To what message boards are people going after the fee is in place?

[Roger the Shrubber]

I've enjoyed my stay here, and I planned on staying for a while. Then the announcement came.

So, where is everyone going? Any other MB's on the internet as good as this one? I'd like some ideas, and I'd like to know where to see people.

Oh, and **** this lousy software for deleting my entire, much longer, post after forgetting to complete the title field. thanks a lot.

[Green Bean]

I'm planning to go to the Straight Dope Message Board.

[Sublight]

Nowhere. I'll probably stick around, although I may take a few months off if I get the job I just applied for. I've started getting addicted to the SDMB and I need to kick the habit before I get in trouble for surfing too much at work.

[Ross]

I might well hang around the SDMB if it got even groovier.

I tried to join Fathom months ago but it wouldn't let me post.

This is the only online community I've ever felt part of. I'd join if I felt it'd go on that way, and if my finances sort themselves out, which they probably will. I like it.

However I'd be strongly in favour of paying posters having a voting say in how the board is run, or receiving some kind of dividend. Not that I have any beef at all with how it's run now, but I'm very much one for the co-operative structure, and I think it could get really cool round here if we all treated it like home.

[Kayeby]

I might stick around in lurker form for a year. If the board survives, I'll sign on. If not, then I'll study for Uni or have some sex. I doubt there are many boards as good as the SD though, so I probably wouldn't move on to another one.

[Mudshark]

I'll go to Fathom, I occasionally post there.

[Zap_Rowsdower]

I have not found another message board that I enjoy and that has as much variety as this one, so right now, I do not know what I will do.

[gorkamorka]

Back to lurking for me .

[OpalCat]

Ross: what problem did you have at fathom*? I can probably help you.

(*the address of the fathom board is fff.fathom.org for anyone else interested)

[Daikona]

I post at the snopes board, so that's probably the only place I'll be a regular at once/if this place goes pay.

[ski]

If the board goes to a pay-system, I'll be out of here. Although that would probably be a good a thing, as it will save me a lot of time!

[yojimbo]

I'll be hanging around here.

I post over at Fathom rarely but lurk quite a lot. I'll keep this up but the SDMB will remain the board I frequent most.

[glee]

Are there other boards?

[Dragwyr]

I really don't know yet if I'm even going to pay. If I don't then I'm not sure where I'll go to, or if I'll even go to any other board.

The SDMB is what I would consider the paradigm of message boards. It's users are insightful, witty, encouraging, and hilarious... and it hasn't died (Which is the typical ending to most message boards).

I guess we will see what happens.

[kanicbird]

I have used (and still use) other topic specific boards (geocaching.com and huntermtn.com) but have not found anything like the SDMB. I have to try out the fathom board.

I understand the need to charge a fee but the best thing about this board is the shear number of people who contribute. The fee will get rid of lots of people (possibly me) and in effect dimminish the quality of the board.

A suggestion - how about charging a fee for a fast web server while all the freebee's have to deal w/ a very slow board. Or enable freebees to post during off peak hours only.

I really don't know if I will stick around or not. I have lost countless productive hours at this board and to add a fee above it might not be worth it. I'll try the above mentioned suggestions.

Just my humble O

[handy]

It seems every year, believe it or not, some genius poster brings up the membership idea & making money for the board. then its discussed & never implemented. Is it going to be this time? I don't know. I read the Ed message, did I read it right? It said they were 'thinking' about it, unless he has changed it.

[TubaDiva]

Ya know, if jumping to conclusions and panicking were Olympic sports, this board would be slopping over with gold medalists.

I've never seen such a large group of people fail to read for comprehension before, where did we go wrong here?

All we asked for was your input to help the Reader make some necessary business decisions and it's turned into this board-wide widdlefest.

I'm truly surprised . . . and quite disappointed.

your humble TubaDiva
Administrator

[Skelji]

Thank you handy and TubaDiva.

The original message did say:

We're thinking about charging an annual subscription fee to post on the Straight Dope Message Board.

Get it? They are thinking about it.

I haven't seen anything stating that there will definitely be a fee, and I haven't seen anything specifying what that possible fee might be.

This place has now developed into the equivalent of a bunch of bickering family members after Grandpa's will was read.

[Krispy Original]

I can read and comprehend most of the time.

I read Ed's message to say that there are 3 options.

