Watercooler Talk

[AlexLachance]

Creating this thread for watercooler discussions and what-not.

If you'd rather not have a thread meant only for chit-chat then I would understand.

[DanPihlaja]

Its that time of year again. The Promise production is going on right now.

Here is the website for those of you who are interested.
https://newhope.cc/thepromise/


We are performing live and live streaming it and professionally filming it this year.

TL/DR:

I am in a play this year! This is my costume. Watch it if you can.

Promise Costume.jpg

[jcapriotti]

I am in a play this year! This is my costume. Watch it if you can.
Promise Costume.jpg

Nice, you look the part.....beard does the job

[DanPihlaja]

I am in a play this year! This is my costume. Watch it if you can.
Promise Costume.jpg

Nice, you look the part.....beard does the job

Thanks! Many of the other years, I have played Peter. This year, I am playing Caiaphas (the High Priest) . However, Peter is a role that I can't do this year due to time constraints.

[AlexLachance]

Its that time of year again. The Promise production is going on right now.

Here is the website for those of you who are interested.
https://newhope.cc/thepromise/


We are performing live and live streaming it and professionally filming it this year.

TL/DR:

I am in a play this year! This is my costume. Watch it if you can.
Promise Costume.jpg

Geez Dan, never thought I'd see you dressed like that

[Tom G]

Here's an explanation for visitors who may be unfamiliar with SWIFT. It's (currently) in the title of this subforum. What is SWIFT?

Taken from the old KD, SWIFT = SolidWorks International Forum Team . It is a userbase-generated title for regular members who offer wisdom and advice, and answer other users' questions. There's a "badge" image that @Roasted By John designed.

It could be argued that this is now a vague misnomer, or at very least will be odd to continue to use outside of the official SWx Forum as it is.
I feel that the badge is intended to honor helpers, and lives on outside of scope. You may disagree.

[mike miller]

We need a new acronym IMHO.

SToFU ......Support Team of Forum Users

[Roasted By John]

It'll be SWIFT for a long time.. only guessing

[mike miller]

It'll be SWIFT for a long time.. only guessing

Sorry, I forgot to use my sarcasm font.

[Merovingien]

maybe we should merge the two thread into one only ?
Jokes Thread (Keep it Clean) + Watercooler Talk

to have only one thread for : general discuss, internet meme, funny gif, internet news, etc...

[mike miller]

Wow. This site is actually getting more traffic than the the official forum.

It's pretty much just the 3DSwamp thread and the Kiddy Dump that keep circling the toilet bowl before they go down.

I wonder what this will look like by April 2nd.

[Tom G]

Wow. This site is actually getting more traffic than the the official forum.

I'd like to discuss the future. I'd really appreciate some feedback, and eventually some teamwork to make this place useful.
I'm sorry if this is too superserious for Watercooler Talk, and maybe this discussion belongs somewhere else.

We need Noobs. Noobs asking ridiculous questions and asking us to do their homework. OK, I joke a little. We still need noobs. Questions and answers = content.

The users here that have joined, in response to what's been going on where we were, are mostly experts. Having a place to chat among experts is one thing, but few of us normally have a question or a problem that we can't solve or find out on our own how to solve.

The owners of the old forum and their VARs are never ever going to direct new users here. They'll scrub mentions of this forum from the data that will transfer to 3DSwym. After that, what? How will those who do not know this is here find us?

I have a few ideas, and as usual they're not all great. Bad ones reinforce a better one.
Promotions: advertising ($$$), search engine optimization (I assume has reasonably been filled in), networking (word of mouth), cross-link efforts / incentives
Content. Content. Content. Content.
Google: our eggs - in that basket - right?

We already talked about money in another thread. Money is super useful for buying goods and services to achieve a goal.

It has been 20 yr since I did SEO promotions, but iirc Google still ranks content by reputation as well as content. Reputation represents popularity in the sense that many other sites will link to this site. This currently does not exist, and will not exist unless we make it so. This is the intent of what I mention above as cross-link efforts. We could have a reciprocal link page if that even helps anymore - I feel so Web 1.0 right now.

