Will Myswag.org live on? It's up to you...

[RebsWA]

I joined this forum 17 years ago when it had a large interactive member group of contributors.
There was a lot of discussion on just about every camping topic one could think of with the electrical section being a most interesting read.
It was a must go to place every night and one could spend a lot of time learning and exchanging ideas.
But now most of the posts are from the same small group of members and most of the time off topic (little on campers, camping etc).
I just look at the post topics and if nothing grabs me I'm in and out in less than a minute.
The forum IMO is now just a chat room for a select few.
The forum seems to have run its race as have most of the other forums I once subscribed to have.
I was an active member and enjoyed this forum in the early years but now as you may have gathered it has lost its charm for me.
Sorry if this seems negative feedback but it is simply my opinion.

[Traveller]

I have been a member for quite a while as well, and I am not a big contributor, but I do enjoy being part of the community.

I, like some others, appreciate a forum much more than social media, particularly when trying to locate some info I am chasing. I also like the fact that the forum is ad free, I have often thought that this forum sets a standard that a lot of other forums should strive to copy. Also some other forums I belong to have chosen to go down the 'ad free if you pay annually' route which I don't see as being any different from an annual fee to keep MySwag going.

What I was unaware of was how few seem to be using the forum, which is a real shame and I don't quite understand it.

I am willing to contribute to keep it going, but whatever happens, I really appreciate all the effort Brett and Jillsy have put in over the years for us to enjoy this site. Thanks guys.

[WilSurf]

I am logging in nearly every workday to see if there are any new or interesting topics.

@Brett I did send you a message.

[Fizzie]

The forum IMO is now just a chat room for a select few.

That would seem to be because there's nobody else here to chat to / with!

As I said earlier 131 people have signed up since 1/7/24, but only 5 of them have ever posted (& one of those was an ex-member returning with a new name), for a total of 8 posts.

A couple posted an introduction, which various members replied to, but with no response

Others asked questions, but then didn't respond again after they were asked for clarification.

We would love to have them all on board joining in, but if they don't want to play, what are we supposed to do?

I was an active member and enjoyed this forum in the early years but now as you may have gathered it has lost its charm for me.

Not having a go at you in any way, Rebs, but what changed, either in Swag, or your life, that it's no longer interesting

[RebsWA]

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.

[Gandalf the White]

Been pondering this a bit further and reading members feedback/passionate info, so a couple of thoughts.....

Maybe a rebrand would help by updating the logo and removing or changing the tag line - offroad camper trailer forum. Something like Myswag - where old campers hang out

In saying that I'm going to have a guess that the gender and average age group of current active members is Male 50+ and setting up a new free forum/chat group with little to no cost could be a consideration. There's lots of 50+ males around that might be interested in an online men's shed type forum.

This may mean archiving the existing myswag history, but let's face it, there's a level of knowledge and commardarie in the remaining members to recreate new from old as an option.

[Mitch92]

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.

[Jillsy]

Thank you for all of your replies so far Folks.

Keep them coming and don't forget to vote.

I have just come off a run of nights shifts and Brett is on his way home from work (been gone for 8 days) so we'll hopefully get a chance to look at a few things.

If I could just win the lotto this could all be solved 

[Bird]

PS.. ya link to Merch doesnt work
Want to purchase Myswag.org Merchandise? Please click here!!!

[Never enough time]

I concur with Mitch92 above in that Online forums are definitely dwindling in their traffic.
I look at this Forum almost daily and have contributed to a few posts, but have never started a post.

The Prado forum struggles to get two new posts a week, the Pajero forum is far more active but still down from a decade ago, the Caravanners forum still seems to have plenty of use, though I've only been a member for a few years.
ExplorOz now probably only has 2-3 per day, well down from a decade ago and they have just increased their fees for members (non member option still there with reduced service levels) and they have advertising. Landcruiser Forum died completely a few years ago.
I'm not a Facebook user, but my wife is and tells me there is substantial traffic on brand specific vans/vehicles.
I think it will be very difficult to reboot this Brett and Jillsy. I personally wouldn't be interested in a Mens Shed type of Forum.

Thanks for all your efforts so far, I have voted on the poll.
Mark

[Swannie]

I have taken my time as i wasnt sure i wanted to post due the fact I havent been a active member on here for a few years for many reasons and feel my view my not be waranted. With some challenges with members health at the moment and reflecting thsi forum is worth its weight in gold to particulary the Men who have or are reaching retirment age. This forum is more than just a place to read Birds constant dribble. its a place where many get to connect with like meinded peopel around our passions and like many the liflong friends that has been made with many woudl not be here today without Myswag. But we also need ot move with the times, some thoughts

- Agree to go another 12 months and see if we can get more committment from regulars, newbies and returning campoholics to contribute both on the forum and financially (me included)
- Redefine what the purpose and intent of Myswag is
- Reduce the topics and focus bank on "camping in general", campers, hybrids and caravans, and trips
- work through what topics are relavent in 2025 and what the next 10 years of Myswag could look like

As we age Myswag becomes even more improtant for many. its a connection that is hard to replicate on social media or other platforms due to the history and memories
Swannie

[Brett]

PS.. ya link to Merch doesnt work
Want to purchase Myswag.org Merchandise? Please click here!!!

