# 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:** 12\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/61 "2009-05-28T16:54:25Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > I use it to impress women. ::Looks around and sees no women even close to **Thunder**. :: So, **Thunder**. How’s that workin’ out for ya? ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/62 "2009-05-28T16:55:30Z")
I’ve been around longer than most of the charter memebers. But if you didn’t pay, you don’t get it. So really all it means is that some people signed up early and paid for having a “charter member” under it. It’s kind of like sites that have “post count.” or “ratio,” or even MySpace where you get as many “friends” as possible even though you’ve never talked to most of them. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/63 "2009-05-28T19:07:27Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > It’s kind of like sites that have “post count.” or “ratio,” or even MySpace where you get as many “friends” as possible even though you’ve never talked to most of them. I don’t see it like that at all. Back when the board went Pay-to-Post, if you didn’t pay, you couldn’t post at all. You were gone. It’s not like some people paid and got the title, and others chose not to pay, but were still posting under the ‘Guest’ title. We do have posts counts here. If you’re a guest, it’s not displayed in your posts, but it is in your profile. ---
**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 29, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/64 "2009-05-29T15:16:26Z")
I do have a question, though. Let’s say someone misses the window, and gets downgraded, and loses their title, has to pay full price, etc. But next year, they subscribe early – can they get the whole deal back? I just want the fucking discount. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/65 "2009-05-29T16:23:47Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I But next year, they subscribe early – can they get the whole deal back? I just want the fucking discount. Apparently not. It’s always been that if you lose Charter Membership, it’s gone forever. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/66 "2009-05-29T17:21:45Z")
Charter Membership, virginity, mental stability. I’m seeing a pattern here. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/67 "2009-05-29T17:22:00Z")
It’s a status symbol of attrition, but I don’t see why the people that lost the symbol have to be so bitter about it. It’s something you’ll never get back but that’s the nature of the beast. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/68 "2009-05-29T17:26:26Z")
There’s precious few things on the internet that are high enough quality that I’ll pay for it. This is my small way of telling Unka Cece et al. that I appreciate their efforts. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/69 "2009-05-29T17:58:54Z")
For me it’s the discounted membership, and more importantly, the lack of ads, I _HATE_ ads And yes, I do have an edited Hosts file running so even if I did let my membership lapse, the ads would still be blocked, however, I feel I get enough enjoyment out of this place that it’s worth the $7.95/yr apparently, TPTB at The Reader would prefer everyone see the ads and there would be no Members or Charter Members, so that’s another reason to continue my Charter Membership, I’m kinda’ contrarian that way \ ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/70 "2009-05-29T18:06:38Z")
What Guinastasia said. The discount is nice. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/71 "2009-05-29T18:21:54Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I do have a question, though. Let’s say someone misses the window, and gets downgraded, and loses their title, has to pay full price, etc. But next year, they subscribe early – can they get the whole deal back? I just want the fucking discount. I lost mine for a couple of hours, and it’s not coming back… I tried. I was told it’s impossible. ---
**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 29, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704/72 "2009-05-29T18:50:56Z")
I once asked why they didn’t just make everyone members, and do away with all the fuss. I think **Tuba** said they suggested it once after the first year and everyone went apeshit at losing their title. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-why-having-charter-member-under-your-name-is-important/497704.md?page=3)