Without some legit content, we aren't going to have the content portion of Google results to attract users.
It will surely take us some time to populate content of our own without noobs asking questions. We can do that. It'd be a large effort, and I would hate to see that effort amount to nothing within a few months.

Furthermore, this is nobody's job. See above about money. Any effort should not be the burden of one or a few users, but shared somewhat by the strong members of the team. No one needs a new hobby to burn out on.

And lastly for now, when we do get questions and answer them, please keep it professional, for the love of ortho. The very last thing we need is a visitor to write us off because of snark and nonsense in a technical topic. We do have off-topic areas for that stuff. You can discuss a silly thing there, referencing context with a link, and keep the context itself unspoiled. I take this one on the chin, because admittedly I do love me some snark and nonsense. See above about money.

I kinda feel like we've had our equal and opposite reaction moment to some bad news. Once that's passed, what vector are we even on: where's this going? I'd rather consider this ahead of time, than have regrets in retrospect.

[mike miller]

<snipped long post to save vertical space>

I agree 100%. As @josh said, a good forum needs both gurus and noobs. With only noobs, you have a prime example of the blind leading the blind. With only gurus, they end up sitting around comparing the lengths of their beards.

I've got a few ideas for starters:

• Evangelize on Reddit, Facebook groups, LinkedIn, etc. Post links to previous topics with good content to draw more people. I don't have access to any of those so you'll have to do it. I know @mattpeneguy has been doing some already.

• Start asking questions about things, even if you think you know the answer. You would be surprised how many different schools of thought are out there, and you will learn something new. This generates content for both the previous point and Google.

• Targeted advertising to draw traffic. Schools are excellent for this. We need a lot more people like @The Cad Lad and Clark Jacobs to ask a ton of questions!

[bnemec]

Wow. This site is actually getting more traffic than the the official forum.

I'd like to discuss the future. I'd really appreciate some feedback, and eventually some teamwork to make this place useful.
I'm sorry if this is too superserious for Watercooler Talk, and maybe this discussion belongs somewhere else.

We need Noobs. Noobs asking ridiculous questions and asking us to do their homework. OK, I joke a little. We still need noobs. Questions and answers = content.

I'm way ahead of you, I got this covered! I might be able to single handedly fulfill this sites' noob needs until 4/2.

The owners of the old forum and their VARs are never ever going to direct new users here. They'll scrub mentions of this forum from the data that will transfer to 3DSwym. After that, what? How will those who do not know this is here find us?

Just my thoughts, but...:
1) If you build it, they will come. ...oh, wait, that's not my thought, I stole it. but you get the idea. Focus on making something good and if there's actually a need people will come. Conversely, Focus only on convincing people you have something they cannot live without instead of making it some thing good, the savvy consumers will ignore you. Also, forum people will laugh at you. (just my observation)

2) Be accessible; make is visible to those who are already looking. I can only guess there are some realatively low cost ways to get Googlebots' attention. My assumption is that Google wants to provide the best search results to their users, so if there's good content Google will want to be the leader in getting people to that site. If you hide the content behind logins that don't work and don't provide a clear path for search indexing bots then there will be crickets.

[matt]

We need Noobs. Noobs asking ridiculous questions and asking us to do their homework. OK, I joke a little. We still need noobs. Questions and answers = content.

The users here that have joined, in response to what's been going on where we were, are mostly experts. Having a place to chat among experts is one thing, but few of us normally have a question or a problem that we can't solve or find out on our own how to solve.

The owners of the old forum and their VARs are never ever going to direct new users here. They'll scrub mentions of this forum from the data that will transfer to 3DSwym. After that, what? How will those who do not know this is here find us?

I have a few ideas, and as usual they're not all great. Bad ones reinforce a better one.
Promotions: advertising ($$$), search engine optimization (I assume has reasonably been filled in), networking (word of mouth), cross-link efforts / incentives
Content. Content. Content. Content.
Google: our eggs - in that basket - right?

