# Can't get through to the Straight Dope? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 2, 2001, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127 "2001-05-02T19:04:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2001, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/121 "2001-05-17T00:51:48Z")
Why not buy banner ads for “good” sites like [The Hunger Site](http://www.thehungersite.com), or even for the Chicago Reader? Personally, I think a subscription-based plan is the way to go, however. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2001, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/122 "2001-05-17T13:33:40Z")
Well, if the SDMB goes subscription, I’ll have to take a powder. Not because I’m cheap (well, there IS that), but because I post from the office. I certainly couldn’t read w/o posting, my tiny little head would explode. So, I guess you’ll have to "Kiss Her Goodbye . . . " ---
**Author:** ![Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcon)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2001, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/123 "2001-05-17T16:53:19Z")
Nope, Eve. I’d pay for ya. 🙂 Can’t lose you!!! ---
**Author:** ![Freedom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Freedom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedom)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2001, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/124 "2001-05-19T11:56:59Z")
I sent them an e-mail Thursday morning offering to pay for a hundred bucks worth of banner ads. I wanted an ad that advertised a thread that explained the whole banner ad donation idea. Either a $100 was too small an amount, or they are still figuring out whether or not they will accept ads like that. Either way, a response would have been nice. 2 business days and counting. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2001, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/125 "2001-05-19T12:57:44Z")
Well, I notice there’s a banner ad up there now for Straight Dope stuff, so maybe they just found an advertiser they liked better–_themselves!_ Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha… ! [sub]ow, ow, don’t hit me, Ed, ow, ow…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2001, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/126 "2001-05-19T15:00:02Z")
Whatever happened with the autographed books suggestion? And the SDMB specific t-shirts and other memorabilia suggestion? And I, for one, would definitely buy an autographed picture…of Cecil’s desk and chair, framed, to put up on my wall, telling people it’s the beginning of my “Hall of Fame” decorating theme. ---
**Author:** ![mr\_john](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@mr\_john](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr_john)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2001, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/127 "2001-05-19T17:58:23Z")
that’s what they all say ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2001, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/128 "2001-05-19T23:16:51Z")
Ok, I’ll pay. Something needs to be done. About those who can’t afford to pay; I’d gladly kick in a couple extra bucks a year to make a pool to cover the cost for those folks. Kinda like a scholarship fund. 🙂 On the sign-up page there could be a “I can’t afford it” box. A promise that you’re not ripping-off the rest of us would be all that’s required for full membership. No one else would be aware of who did or didn’t pay. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Silo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Silo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/129 "2001-05-20T01:59:28Z")
Some great ideas being thrown around here. I really think a voluntary service charge is worth a shot. Or possibly an annual/bi-annual/tri-annual fund drive system could be implemented. I’m for the notion of at least trying a voluntary fee system before a standard fee system. We really have nothing to lose by giving it a try for six months or so. I’m confident that the income would be sufficient enough to cover or buffer a modest portion of the bandwidth/software/hardware costs. Other ideas… How about imposing a limit on the number of new members that can sign up in a month. This might be a good idea for the future. How about the “member” status that appears under people’s names. Why not set up a fund drive to have the “member” status under _your_ name changed to “a phrase of your choice” for $20. It’s a very simple hack. I know Lynn knows how to do it. So why not have someone in the administration that’s willing to put in the time & effort on this - set up a P.O. BOX. Then you just mail a check or money order to [address…] payable to [name/organization…] with a note saying what phrase you want (under xx amount of characters of course). The person who does the task would reasonably recieve 10% or so of the cash inflow, while the rest (other 90% or so) would be diverted into an account specifically for the SDMB. Or they could just do it for free. 😉 Anyway, it sounds like a cool idea to me. ---
