# Are we still operating under subscription?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-still-operating-under-subscription/448916>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [May 11, 2008, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-still-operating-under-subscription/448916 "2008-05-11T13:55:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 8

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**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-still-operating-under-subscription/448916/8 "2008-05-11T16:55:29Z")

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There is some confusion because Ed originally said this:

> **[Improving the SDMB](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=461088)**
>
> UPDATE AS OF 5/11/2008: As of now a subscription is still required to post. We’re not ready to switch to free posting yet - June or July is more like it. While dropping the fee is simply a matter of changing a software setting or two, we need to have...

> [@Ed Zotti](#):
>
> I’m a charter member but ads don’t bug me. I’m going to let my subscription lapse. Will free posting begin by April 30?
> 
> We can’t guarantee that. If it seems like we’re close, we’ll probably just extend everyone’s subscription a week or two.

And then Ed said:

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9717853&postcount=26](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9717853&postcount=26)

> [@Ed Zotti](#):
>
> I don’t have much to add to what I said earlier. As of now a subscription is still required to post, and most charter member subscriptions expire around May 10. It’s highly unlikely we’ll be ready to switch to free posting by then - June or July is more like it. While dropping the fee is simply a matter of changing a software setting or two, we need to have an alternative revenue stream in place before we do so, and getting that set up is proving to be more complicated than I thought. So if you wish to keep posting once your subscription expires, you need to re-up, knowing that free posting may start within a month or two. If you’d rather let your subscription lapse and wait for free posting, that’s up to you. I remind you that free posting means you’ll see display ads, whereas subscribing means you won’t. I’m sorry I can’t be more definite, but felt it was better to give you what little information I have than simply surprise you.

So yes, for the time being – until they get the free posting window open – it’s still a subscription board.

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