Have contacted Digital Pacific to see if they can resolve the issue...


The store is hosted differently to the Forum.

[Hairs]

[quote author=Swannie link=topic=59310.msg1069130#msg1069130 date=17522
As we age Myswag becomes even more improtant for many. its a connection that is hard to replicate on social media or other platforms due to the history and memories
Swannie
[/quote]
This I agree with, and it is a very valid point, although there are a few of us that do keep in touch through social media, not as in a group, but commenting on others posts.
The banter is there, the  p155 taking,  and there is the asking if you are alright, the concern, the sharing of personal achievements, disappointments, travels.

I also acknowledge the wealth of information that is available and the giving of advice/knowledge that members have freely given over the 15 odd years I have been a member.
I don't have a problem with a subscription fee, or even advertising if it isn't too in ya face.
I do need to give a shout out to the mods, you do a great job, thank you.

I guess, the last 5 years has had an impact on life, Fires, Floods, Covid, more floods, and many people stepped back from life, yet social groups became more improtant as people needed to connect, stay connected with life.
As in my first reply to this post, I'm happy which every is decided.
Cheers.

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

[Jillsy]

Folks just an update.

Current corresponding with a Forum Member (I'm not going to name them) who is going to have a squiz at things for us.

[Hairs]

Awesome.


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

[Jillsy]

Further update - still squizzing.

[Wol]

 The trouble with facebook is that non facebook members are blocked from scrolling more than a few inches down, and the format and lack of structure is appalling.  Message Apps are by their nature just that and no substitute for a proper forum.

Now it may be that forums are not trendy any more and the endless re-asking of the same questions on modern message forums like facebook is the way of the future, but I hope not, especially for our older members.

But it also seems to me that the decline also represents a reduction in interest in these activities generally, whether amateur astronomy, camper trailers or whatever coupled with increasing pro rata server costs.

Anyway I think this place is a goldmine of information, and if the answer is not here you soon get one.

I would rather you puta bullet in it than go to facebook or similar.

Happy to pay too.

regards

[Wol]

I would add the internet is now awash with AI generated infomercial garbage masquerading as "How to choose this" or "best 10 generators" etc.  Forums offer one of the few places where you can get real comments from real people.

regards

[RebsWA]

I would add the internet is now awash with AI generated infomercial garbage masquerading as "How to choose this" or "best 10 generators" etc.  Forums offer one of the few places where you can get real comments from real people.

regards

Agreed, but you have to allow for forum content being just that, comments/advice or just opinions.
Some folk are not "qualified" or have the depth of experience to offer advice on some subjects.
I remember a while back a bloke was asking how to service and adjust wheel bearings.
A short time later he was parroting advice on the same subject. A 5 minute forum expert!
There have been quite a few occasions where IMO good meaning technical comments or advice has been simply wrong.
But I guess that's part of forum life, sorting wheat from chaff.
Personally, that is a prime reason that made this forum interesting to me.

[Jon Burrell - Tentworld]

I've only just come across this thread. 

MySwag is definitely needing some life support. 

I dont want to see it die.

I'd like to be a part of keeping it alive...  and perhaps reviving it... 

It does appear that it needs to go onto new forum tech.  Which might help with some of the fancy tricks people have suggested.  IE - making it more like a newspaper, gamifying, etc etc.

Could Tentworld take care of it, and would members still support it if we did?

[Wol]

I don't see that as a problem.  Cloudynights has been run by Astronomics for years.

regards

[Hairs]

In the mean time,
Just throw a couple of bucks towards the server or buy some merchandise.



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

[Jillsy]

It does appear that it needs to go onto new forum tech.  Which might help with some of the fancy tricks people have suggested.  IE - making it more like a newspaper, gamifying, etc etc.

Could Tentworld take care of it, and would members still support it if we did?

Hi Jon,

A couple of our very-generous-with-their-time, very tech savvy Swaggers are sorting some things at the moment. Watch this this space 

[Fizzie]

You're getting (at least!) me excited, Jillsy!

[Rodt]

G'Day All, Been awhile since i have been on here and to be honest it wasn't even a conscious decision so not sure why. Life i suppose

Am still a bit old fashioned so like the functionality of forums as opposed to social media even though they are quick and easy.

Hope the forum keeps going and will try and remember to log in more