We already talked about money in another thread. Money is super useful for buying goods and services to achieve a goal.

It has been 20 yr since I did SEO promotions, but iirc Google still ranks content by reputation as well as content. Reputation represents popularity in the sense that many other sites will link to this site. This currently does not exist, and will not exist unless we make it so. This is the intent of what I mention above as cross-link efforts. We could have a reciprocal link page if that even helps anymore - I feel so Web 1.0 right now.

Without some legit content, we aren't going to have the content portion of Google results to attract users.
It will surely take us some time to populate content of our own without noobs asking questions. We can do that. It'd be a large effort, and I would hate to see that effort amount to nothing within a few months.

Furthermore, this is nobody's job. See above about money. Any effort should not be the burden of one or a few users, but shared somewhat by the strong members of the team. No one needs a new hobby to burn out on.

And lastly for now, when we do get questions and answer them, please keep it professional, for the love of ortho. The very last thing we need is a visitor to write us off because of snark and nonsense in a technical topic. We do have off-topic areas for that stuff. You can discuss a silly thing there, referencing context with a link, and keep the context itself unspoiled. I take this one on the chin, because admittedly I do love me some snark and nonsense. See above about money.

I kinda feel like we've had our equal and opposite reaction moment to some bad news. Once that's passed, what vector are we even on: where's this going? I'd rather consider this ahead of time, than have regrets in retrospect.

Tom, yes, I agree, we need noobs. College kids are sent directly to the SW site. When that becomes inscrutable, hopefully this site will start popping up.

Just a couple of things:

• My vision for this place is A) a place full of great content and great experts and B) a place you can go to discuss stuff when there aren't any real answers (like "What are the advantages/disadvantages of synchronous?")
• I am working on a revenue stream. Talking to sponsors. If you have people you think might want to advertise and it's a relevant topic, please send them my way.
• The best thing we can do to promote the site is writing great content. We can pose interesting questions, and discuss them.
• SEO can be useful, but the main things we have to know about getting Google ranked are: external links, important keywords associated with the site (so name your images with something relevant, avoid abbreviations - use SolidWorks instead of SW [I know I'm guilty of this], use keywords in subjects and repeat them in the body of your post.) Good content trumps everything else, because that draws people naturally.
• Link to other sites with high rankings (including social media) especially ones that might link back. We might get noticed by some industry or media wonks, published on a blog or interviewed by Connie Chung or something like that. When Al Dean tweeted about this place last week, we got a lot of Twitter traffic.
• You all have done an awesome job already with mentions and links on the SolidWorks forum. It's fun to watch the member count go up and up.
• Keep the suggestions coming. It does get frustrating for me sometimes repeating myself, repeating myself, or trying to field conflicting requests, or stuff that's impossible right now, or even sometimes repeating myself, but I can deal with that. I'm a trained expert in the field of frustration.
• I will be looking for help at some point, probably a couple of moderators. Not yet. I see that some of you don't have day jobs because you're posting all the time...
• My style is being open, maybe too open. Feel free to talk to me. Email, pm, skype, LinkedIn, etc...
• Thanks for everything you all have done to get us this far!
  file.gif

[Jaylin Hochstetler]

Looks like I got the privilege of being one of the few noobs on this forum!

[jcapriotti]

Tom, yes, I agree, we need noobs. College kids are sent directly to the SW site. When that becomes inscrutable, hopefully this site will start popping up.

I see a lot of the college kids posting questions on Reddit. They probably already have Reddit accounts for other things. So there chance to find this forum is as good as 3dswym if they bother.

[*] I will be looking for help at some point, probably a couple of moderators. Not yet. I see that some of you don't have day jobs because you're posting all the time...

High level global meetings on Windchill can get quite.......boring.

[mike miller]

YAY! We've got another good one. Artem the macro guru is here.

Welcome to the community, @artem !

[zwei]

...
High level global meetings on Windchill can get quite.......boring.