#1 Keep doing what you are doing, which in Ed's opinion isn't working

#2 Shut it down

#3 Charge for it


So...throw out #1...that leaves options 2 and 3. The only thing left to miscomprehension is the timing...right?

[Reeder]

Will let the people know who really cares for the boards and who doesn't. Anyone can afford 20 bucks. I don't even have a job at the moment and I can afford it. So let those who want to go move on. And let those who stay make these boards an even better place.

As an aside. I do hope they allow a few token trolls. They do liven up some slow days...

[Mauvaise]

Originally posted by handy
It seems every year, believe it or not, some genius poster brings up the membership idea & making money for the board. then its discussed & never implemented. Is it going to be this time? I don't know. I read the Ed message, did I read it right? It said they were 'thinking' about it, unless he has changed it.

:: checks outside :: Nope, not snowing*. Hmmmm

A factual drive-by handy posting?

This has to be a sign of the Apocalypse.

As for where I'll go if this place goes subscription: I'll be right here. The enjoyment I get from even reading this Board is worth a fee.

[occ]

Also, that's a hell of a cynical opening post. All they're considering doing is taking a few bucks to offset the cost of running the boards. Considering how much time many people spend here, I don't see what the big deal is. Most of us spend more than $20 a year on pure crap we never use; isn't a forum of open discussion on a wide variety of topics worth that?

Sheez, now I sound like I'm brown-nosing. But seriously, the idea that its a given that everyone will flee the boards once a charge is in place is kind of dubious.

[A Monkey With a Gun]

Originally posted by TubaDiva
Ya know, if jumping to conclusions and panicking were Olympic sports, this board would be slopping over with gold medalists.

Beeblebrox prepares for the never before attempted double miscontstrued fact triple conclusion leap with a full panic. He's on approach........

They have no right to tax my freedom of speech! It's an un-American plot to preserve the clique! Also, it says $20 - $50! They don't even know what they are going to charge! If they charge my card $45 when I think they are charging $20, I could have an account overcharge! My credit will be ruined! I'll be destitute! I won't be able to afford dogfood! My dog'll starve! You people are killing puppies! Damn you! Damn you all TO HELL!

[FisherQueen]

I'm still half-hoping the whole thing will blow over, but I have a sinking feeling it probably won't.

It isn't SDMB, but I suppose I'll probably move to Snopes.

Or maybe I'll just stop spending so much time online and write a great novel or something instead.

[Ukulele Ike]

Originally posted by Beeblebrox
You people are killing puppies!

Hee hee. Th' boy don't know the HALF of it.




{neatly skewers an adorable 3-month-old Springer Spaniel on a green branch and leans back to toast it over the embers}

[kniz]

Just charge handy a quarter per post and that should take care of everything. He is rich and loves his fellow men.

[Roger the Shrubber]

Originally posted by TubaDiva

I've never seen such a large group of people fail to read for comprehension before, where did we go wrong here?

Okay, I did see the "We're thinking about". I saw it and proceeded with an open mind. But every sentence after that one approached it just like it was a final decision. Did anyone else see that?

[mouthbreather]

Originally posted by Beeblebrox
They have no right to tax my freedom of speech! It's an un-American plot to preserve the clique! Also, it says $20 - $50! They don't even know what they are going to charge! If they charge my card $45 when I think they are charging $20, I could have an account overcharge! My credit will be ruined! I'll be destitute! I won't be able to afford dogfood! My dog'll starve! You people are killing puppies! Damn you! Damn you all TO HELL! [/b]

Nice attack on a straw man, you nazi communist fundie troll. Reading comprehension and Google are your friends. Backpeddle much? :wally:wally:wally

(trying to see if I can out-do your overreacting).



Hey Uke, you gonna eat that ear?

[kanicbird]

". I saw it and proceeded with an open mind. But every sentence after that one approached it just like it was a final decision. Did anyone else see that?

Yes that's how I took it. Before it was more of a suggestion - how would you feel if we charged a fee.

Now it's like - hey we are thinking of charging a fee - sign up right this minute and hurry up we want to see how many of you will actually pay us before we make our final desision. - if you miss out you will pay through the nose if you want to join later. We won't even charge you if you sign up - just do it, do it now and avoid paying more later.

[Czarcasm]

Nice insult disguised as a poll, Roger
You can continue the discusion on this subject on any of the many threads in GD or the Pit.

Lockdown.