearly and loudly alienating a majority of your most passionate advocates, that is your choice to do. But, it has consequences. You should not be "surprised" at those consequences.

3. This forum change is the last in a long line of decisions that have been made against the prevailing sentiment of your core users in recent years.

-Again, it is your right to make business decisions as you see fit. But, if you make a series of decisions (home licensing changes, shifting development resources to other products, DraftSight, forcing a forum change), there comes a tipping point when those users say "enough is enough". Now, you run the very real risk of a mass exodus to other competing software solutions.

4. Whoever is responsible for managing your customer interactions is failing you.

-I don't know if this is a single individual, a consultant, or a group of people. Whoever is ultimately responsible is failing in their responsibilities.

-There is a lack of direct engagement with DSS on this or any other platform.

-There is a lack of communication on the timing, intent and process of major decisions.

-The decision regarding the Solidworks user forum.

-The convoluted bug reporting and enhancement request system.

-There appears to be too much focus on monetizing existing customer relationships (which is a fine goal for a business in and of itself) at the cost of maintaining or strengthening that relationship.

I'm not so naive to think that this little post will change the direction of DSS. But, I would feel remiss in not attempting to help you see more clearly the costs of the decisions you have or are making. It's easy in a state of anger to assume you are all incompetent at your jobs. Reality is rarely so black and white. Poor decisions can be made with good intentions. Please be aware of these issues and that they will not magically go away on April 2nd.