Glad to see a Windchill user here...
At least now i know who i can rant together with

[jcapriotti]

Glad to see a Windchill user here...
At least now i know who i can rant together with

No doubt, we tell each other it's gonna be ok then go cry in our beer.

[AlexLachance]

image.png

[zwei]

I had been reading some random stuff today and come across this...

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/20 ... 00636.html

Maybe we should consider send one to DSS HQ?

image.png

[DanPihlaja]

Its that time of year again. The Promise production is going on right now.

Here is the website for those of you who are interested.
https://newhope.cc/thepromise/


We are performing live and live streaming it and professionally filming it this year.

TL/DR:

I am in a play this year! This is my costume. Watch it if you can.
Promise Costume.jpg

Tonight is opening night!! 7:30 PM EST
Live stream is happening at https://newhope.cc/thepromise/

image.png

[AlexLachance]

Dang dude, I just noticed you're having 6 representations. Grats and GL!

[DanPihlaja]

Dang dude, I just noticed you're having 6 representations. Grats and GL!

Thanks. Super excited!!

[DanPihlaja]

Its that time of year again. The Promise production is going on right now.

Here is the website for those of you who are interested.
https://newhope.cc/thepromise/


We are performing live and live streaming it and professionally filming it this year.

TL/DR:

I am in a play this year! This is my costume. Watch it if you can.
Promise Costume.jpg

Tonight is opening night!! 7:30 PM EST
Live stream is happening at https://newhope.cc/thepromise/

image.png

This is what I just got from the Producer of the show:

ALL Performances are LIVE - in the time presented - the final - Cinematic ONLINE only - Sunday will be available after that time for 1 week - So Easter Sunday 4/4 - 3pm showing will stay available - all others are ONLY available at their showtimes--


To explain this:


The professionally filmed version will be available online at 3PM Easter Sunday and will be available for 1 week.

[AlexLachance]

Hey Dan

I always wondered how your name spelled out. I remember someone asked you but I don't remember the answer you gave.

Is it Dan Pea -hlah - jah
or
is it Dan Pie -hlah - jah

Or am I completely off? What are the origins of that name?Greek? I think I've asked you that before lol

[Frederick_Law]

For all the wood workers:
https://hackaday.com/2021/03/25/cnc-scr ... n-spirals/

[DanPihlaja]

Hey Dan

I always wondered how your name spelled out. I remember someone asked you but I don't remember the answer you gave.

Is it Dan Pea -hlah - jah
or
is it Dan Pie -hlah - jah

Or am I completely off? What are the origins of that name?Greek? I think I've asked you that before lol

It is FInnish, and means Mountain Ash Tree (or Rowan).

Here is how I tell people to pronounce it:
Say the word "pig"
Now replace the g with an h (and actually pronounce the h)
Now say the word la-ya (Literally the La from the song in the "sound of music" movie)
Now put the two together, but like they are 2 separate words

Pih Laja

[mike miller]

Vat's up wit dis?

2021-03-25 17_26_57.jpg

[matt]

Vat's up wit dis?


2021-03-25 17_26_57.jpg

Svetlana has multiple but similar emails. And shows up on some spammer dbs.

[Tom G]

I just love it when I'm investigating a new product line, a new MFR / vendor, a new set of components to gather, and that MFR already has error-free STEP files to import. I can even defeature with Delete Face (and patch).

For record, new to sanitary piping fittings, Dixon / Bradford is MFR, and only a handful of components so far. I love finding manufacturers supportive of design.

[AlexLachance]

Good morning everyone,

Short week for me this week with easter around the corner. Finishing at noon on thursday and will be off until next tuesday. A few days off certainly won't hurt.

Hope everyone has a good one!

[zwei]

Wow....
I open the "old" forum this morning and ....

[jcapriotti]

John has been busy.

[zwei]

It will REDIRECT or so they say....

image.png

[Rob]

re: forum growth

Probably the smartest guy on the old forum was artem.
Not just for his astounding knowledge and incredible generosity in sharing it..

..but he often used to answer forum questions with a link to his own blog.

