Charter status gone.

[enipla]

SDMB -

It's not that important. But.... since I have been here for 8 years, and since I have been paying for my membership for the last 4 years or so, I would appreciate it if you would return my membership status to charter member. There must be a DB problem.

Charter status is not that important, other than when I see it, I know people have been here for a while. And that was offered when I signed up.

Thank you for correcting this.

enipla.

[TubaDiva]

It looks like you missed the resubscription window by a day or so and got back in too late to retain Charter Membership.

This is why you are no longer a Charter Member. To retain Charter Member status you must resubscribe before the membership expires. There was no grace period this year, a fact that was widely advertised in advance of the closing of the Charter Member expiration window.

You are not a Charter Member. I'm sorry you missed out.

[Zeke N. Destroi]

Wow, that seems rather doctrinaire.

I'm not trying to pick a fight and this doen't involve me at all but - wow.

I'm just saying is all.

[John DiFool]

Per previous discussions here, admins have no ability to change it back.

[TubaDiva]

Wow, that seems rather doctrinaire.

I'm not trying to pick a fight and this doen't involve me at all but - wow.

I'm just saying is all.The administrators and moderators here do not make these conditions. We do have to deal with the consequences, though, as in this case.

[DudleyGarrett]

Seems to me that one could just go into the database and edit the title field in someone's user record. It's actually strange that the claim is made that this can't be changed no one has called anyone on it.

[Dewey Finn]

See this post (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11210789&postcount=98) for an explanation of why this won't work.

[friedo]

Seems to me that one could just go into the database and edit the title field in someone's user record. It's actually strange that the claim is made that this can't be changed no one has called anyone on it.

What makes you think the board admins have access to the database?

The only time they're willing to change it back is if you re-subscribed on time and some technical problem prevented it from working correctly. In that case Jerry has to do it, and rumor is he's quite busy.

[DudleyGarrett]

See this post (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11210789&postcount=98) for an explanation of why this won't work.

I figured it might be something like that, but why can't a subscription date be changed? For example, I'm a Charter Member and I have to renew by April 15. April 15 comes and goes and I lose the status, but I remember on April 20 and immediately renew the subscription, but lose my Charter Member status. Why can't the staff just change my subscription date to April 15?

It seems like a very easy problem to fix, to me.

[DudleyGarrett]

What makes you think the board admins have access to the database?

The only time they're willing to change it back is if you re-subscribed on time and some technical problem prevented it from working correctly. In that case Jerry has to do it, and rumor is he's quite busy.

I don't know that the board admins (not moderators) have or don't have access. Like I wrote above, it seems like it's a pretty easy problem to fix... at least to put in a mechanism that makes it easy for the administrators. But yeah, Jerry's busy fixing the search engine. ;)

[Covered_In_Bees!]

I figured it might be something like that, but why can't a subscription date be changed? For example, I'm a Charter Member and I have to renew by April 15. April 15 comes and goes and I lose the status, but I remember on April 20 and immediately renew the subscription, but lose my Charter Member status. Why can't the staff just change my subscription date to April 15?

It seems like a very easy problem to fix, to me.

The only problem here is people's lack of responsibility. Renew the subscription before a specified date and you get your "charter member". Otherwise, tough shit. Where's the problem? I also see an easy fix, it's not the same as yours though.

[Liberal]

The only problem here is people's lack of responsibility. Renew the subscription before a specified date and you get your "charter member". Otherwise, tough shit. Where's the problem?That's the crux of if. Everybody gets a trophy just doesn't work with this. Renew on time.

[TubaDiva]

I figured it might be something like that, but why can't a subscription date be changed? For example, I'm a Charter Member and I have to renew by April 15. April 15 comes and goes and I lose the status, but I remember on April 20 and immediately renew the subscription, but lose my Charter Member status. Why can't the staff just change my subscription date to April 15?

It seems like a very easy problem to fix, to me.As stated before it's two different subscription databases. We can manually put people in the Charter Member group all day long but those registrations are filtered out every night when the expiration/verification script runs.

If a Charter Member allows their subscription to expire that registration passes out of the Charter Member database. That subscription cannot be returned to the Charter Member database by an administrator or a moderator.

[TubaDiva]

I don't know that the board admins (not moderators) have or don't have access. Like I wrote above, it seems like it's a pretty easy problem to fix... at least to put in a mechanism that makes it easy for the administrators. But yeah, Jerry's busy fixing the search engine. ;)Well, let me enlighten you. Neither administrators nor moderators are able to restore Charter Member status once it has expired.

And what Jerry is doing -- or not, as the case may be -- has nothing to do with any of this.

