I’ve been deciding whether to comment here or not, and decided to share my thoughts.

In general, I have noticed that forums such as this are declining. Of the 5 or so I used to frequent, there is only 2 left, with this being one of them.

Personally, I feel that the life of this forum, and others, is decreasing. Whether it is saved this time, or in 12 months time etc. this is going to continue to be a topic of conversation every 12 months when due.

Personally I don’t contribute much for trips as life gets in the way. However, even in general I find very few threads about technical things, and indeed the most active threads are the ones such as “what did you do in your shed” or “where are you logging in from”.

I am unsure of the new member stats, however I would hazard a guess that new member numbers has been steadily declining over the years, and that it will continue to do so. I understand that a forum is what you make it, and that if new members posted etc. it could come alive, but society as a whole has changed, and what once was the solution has been replaced.

Sponsorship can be good, but as a business if I was to pay money to support a site, I would want to make that back in sales, or at least have a good chance of it. Frankly, I don’t see this forum in that position these days.

Sites which require a subscription also turn a lot of people off. I have seen this implemented and fail, resulting in the death of that forum. This also then results in the costs being shared across the few remaining members.

I feel that the writing has been on the wall for a while. After seeing the costs being posted, the constant director loans, and the membership numbers I feel that Brett and Jillsy are probably already possibly knowing the answer, but perhaps not wanting to realise it. I don’t mean this as a judgement in any way, but purely an observation.

For my thoughts, unfortunately I agree that I come on out of habit, and that it is more of a chat place now. I don’t get much or anything out of here technically or trip wise, and probably more keep looking out of habit. I feel that what the forum once was has departed, and that it is time to wrap it up.

I used to call in to Tassie for work and I was always told it’s proper pronunciation was Lonsten, but as an Aussie we like to drawl so lawnceston is acceptable in my books.

Here's a question for those living in the little pointy bit down the bottom

Now, I've always called the place Lon-seston (& I know Lawn-seston is frowned upon! )

Watching Antiques Roadshow last night, & they had a bloke on from Launceston in Cornwall, but he pronounced it as Lons-ton, while the presenter said Lawns-ton

Any of you ever heard that pronunciation before

Fizzie,
In response to your queries:
The forum is now just a chat room for a select few:  Maybe go back over the last couple of years of posts and have a look at the content.
Not real interesting.
What has changed IMO is the forum it anything but a camping, camper trailer or outdoor adventure forum.
Irrespective of the stats, if no one wants to play maybe it's because of the current content.
I would imagine there is a new crop of younger one's keen for the great outdoors but the current content of the forum is rather irrelevant to them.

Nothing has really changed in my/our life other than getting too old too quick.
I/we have progressed over the last 50+ years from the most basic camping to currently a caravan.
Although a caravan is another level up from camping and camper trailers, at our age it is a well-earned comfort we enjoy.
We have done a lot of remote area travelling in our younger days and it is now getting beyond us.
I think a few of the other members have, or are, heading towards the caravan lifestyle and maybe for similar reasons.

Again, just my take on it.

Good luck with the recovery, Hairs

Thanks mate.

You don't use magic to disappear, ya use a 4x4 & Swag.