https://app.aws.org/forum/topic_show.pl?tid=35593For some time, I have been following the discussion here, with regard to revising the AWS forum in some fairly radical ways. However, it now appears to be ended, awaiting the beta-testing.
This was a result of being offered a free AWS membership, to take part in the beta-test of the new AWS forum, as a regular contributor. I had to decline the offer, because I fundamentally disagree with the premises expressed by Mr Nieves, quoted below, in reply to my question as to why the new forum would be closed to non - AWS members.:
“ …There were multiple reasons for the Society deciding to do this. The main reason is that the current site is very antiquated and is very limited. The current forum is only being used by a small fraction of individuals. We would like to get all of our 70,000 plus members (worldwide) using it and also give them the best experience possible. We have done research on other organizations like ours and none of them allow non-members on their private forums that are hosted on their website. The majority of users of the existing forum are current members. This will add value to their membership. It will also encourage those that are not members to become members of the Society and support the industry. ….”
Mr Nieves is quite correct in that the AWS is unique in hosting non-members of AWS on its forums. It is for this reason that I chose this (and other “open” forums) to supplement and further my welding experience, when I began semi-retirement, thirteen years ago. I was very impressed with the willingness and generosity of the members here to share their knowledge with anyone they could help around the world, rather than the closed and commercialized attitudes of other forums.
While all forums usually claim content as their intellectual property, it is the contributors, not the sponsors, who build the archives and provide the value. I could easily afford AWS membership to continue here, but I refuse to participate in closed forums. For that reason, I will soon be a non-partcipant here, as the AWS corporate decision has apparently already been made by those in management, not, as it should have been, by those who built this forum.
I wish to thank all those who have educated me over the years in many aspects of welding I would never have encountered otherwise. I also hope that I have made a small contribution here,
and certainly, a much larger contribution in disseminating your ideas to many others. I will miss the daily read here, but since I am 83 years old, with a few incurable ailments, I wouldn’t have lasted much longer anyway!
Good luck with your new corporate controls!