[rowrrbazzle]

For example, I'm a Charter Member and I have to renew by April 15. April 15 comes and goes and I lose the status, but I remember on April 20 and immediately renew the subscription, but lose my Charter Member status. Why can't the staff just change my subscription date to April 15?The fundamental reason is that wasn't the agreement. The agreement was if you don't renew on time, you lose that status permanently. What is so hard to understand about that? (BTW I'm a former Charter Member. I chose to revert to Guest status.)

[DudleyGarrett]

The fundamental reason is that wasn't the agreement. The agreement was if you don't renew on time, you lose that status permanently. What is so hard to understand about that? (BTW I'm a former Charter Member. I chose to revert to Guest status.)

Um, there's nothing fucking hard to understand about that. I was just wondering if there was a way to help someone out.

But fuck them, right?

[DudleyGarrett]

Well, let me enlighten you. Neither administrators nor moderators are able to restore Charter Member status once it has expired.

And what Jerry is doing -- or not, as the case may be -- has nothing to do with any of this.

Thanks for the enlightenment. It's obvious that this is clearly a people issue, not a technical one.

[Guinastasia]

Um, there's nothing fucking hard to understand about that. I was just wondering if there was a way to help someone out.

But fuck them, right?


Well, yeah. Why should they get special perks, when they screwed around, despite all the messages and postings, and didn't bother to renew on time?

Boo hoo. It's just a freaking title. You snooze, you lose.


(Hell, if it weren't for the discount, I'd wait out the Charter period to lose the title on purpose, just because of all this bullshit)

[DudleyGarrett]

Well, yeah. Why should they get special perks, when they screwed around, despite all the messages and postings, and didn't bother to renew on time?

Boo hoo. It's just a freaking title. You snooze, you lose.


(Hell, if it weren't for the discount, I'd wait out the Charter period to lose the title on purpose, just because of all this bullshit)

The discount means that much to you, huh?

[Revtim]

Well, yeah. Why should they get special perks, when they screwed around, despite all the messages and postings, and didn't bother to renew on time?

Boo hoo. It's just a freaking title. You snooze, you lose.


(Hell, if it weren't for the discount, I'd wait out the Charter period to lose the title on purpose, just because of all this bullshit)There's no bigger discount than paying nothing, why not do that? Surely you know of the ways to block ads yourself?

[DSYoungEsq]

Um, there's nothing fucking hard to understand about that. I was just wondering if there was a way to help someone out.

But fuck them, right?

No matter where you draw a line, someone is going to end up on the other side of it, unless you draw no line. If you draw no line, then there's not much point to having a condition of a special type of membership, is there? :dubious:

It's not "fuck them." It's "we're sorry, but the agreement you agreed to says you are no longer a Charter Member." :(

[Fear Itself]

Thanks for the enlightenment. It's obvious that this is clearly a people issue, not a technical one.No, its not a people issue, it's a money issue. The SDMB has been given a mission by the owners to make money. If Jerry has to spend X minutes maintaining the Charter Members who forgot to re-up, it pretty much negates the $7.48 they pay annually, and probably ends up costing the site money. Multiply that by all the people who, despite weekly posting of threads like this, can't figure out why they have been dropped as CM's, and you have an pretty obvious money leak for bean counters to hone in on and plug with the edict not to spend any time coddling those who are victims of their own poor planning.

[Stink Fish Pot]

It looks like you missed the resubscription window by a day or so and got back in too late to retain Charter Membership.

This is why you are no longer a Charter Member. To retain Charter Member status you must resubscribe before the membership expires. There was no grace period this year, a fact that was widely advertised in advance of the closing of the Charter Member expiration window.

You are not a Charter Member. I'm sorry you missed out.

TubaDiva, I know this is the rule, and I know this has been beaten to death, but I really wish there was some way you all could deal with this without the public gestapo slap.

Perhaps an email or a PM to the person who has been impacted by this would be appropriate. Missing the renewal date by a day or so is not like he/she is a scofflaw, but just missed it. Things happen. I think the board policy is right, a line has to be drawn, and this is about as black and white as it could be. If you miss your deadline, you miss it. That's fine.

I don't know. Perhaps my tone-meter needs reset. Your reply just seemed a bit snarky to me. I don't think this is a matter that needs to be rehashed in public over and over. The person who missed the deadline could be told the info required in private.

That way, they could be spared all the pile-on comments from people that are unnecessary. The rule is the rule, and it's a good one, IMO. Others don't need to stick their beaks in. Honestly, do we need to read "you snooze you lose", or "it's your responsibility" every time this happens?