We can all do the same.

Got a problem you need to send to your VAR?

• write it up here and send them the link.
• see an interesting question at another place do the same.

The point is who owns and controls the content - why give away to a corporation that which was altruistically given?

[Rob]

ooh just noticed I am not alone the Bing Bot is here

image.png

[Glenn Schroeder]

ooh just noticed I am not alone the Bing Bot is here

image.png

At least you have some company. I'm all alone at 6:00 am.

image.png

[Steven Billeter]

Just tried to get to the new forum and got a blank page

[zwei]

I am amazed at how we are doing so far

image.png

[AlexLachance]

I am amazed at how we are doing so far
image.png

Over 50 new members since last week, that's pretty good!

[Roasted By John]

re: forum growth

Probably the smartest guy on the old forum was artem.
Not just for his astounding knowledge and incredible generosity in sharing it..

..but he often used to answer forum questions with a link to his own blog.

We can all do the same.

Got a problem you need to send to your VAR?

• write it up here and send them the link.
• see an interesting question at another place do the same.

The point is who owns and controls the content - why give away to a corporation that which was altruistically given?

No question on that Rob, but I will say you've kept company with Artem, not a lot difference IMHO

[DanPihlaja]

Its that time of year again. The Promise production is going on right now.

Here is the website for those of you who are interested.
https://newhope.cc/thepromise/


We are performing live and live streaming it and professionally filming it this year.

TL/DR:

I am in a play this year! This is my costume. Watch it if you can.
Promise Costume.jpg

So the play is over....but you can still watch it this week online if you wish!!
Just head over to newhope.cc/thepromise

Here is a pic from one of the scenes

image.png

[Tom G]

I don't know if this belongs somewhere in the rules discussion.

nologicalfallacies.png

[AlexLachance]

I don't know if this belongs somewhere in the rules discussion.

nologicalfallacies.png

It's a shame the picture got resized because I would love to read it!

[AlexLachance]

So the play is over....but you can still watch it this week online if you wish!!
Just head over to newhope.cc/thepromise

Here is a pic from one of the scenes

image.png

So how did it go Dan? Looks like you're doing a great acting job from that picture.

[Tom G]

I don't know if this belongs somewhere in the rules discussion.

nologicalfallacies.png

It's a shame the picture got resized because I would love to read it!

Thanks Alex. I didn't dog food that properly.
I found some hi-res images of that. I could not attach them.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0318/ ... 1581331579
at: https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/

Digging for that, I also located No Cognitive Bias:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0318/ ... 1581337338
at: https://yourbias.is/

It is still pretty fine print, but zoomable.

[DanPihlaja]

So the play is over....but you can still watch it this week online if you wish!!
Just head over to newhope.cc/thepromise

Here is a pic from one of the scenes

image.png

So how did it go Dan? Looks like you're doing a great acting job from that picture.

Went very well! 6 showings was a bit exhausting, and it was really hard on my voice, but we got through it.

The kids loved being in it!

In fact, my parents came down last week and saw the show. They were sitting in the front of the rear section of the seating. When Jesus is carrying his cross and the guards are whipping him, they go by right in front of where my parents were sitting. When Jesus fell and Simon came to pick up the cross, in the midst of the transfer, they bumped the cross into my mom's knee. Its pretty heavy and she walked away with a limp for an hour or so....but she's ok. LOL

[AlexLachance]

Went very well! 6 showings was a bit exhausting, and it was really hard on my voice, but we got through it.

The kids loved being in it!

In fact, my parents came down last week and saw the show. They were sitting in the front of the rear section of the seating. When Jesus is carrying his cross and the guards are whipping him, they go by right in front of where my parents were sitting. When Jesus fell and Simon came to pick up the cross, in the midst of the transfer, they bumped the cross into my mom's knee. Its pretty heavy and she walked away with a limp for an hour or so....but she's ok. LOL

Awesome buddy, glad everything went well and that you were even able to have your family attend it. Your mom's been blessed by a touch of the cross