# Can someone explain why having "charter member" under your name is important. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 26, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704 "2009-05-26T17:08:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/1 "2009-05-26T17:08:53Z")
The subject pretty much says it all. What is the big deal? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/2 "2009-05-26T17:09:58Z")
It isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/3 "2009-05-26T17:12:38Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/4 "2009-05-26T17:20:15Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/5 "2009-05-26T17:26:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Elyanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5ac83/32.png) [@Elyanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elyanna)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/6 "2009-05-26T17:28:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/7 "2009-05-26T17:36:38Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/8 "2009-05-26T18:08:42Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/9 "2009-05-26T18:16:21Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/10 "2009-05-26T18:18:24Z")
I _need_ it. God knows I’m not impressing y’all with my wit. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/11 "2009-05-26T18:23:03Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/12 "2009-05-26T18:24:49Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > 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.) 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 ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/13 "2009-05-26T18:51:08Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > I’ll admit that I like having “1999” as my join date, which is like an even snobbier version of the same thing. Jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/14 "2009-05-26T18:53:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/15 "2009-05-26T18:57:35Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > 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. The caviar? The chocolates? I only get squid and pie. Who do you have to bribe? ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/16 "2009-05-26T18:58:24Z")
> [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](#): > > Jerk. And see? I have to take that from you, Mr. March. Rules is rules. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/17 "2009-05-26T19:05:03Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > The caviar? The chocolates? I only get squid and pie. Who do you have to bribe? It’s all _squid pro quo_ around here. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/18 "2009-05-26T19:23:15Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > The caviar? The chocolates? I only get squid and pie. Who do you have to bribe? Psst!!! Umm…so whatta you got? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/19 "2009-05-26T20:42:03Z")
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](http://pets.com). That’s the big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/20 "2009-05-26T20:54:39Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > The caviar? The chocolates? I only get squid and pie. Who do you have to bribe? 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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704.md?page=2)