The forum is silent

[vader45]

1 last thing whilst I have it in my mind, the "like" feature which has been added on here like it is on FB, I personally think it's a bad thing as folks think hitting the like is interacting & I feel it stops many posts (even if only a that's cool etc) from happening & is part of the general laziness of social media & instant gratification vibe, that could be scrapped I'd say - don't shoot me, just airing my musings

That is true while on the other hand it does get repetitive seeing a bunch of "nice" "good job" "that's amazing" etc. kind of posts. When people are extra amazed at the topic they usually end up posting.

I joined this place on a prop/costume related search and started with the prop section. Then I found out it's primarily vintage toy collecting, not only that it's also primarily oversees while I'm an American. The name of the forum does not convey that. I assumed it was a catch all official forum. In my honest opinion that hinders the forum. I particularly don't care for toys even though they seem to be the main focus when it comes to collecting anything Star Wars. I prefer the very thing the actors held or wore on set of the films because that's what I grew up watching. I wanted to be immersed into the Star Wars galaxy. Be the very thing I loved watching and interact with others through cosplay as these characters with the props and costumes they use. That's my idea of expressing my fandom to Star Wars.

I sometimes post in the Prop section but I still can't help but feel a little out of place because the focus is on vintage toys. I feel expanding the forum would help it dramatically and possibly help attract more people.

Right now it is very limited in my opinion.

 

[Cazza]

@vadersome really good points. Not really thought about it in that way before, but think you're definitely onto something. The big question is how much do we value the current forum identity? Are we prepared to change it up a bit? I think it's always had a unique selling point, but in recent times, that's not really been enough...

 

[Snaketibe]

That is true while on the other hand it does get repetitive seeing a bunch of "nice" "good job" "that's amazing" etc. kind of posts. When people are extra amazed at the topic they usually end up posting.

I joined this place on a prop/costume related search and started with the prop section. Then I found out it's primarily vintage toy collecting, not only that it's also primarily oversees while I'm an American. The name of the forum does not convey that. I assumed it was a catch all official forum. In my honest opinion that hinders the forum. I particularly don't care for toys even though they seem to be the main focus when it comes to collecting anything Star Wars. I prefer the very thing the actors held or wore on set of the films because that's what I grew up watching. I wanted to be immersed into the Star Wars galaxy. Be the very thing I loved watching and interact with others through cosplay as these characters with the props and costumes they use. That's my idea of expressing my fandom to Star Wars.

I sometimes post in the Prop section but I still can't help but feel a little out of place because the focus is on vintage toys. I feel expanding the forum would help it dramatically and possibly help attract more people.

Right now it is very limited in my opinion.

I don’t wish to be rude, but if you’re going to join a forum, it might be advisable to research what that forum is actually about first, rather than joining a vintage Star Wars toy forum and then being surprised that its main focus is vintage Star Wars toys.

Also, claiming that the name of the forum doesn’t convey that it isn’t an American site is nonsense. The forum is called SWF.UK, but even if you go by just the URL (starwarsforum.co.uk), it’s still perfectly obvious that the site is very probably going to be from a UK perspective.

As hard as it might be for an American to understand, the rest of the world does not revolve around America. The presence of ‘UK’ in the forum’s title and URL really ought to indicate to everyone that the site is not just primarily an overseas one from an American perspective, but is in fact primarily about UK collecting.

That said, it’s always been the case that other topics are covered here in addition to its main focus of UK vintage Star Wars toy collecting, just as you have found out yourself via the prop section, so I’m really not sure what you’re complaining about.

All collectors from all over the world have always been very welcome here, but if you’d rather the forum primarily focused on something else, perhaps you should consider joining one elsewhere that better focuses on what you want?

 

[vader45]

I don’t wish to be rude, but if you’re going to join a forum, it might be advisable to research what that forum is actually about first, rather than joining a vintage Star Wars toy forum and then being surprised that its main focus is vintage Star Wars toys.

Also, claiming that the name of the forum doesn’t convey that it isn’t an American site is nonsense. The forum is called SWF.UK, but even if you go by just the URL (starwarsforum.co.uk), it’s still perfectly obvious that the site is very probably going to be from a UK perspective.

As hard as it might be for an American to understand, the rest of the world does not revolve around America. The presence of ‘UK’ in the forum’s title and URL really ought to indicate to everyone that the site is not just primarily an overseas one from an American perspective, but is in fact primarily about UK collecting.

That said, it’s always been the case that other topics are covered here in addition to its main focus of UK vintage Star Wars toy collecting, just as you have found out yourself via the prop section, so I’m really not sure what you’re complaining about.

All collectors from all over the world have always been very welcome here, but if you’d rather the forum primarily focused on something else, perhaps you should consider joining one elsewhere that better focuses on what you want?

The comment about location on the globe was an after thought added in. It was more referring to the subject of the forum not conveyed in the name.

And I will be honest, all forums are dead. My favorite forum dedicated to Vader is just a shell of its former self. I found this forum in a prop search and simply decided to join. If we are trying to make this place active again I think it's counterintuitive to tell people to look else where instead of trying to do whatever to get traffic to come back. I have nothing against toy collecting. If I did I wouldn't be here right now. Everyone has the right to express their fandom the way they want to.

 

[vader45]

@vadersome really good points. Not really thought about it in that way before, but think you're definitely onto something. The big question is how much do we value the current forum identity? Are we prepared to change it up a bit? I think it's always had a unique selling point, but in recent times, that's not really been enough...

Never ignore your roots. The people here are vintage toy collectors. Never forget that. It's possible to expand while keeping the original topic at the forefront.

But yeah. Rebel Scum also has a large coverage on the Star Wars toy topic both Vintage and Modern. So this place is pretty much reiterating what is going on over there. I think that's part of the problem.

 

[Cazza]

Interesting to hear your points from a different perspective of someone finding us through a search. First and foremost, this place has and always will be mainly focused on vintage toys. It also has a unique feel to it, probably due to its British-ness. This is fab, and we absolutely don't want to lose this. As you say, never lose sight of your roots. We've evolved over time, by adding different aspects (likes etc) and sections (e.g. Movies, Gaming, Props), which has been great. I'm really not sure what else we could do, without losing our identity.

I agree about forums in general and yes, it's much quieter on here than 10 years ago, but it's certainly not dead. I don't think there's any magic solution. As I've said in the past, it's such a shame that a load of people who helped make this place what it is, jumped ship to FB and never looked back. Ultimately, up to them, but disappointing nevertheless. I might get stick for this, but it sticks in the craw a little when users who used to frequent the forum and offer some fantastic content, only come back on here to promote their podcasts (runs for cover!).

 

[Michael Sith]

We have members on here from all over the globe, and the forum is welcoming to all. Yes it’s primarily vintage SW collecting which overlaps, there are members on here that collect props and autographs also.
UK is its identity and has a UK feel for that reason, each to his own and members who join if they don’t like, then they always have the option to vote with their feet!
A good example is a vintage collector we sadly lost to cancer Grinchy, who collected vintage but was a very accomplished and skilled prop maker who made props for members on here ( me included) he had previously worked in the prop making industry for films and worked on films like Harry Potter, so my point is by you joining here you would have been able to interact with someone who primarily collected vintage but had a direct connection to what you collect, if you get my drift.

As said each to their own and opinions are always welcomed, but the feel and environment here will allways be as is and the die hard members on here will always be helpful and assist with the wealth of knowledge they have.