I propose a two tiered system. For an extra amount of money (say five dollars or so per year on top of your basic rate) you would get access to new “high speed” servers AND the right to edit your posts. The edit function could be stipped for abuse (plus a permanent record of all edits could be stored on the server). This would also benefit regular message board customers since it would reduce relative “system load” on the board. I know that I can only access this board about 30% of the time that I try, and mainly late at night (this is an exception). I would gladly fork over another $5.00 or so for this option (and I’m a relatively poor student). This could also help basic site subcriptions by improving performance.
thus its contribution might exceed the monetary value of the “super premium” sales alone. Also here’s another idea for raising revenues. How about a Straight Dope magazine? If tens (hundreds) of thosands will pay for After Dark on Coast to Coast, I would bet that quite a few would buy a subcription to something like that especially if executed properly. Maybe a Straightdope radio show? If Science Friday can garner an audience so could something like this place made into a show (maybe NPR would even sponsor the thing).
You *are * new around here, aren’t ya? 
The Straight Dope appears in print weekly in various “independent” newpapers such as the Chicago Reader, who’s hosting this whole shebang on their servers.
There was a rather short-lived SD TV show a few years ago. Id never came anywhere close to developing the sort of audience *Mythbusters * has, so it was canned. Perhaps if they put it on a channel less obscure than A&E, it might still be alive.
As for faster servers for “premium” level subscribers, you’re aking for someone to do a small mountain of system engineering to meld a faster database server with the existing db server and web server. (I’m assuming these are separate machines here.) If the CR had money to buy a faster db server, they’d probably just set it up as the one and only db server so everyone would benefit.
(wrong forum, but as long as it’s here…)
I’m happy that the site hasn’t improved speed too much – means there are a lot of subscribers and I didn’t waste money staying here! 
I think what would really contribute to the site – including speed – is replacing vBulletin or augmenting it. You’ve got to admit there’s a lot of off-topic discussion here. No discredit to the mods (who are very busy), but a Slash-like user-moderated, nested-thread system would go a long, long way.
We can only hope that, once the pay system really kicks into gear on Monday, that the most popular forum on the Dope will cease to be “WEB SITE NOT RESPONDING.”
And if the bandwidth between the SD server(s) and you remains the same, you will probably not see any difference.
The short answer is, the Reader is highly unlikely to make these sorts of modifications, and the potential benefit is very questionable - if it exists at all. This and similar notions in myriad permutations have been suggested before and have not been found workable by the Reader.
No offense meant, but moving to a Slahdot style board is about the only thing I can think of that would make me leave this board in an instant. I find it almost impossible to keep track of a conversation. The longer the thread, the worse it becomes. And mod points are just obnoxious. I’ll decide on my own whether a post is worthy or not!
+1 Insightful
Cheaper method for the Reader, but not for you, would be move to Australia.
While y’all are in bed sleeping, we’re having the time of our lives, reading, reading, posting, reading with lightning fast speeds.
Seconded. The modding on Slashdot is arbitary, inconsistent and frequently just plain wrong. And the modding up and down of posts means very thread ends up a confusing mess where strands of conversation appear from no-where and then vanish.
Well, I don’t mean exactly like Slash. I share a lot of the complaints. For example, anonymous cowards just aren’t permitted here, and that would do a lot to keep the behavior here pretty much the same. But the moderator system could work, especially if the identities of the moderators are known. But I think I’d avoid positive ratings, and only permit moderators negative ratings. And no nesting – that’s a pain.
So… I’ll retract my statement and say something along the lines of Slash.
I haven’t had a problem connecting (I connect in the central time zone from 12-6 usually) since the subs started… and a few weeks before.
I thought the problems had been fixed… 
Off to ATMB
DrMatrix - GQ Moderator
This has been discussed, endlessly. IF we went to a tiered scheme (two or more levels of membership) we’d certainly have more than $5 in different membership levels. It would be more like $50, just to pull a figure out of my hat. I really, REALLY doubt that we’ll ever offer editing privileges to members, though that is not official. Just my point of view. We have other options to offer.
Just an observation, you need to read more threads and post less often. Many of your questions have already been discussed. You have a search option, and you can set the board to show threads older than the default.
I’d settle for the return of Smackie.
Problems? What problems? evil hamster grinning maniacally
Roland Deschain Man…chill out on the raising the price idea for awhile. It’s gone from $0 to $4.95 to $14.95 on Monday. At that rate of inflation it’ll be what in ten years…
Math guy what’s the rate of inflation from $0 to $14.95 in 30 days? I’m rarely on during the day but today I got rained outta work. So, here I is. It’s a damned disease is what it is. Straightdope is very addictive. Roland you’ve been warned. Go make out with the old lady instead. After she passes out from exhaustion, then get up and do some dope. Works for me.
I’m sure that’s probably true. I remember last year when the Eastern Seaboard went black for a few hours. The few of us on the boards were awestruck at how fast they were. They’re not too bad here after midnight IMHO.
BTW Don’t y’all get better speed also because it’s running downhill all the way. You know that down under thing y’all got going on.
Ain’t it the truth. Man, I swear she’s getting more like HIM everyday. l
I find that I do much better if I’ll open a new file on my clipboard and write my reply there. I can take my time, search, post links/cites and proof everything beforehand. I don’t have to worry about losing my post or accidently hitting submit. It usually takes care of needing to edit as well. When you’ve got it ready, let it stay in the file until later. Then reread it and see if it still says what you intended. If it’s still good, then submit it.
Plus…the best thing of all, you will usually say to hell with it and not post it at all. Probably what I should’ve done here, huh?
Howdy Lynn. My hat’s off to ya.
Folks, you just gotta love a troll stomping, smartass kicking, straight talking Texas gal with this kinda attitude and class, even if they are a bit harsh sometimes. 
That’s just too cool. 
see here