SFP (just sticking my beak in to make this a friendlier place).

[Guinastasia]

There's no bigger discount than paying nothing, why not do that? Surely you know of the ways to block ads yourself?

Meh, I like the perks I DO pay for.

Dudley, it's called sarcasm. I really don't give a shit if I have it there or not. The whole, "Oh my god, they don't CARE about their customers, how dare you not change their titles back!" is getting to be ridiculous.

[NineToTheSky]

TubaDiva, I know this is the rule, and I know this has been beaten to death, but I really wish there was some way you all could deal with this without the public gestapo slap.

Perhaps an email or a PM to the person who has been impacted by this would be appropriate. Missing the renewal date by a day or so is not like he/she is a scofflaw, but just missed it. Things happen. I think the board policy is right, a line has to be drawn, and this is about as black and white as it could be. If you miss your deadline, you miss it. That's fine.

I don't know. Perhaps my tone-meter needs reset. Your reply just seemed a bit snarky to me. I don't think this is a matter that needs to be rehashed in public over and over. The person who missed the deadline could be told the info required in private.

That way, they could be spared all the pile-on comments from people that are unnecessary. The rule is the rule, and it's a good one, IMO. Others don't need to stick their beaks in. Honestly, do we need to read "you snooze you lose", or "it's your responsibility" every time this happens?

SFP (just sticking my beak in to make this a friendlier place).

To be fair to TubaDiva, I suspect that if the the OP had PM'd TubaDiva, she would have replied with a PM. He didn't, so she didn't.

[IvoryTowerDenizen]

TubaDiva, I know this is the rule, and I know this has been beaten to death, but I really wish there was some way you all could deal with this without the public gestapo slap.



Just for another perspective- I thought TubaDiva's response sounded fine. She reiterated the policy, explained that there was no extention this year, expressed empathy but left no room for negotiations, since she has no authority to grant such exceptions.

She sounded professional and empathetic to me.

[Lanzy]

Another one bites the dust.

Getting more exclusive every year.

[DSYoungEsq]

Just for another perspective- I thought TubaDiva's response sounded fine. She reiterated the policy, explained that there was no extention this year, expressed empathy but left no room for negotiations, since she has no authority to grant such exceptions.

She sounded professional and empathetic to me.

+1

[Qadgop the Mercotan]

She sounded professional and empathetic to me.
I agree.

That sort of behavior is bound to cause trouble here.

[Stink Fish Pot]

Just for another perspective- I thought TubaDiva's response sounded fine. She reiterated the policy, explained that there was no extention this year, expressed empathy but left no room for negotiations, since she has no authority to grant such exceptions.

She sounded professional and empathetic to me.


Fair enough. Perhaps my tone-meter does need that re-adjustment.

[MsWhatsit]

I have expressed my displeasure with Tuba's tone in past threads, but I'm with everyone who thinks that in this thread she's been nothing but professional.

Not-really-joking idea: Can we just have a big argument about renewing charter membership in one big thread -- maybe leave it open for a set period of time, like one week -- and then lock it, and in the future just refer all of these discussions to that thread?

[Fear Itself]

Not-really-joking idea: Can we just have a big argument about renewing charter membership in one big thread -- maybe leave it open for a set period of time, like one week -- and then lock it, and in the future just refer all of these discussions to that thread?Better yet, just leave it open, and merge all new threads into that one.

[Lightnin']

No, its not a people issue, it's a money issue. The SDMB has been given a mission by the owners to make money. If Jerry has to spend X minutes maintaining the Charter Members who forgot to re-up, it pretty much negates the $7.48 they pay annually, and probably ends up costing the site money. Multiply that by all the people who, despite weekly posting of threads like this, can't figure out why they have been dropped as CM's, and you have an pretty obvious money leak for bean counters to hone in on and plug with the edict not to spend any time coddling those who are victims of their own poor planning.

Like the OP, I was blindsided by the resubscription and lost my charter member status. In my defense, I WAS in the middle of a cross-country move at the time, and didn't have access to the internet at the time. Of course, I could've paid up before my internet access was shut off, but I was a bit distracted at the time.

Whatever. The only perk (besides the title) as a Charter Member was that I didn't see ads- and I don't see ads, anyway. As such, I've elected to not resubscribe... so they aren't getting any money from me, now.

I miss the title, but not enough to pay the full price.

[rowrrbazzle]

TubaDiva, I know this is the rule, and I know this has been beaten to death, but I really wish there was some way you all could deal with this without the public gestapo slap.

<snip>

SFP (just sticking my beak in to make this a friendlier place).Do you really think using the word "gestapo" is a good way to do that?

