# A month after switching to cash-up-front: are we better off? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 23, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676 "2004-05-23T19:12:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/1 "2004-05-23T19:12:44Z")
Okay, it’s been a month since these boards started demanding our hard-earned cash. The trial run is over, and we can move on to the final question on the exam: The SDMB is: a) improved b) worse than before c) the same d) all of the above e) none of the above I havent noticed any change at all.This is still the slowest site on the entire web, and the posts are still the most interesting . I’m getting my money’s worth–how about you? But if I hadn’t already been an experienced doper when the money-grabbing started, I’m not sure I would have stuck around long enough to get addicted.Now that I am hooked, I’ll stay here.But I sure wouldn’t pay $5 or $15 for every site I have stored in my favorites list. (mods–I put this in GD because I’m interested in a serious discussion about the quality of this site, and the nature of the web in general, esp the old issue “Should the internet be free?”.) ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/2 "2004-05-23T19:22:24Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > The trial run is over, and we can move on to the final question on the exam: Personally, I still think it’s too soon “to move on to the final question.” To me, I thought the boards had become a little more reliable, loading- and speed-wise. I don’t know if this is a mental fabrication on my part, though, because my cable modem connection at our new apartment is _much_ faster than the connection at our previous. LilShieste ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/3 "2004-05-23T20:40:52Z")
I don’t think one month is nearly adequate to expect major changes that would speed up the site significantly. As has been pointed out, the SDMB has been running at a deficit for 5 years, running up a $100,000 tab that the Chicago Reader paid just for our benefit. It wouldn’t bother me at all if they balanced the books a little at our expense before making any new investments in servers and such. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2004, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/4 "2004-05-23T23:09:43Z")
I’m getting my $ worth, and it seems to me that in general things move a little faster and easier. I suppose this latter point might well be wishful thinking. ---
**Author:** ![MizQuirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@MizQuirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizQuirk)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/5 "2004-05-25T03:14:11Z")
It used to be that about half the times I tried to get in here, I couldn’t, on my dial-up system, but there’s never been a problem since I paid my $$. Coincidence? Happenstance? I don’t (want to) think so. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/6 "2004-05-25T03:33:28Z")
[The money is being used for steroids and growth hormone](http://www.jokesnfun.com/cartoons/336.jpg). You should see improvements soon as soon as the new ball bearing, titanium reinforced wheels are put on line. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/7 "2004-05-25T03:41:59Z")
My feeling is that General Questions has become much slower than before. Some of the more technical questions are not getting answered at all. ☹ While you still get a fair amount of answers on questions like **“Help! My computer is infected”** , my question **“How does a hydrostatic drive tansmission work”** was ignored by everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/8 "2004-05-25T03:49:22Z")
> [@Dog80](#): > > my question **“How does a hydrostatic drive tansmission work”** was ignored by everyone. First, you get an SPF of 40… ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/9 "2004-05-25T04:25:33Z")
Aaaaargh! That should read “How does a hydrostatic drive t **r** ansmission work” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/10 "2004-05-25T04:48:50Z")
I have to agree with the people that are saying the boards are more reliable. I used to not be able to log in or check the boards about 30% of the time. Now I can almost always get it to load (though it may take awhile). ---
**Author:** ![SSgtBaloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/11 "2004-05-25T05:25:45Z")
Well, I don’t get my stopwatch out to check the exact duration, but I’ve noticed that the boards become completely inaccessible between 2:?? a.m. and 3:?? a.m. (Mountain Daylight time). –SSgtBaloo ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/12 "2004-05-25T05:41:45Z")
c) The same. I’m on broadband and I’ve learned that the “don’t even t_try_ logging on during daylight hours” rule I set myself a few months ago should still be in effect. At night (US Eastern time), things are pleasantly speedy, although most of you aren’t posting then. ---
**Author:** ![MizQuirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@MizQuirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizQuirk)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/13 "2004-05-25T13:40:32Z")
> [@SSgtBaloo](#): > > Well, I don’t get my stopwatch out to check the exact duration, but I’ve noticed that the boards become completely inaccessible between 2:?? a.m. and 3:?? a.m. (Mountain Daylight time). > > –SSgtBaloo Well I’ve read here that that happens because they’re doing ‘backup’ at that time, but you know that and you’re kidding, right? ---
**Author:** ![Lockz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Lockz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockz)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/14 "2004-05-25T13:40:57Z")
> [@SSgtBaloo](#): > > Well, I don’t get my stopwatch out to check the exact duration, but I’ve noticed that the boards become completely inaccessible between 2:?? a.m. and 3:?? a.m. (Mountain Daylight time). > > –SSgtBaloo I believe that’s when the board runs its updates and maintenance. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/15 "2004-05-25T14:02:53Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Okay, it’s been a month since these boards started demanding our hard-earned cash. > The trial run is over, and we can move on to the final question on the exam: > > The SDMB is: > a) improved > b) worse than before > c) the same > d) all of the above > e) none of the above > I havent noticed any change at all.This is still the slowest site on the entire web, and the posts are still the most interesting . > I’m getting my money’s worth–how about you? > > But if I hadn’t already been an experienced doper when the money-grabbing started, I’m not sure I would have stuck around long enough to get addicted.Now that I am hooked, I’ll stay here.But I sure wouldn’t pay $5 or $15 for every site I have stored in my favorites list. > > (mods–I put this in GD because I’m interested in a serious discussion about the quality of this site, and the nature of the web in general, esp the old issue “Should the internet be free?”.) I’m not sure about the placement of this thread. However, you forgot an option. f) still operational. The Reader was making some serious noises about yanking the plug before the subscription plan was put in place. So far, they seem to be cautiously optimistic that they can keep the board up on a subscription basis. This is not an Official Pronouncement, just the impressions that I’ve gotten from my various sources. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/16 "2004-05-25T14:20:42Z")
I’d say the board seems to be running noticably faster now than a few months ago. Since it doesn’t sound like there have been any hardware upgrades made, I would guess that this is because of reduced traffic to the site since we are now subscribtion based. It will take some more time for the “inbred thinking” to set in as many have suggested. The only indicator we can get of that now is how many new users are signing up every week vs how many were signing up before there was a fee. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/17 "2004-05-25T14:27:41Z")
The Reader is better off so hopefully that’s a good thing. As to > [@](#): > > But if I hadn’t already been an experienced doper when the money-grabbing started, I’m not sure I would have stuck around long enough to get addicted.Now that I am hooked, I’ll stay here.But I sure wouldn’t pay $5 or $15 for every site I have stored in my favorites list. Yep gotta agree. I would not have paid when I first came here but am happy to pay now. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/18 "2004-05-25T17:10:59Z")
I think I’ll say “a.” The Board seems to be a bit faster, and there _appears_ to be fewer trolls and troublemakers about. Well worth the $5. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/19 "2004-05-25T22:04:24Z")
Supposing this subscription thing doesn’t work out for the Reader… then what? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-month-after-switching-to-cash-up-front-are-we-better-off/246676/20 "2004-05-25T23:53:54Z")
My dialup modem thinks it’s faster. Isn’t it true that guests can’t perform searches, and searches work the greatest hardship on the hamsters? Those factors could explain the improved performance.