The subject pretty much says it all.
What is the big deal?
It isn’t.
I’ll admit that I like having “1999” as my join date, which is like an even snobbier version of the same thing. I think its because we moved all the time when I was growing up, and I love it whenever I am not the new kid.
It isn’t. I prefer not to view ads, and so I’m going to be a paid member; I’m maintaining my charter membership to keep the half-price subscription rate.
If someone wants my Charter they’re welcome to it.
I was a Charter Member for two or three years, and I’m only a member now because Jodi paid for my subscription.
It isn’t a big deal at all.
Charter membership. It keeps us warm at night. Puts hair on your chest, son. Divides the men from the boys. Yes, charter membership. Hold your head up high. You’ve earned it. You really have.
I’m only a charter member (in name only - I don’t get the discount) because of a board screw up. I let my membership lapse last year, and paid the full amount later. If it were to disappear, it wouldn’t matter in the least.
Mine just disappeared. It cost me a pang, but I’ll get over it. It doesn’t really mean anything. (I still wish I’d registered in 1999, but no, I lurked for months and now I’m not quite as cool.)
Well, you are to me, dammit.
I need it. God knows I’m not impressing y’all with my wit.
Well, I like the free beer and the big screen TV in the Charter Member Lounge. Also, the massages are nice.
I don’t much like the snacks, though. I wish they bought a better grade of caviar, and I prefer Belgian chocolates to the Swiss they always put out.
Same here. I didn’t get the notice to renew, and it’s not worth it to re-up as a regular member. For now, I don’t mind the ads.
Ed
Jerk.
Uh, the discount? That’s about it. (I can’t understand why people care more about getting the title than the discount – haven’t some said they don’t mind not getting the discount, but they’re pissed because they don’t have “charter” under their name?)
Once because of a glitch, I didn’t get it under my name, and didn’t even realize it until someone else made a big fuss over it.
I say just make everyone a member and do away with the whole stupid fuss.
The caviar? The chocolates? I only get squid and pie. Who do you have to bribe?
And see? I have to take that from you, Mr. March. Rules is rules.
It’s all squid pro quo around here.
Psst!!! Umm…so whatta you got?
If I had to choose one, I’d keep my join date and give up the CM status, but let’s remember (and Seven, you’ve been here long enough that you’re familiar with the story) how the whole Charter Member subscriber thing came about.
In the dark, dark days of the board, about 5 years ago IIRC, we Dopers had been enduring frequent board crashes, incredibly slow servers and a complete shutdown that wiped out several months of our accumulated conversations (since known as The Winter of Our Missed Content.)
Faced with a need for money and an increasingly restless community The Powers That Be chose the – ahem – controversial revenue model of charging us to post. Needless to say, this decision was not greeted with universal approval and many, many, MANY Dopers decided to leave.
However, a hardy band of spendthrifts decided to pony up some cash in hopes of keeping the SDMB alive. As a reward for our misguided fiscal priorities, we were granted the title of Charter Member (and a half-price subscription) for as long as we continued to pay up.
Currently, the P2P model is augmented with advertising revenues and paid membership is no longer absolutely essential to the Board’s continued survival. But if not for the timely financial support of a now-dwindling group of diehards, the SDMB would probably be on the scrap heap of Internet history along with Jennicam, Webvan and the original pets.com.
That’s the big deal.
Crap! I mixed up the 99ers Buffet with the Charter Member Lounge. Sorry, you have to be a 99er to get the caviar and chocolates.