[Stink Fish Pot]

Do you really think using the word "gestapo" is a good way to do that?

Yes, or I wouldn't have used it.

I already admitted I was wrong in my interpretation of her note. That's the best I can do.

I'd love to chat, but a Hogan's Heroes marathon is starting.

[leander]

One thing I've never understood is that they are always talking about how desperate they are for cash and the demands from CL to increase the revenue -- now why on earth don't they offer Charter Membership to those who lost it at a significantly increased price?

Say $50 per year if your forget to re-up. That will probably help incentivize people to remember to re-up in time, but if they forget it will still give them the option to buy it back instead of losing it forever.

I'd be willing to bet at least 10 people would pay that much for it, if not more. That's five hundred bucks in the door pretty fast -- would that be enough to pay Jerry to put them back on?

[The Flying Dutchman]

It sucks to lose your "charter member" status. You were once part of the aristocracy and yet, through your own negligence you have lowered yourself to a commoner with no chance in hell to get it back.

Still, think about those who still are charter members. Something tells me that their delicate egos are so important to them tha they anally, annually take the neccessary steps and reminders to ensure that they do not fail to renew their status on time.

It ain't for the money, thats for sure.

[leander]

I tend to agree with you, but there are some people who take it very seriously and I imagine would be willing to pay dearly for it. Which would of course help with the cash problem here.

Can someone tell me where my logic fails?

[Liberal]

Can someone tell me where my logic fails?No. No one can, because it doesn't.

[DSYoungEsq]

I tend to agree with you, but there are some people who take it very seriously and I imagine would be willing to pay dearly for it. Which would of course help with the cash problem here.

Can someone tell me where my logic fails?

So far as it goes, your logic does not fail. But it discounts those who do not fail to do what is needed to stay a Charter Member.

And we could take it one step further. How about an even higher amount of money to allow those who were members on or before the date the Board went to Pay-to-Post to become Charter Members? Undoubtedly there are those who, like me, passed on the opportunity to gain "Charter" membership who would be willing (I'm not) to pay to gain that status?

But some people here have done what it takes to become Charter Members, and stay Charter Members. If someone who didn't do that is allowed to simply attain or regain the status through the payment of money, it cheapens the efforts of those who did what they were supposed to.

And in the grand scheme of things, $500 is peanuts, anyway.

[Syntropy]

I think we should change 'charter member' to 'stars upon thars' and 'member' to 'none upon thars' and maybe everyone could see how extraordinarily futile and stupid this entire argument is.

How difficult is it to give them the damn title and keep charging $15? And why would other charter members care? It's like complaining that giving the name 'marriage' to civil unions cheapens their marriage. So they missed a deadline. Big fat hairy deal.

The way you people are carrying on you'd think you'd solved world hunger and someone else was stealing your thunder. It's a title. Either make it the same for everyone paying regardless of amount or get used to this complaint because as long as there's a distinction this is going to happen. Paying on time isn't some higher 'effort,' and if you really think you're just that little bit specialer than everyone else because a message board subscription didn't slip your mind, then my god what a small minded petty person you must be.

[Earl Snake-Hips Tucker]

I think we should change 'charter member' to 'stars upon thars' and 'member' to 'none upon thars'. . . . I think it would be even cooler to allow the use of avatars, and the Charter Members would by default have a Star-Belly as the avatar (assuming that doesn't run afoul of any infringements).

[Omega Glory]

See this post (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11210789&postcount=98) for an explanation of why this won't work.
I wonder why my account hasn't been culled by now under that system, then. I let my charter subscription lapse last year, then signed up later under the full price, yet my title never switched over.

[TubaDiva]

Hmm. Weird. The system lists you as a Charter Member, with an expiration date of 7/31. That is strange and I don't know why it did that but it does appear you caught a break there.

[Skammer]

Did reminders not get sent out this year? It's not a big deal, I'm not sure I would have renewed anyway, but I don't remember getting an email in April that my Charter Membership was going to expire.

[Tenebras]

That's the crux of if. Everybody gets a trophy just doesn't work with this. Renew on time.

Am I the only one that thinks of this (http://www.sergeykudria.com/misc-images/swp/trees.jpg) when I read this post?

[leander]

Am I the only one that thinks of this (http://www.sergeykudria.com/misc-images/swp/trees.jpg) when I read this post?

Fuck! I was on the phone when I clicked that link and started laughing. :) The guy on the phone must have been very confused.

[RaftPeople]

Am I the only one that thinks of this (http://www.sergeykudria.com/misc-images/swp/trees.jpg) when I read this post?

+1 Funny