**Author:** ![DRY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@DRY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DRY)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/130 "2001-05-20T06:09:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Protesilaus \* > \*\*Here’s another idea- for a fee ($20?), you can get your name on the dedication page for Cecil’s next book or something like that. Technically, it’d be a purchase, not a donation, and it’s one that shouldn’t cost the Reader anything to impliment. I have absolutely no idea if this is feasible or not, but maybe it’ll help. \*\* Why not have Cecil welcome people for a fee? This would have saved **Aha** a lot of trouble: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=23571](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=23571) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=23591](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=23591) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=23635](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=23635) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=23704](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=23704) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=23755](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=23755) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=23829](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=23829) Of course, I’d think that **Aha** would have to come up with more than a nickel: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=23832](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=23832) [sub]By the way, these were classic, classic threads which deserve to be remembered![/sub] But seriously…I personally would prefer a mandatory subscription (you post, you pay) as opposed to a pledge drive, where funding is voluntary. I realize it’s up to the Reader, though. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/131 "2001-05-21T18:31:47Z")
How about a free-trial offer? Subscribe to the SDMB and get 100 posts free! If you want to post more, cough up $20-$25. If you don’t want to post more, good-bye. (Of course, some people may not make 100 posts in a year; others make that many every week!) ---
**Author:** ![Freedom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Freedom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedom)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2001, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/132 "2001-05-22T03:45:31Z")
3 business days and counting… ---
**Author:** ![Freedom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Freedom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedom)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2001, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/133 "2001-05-23T00:18:58Z")
4 business days… I’m guessing they have already settled on their course of action. My offer is still open, and I would appreciate a reply. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2001, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/134 "2001-05-23T01:18:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Freedom \* > \*\*4 business days… > > I’m guessing they have already settled on their course of action. > > My offer is still open, and I would appreciate a reply. \*\* Whoa! Hasn’t even started paying, and gettin’ bossy already. 😃 Anyway, all smart-assing aside, how do you guys get only four days? This thread started early this month. Ok, **Ed Zotti** , what’s the voidict? Are we going to be forced to endure the typical interminable corporate wait? 😉 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![DRY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@DRY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DRY)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2001, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/135 "2001-05-23T02:44:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jab1 \* > \*\*How about a free-trial offer? Subscribe to the SDMB and get 100 posts free! If you want to post more, cough up $20-$25. If you don’t want to post more, good-bye. (Of course, some people may not make 100 posts in a year; others make that many every week!) \*\* I like it. Even though it reminds me of the drug dealer approach (“first one’s free, kid”) :eek: I still prefer the idea of having every non lurker (ie, poster) pay a modest sum as opposed to having a pledge drive, and having some people contribute money and others not (for whatever reasons, and recognizing that some reasons are perfectly valid). Paying a fee per post would not bother me, in spite of my being relatively prolific. ---
**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 23, 2001, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/136 "2001-05-23T03:28:11Z")
I’ll forward this link on to Ed, he’ll get to it as he can. your humble TubaDiva Administrator ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2001, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/137 "2001-05-23T09:45:14Z")
For the record, I like Joe Cool’s idea best, even if he did ignore the two “Comments” forums. But my own plan would have things go with the two Comments Forums, ATMB and GQ being free, GD, MPSIMS, and IMHO being free to read but cost to post, and the Pit being cost to read and post. ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2001, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/138 "2001-05-24T03:54:10Z")
I’ll echo **SPOOFE** , who liked **Joe Cool’s** reiteration of **Smeghead’s** idea - keep About, the 2 Comments, and GQ free. Free view/pay to post for GD, IMHO, MPSIMS. PAY to view and post in the Pit. Must be karma - they’re already in the proper order. ---
**Author:** ![DRY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@DRY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DRY)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2001, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/139 "2001-05-24T04:22:55Z")
Make it three in a row, then, because I’d have no problem with the above idea, too. You want to post in the pit or even read it? Pay up! It’s also true that IMHO and MPSIMS, much as I like them, are more “social” and less in the “spirit of the SDMB” (ie, fighting ignorance). I’d be fine with paying to post there. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2001, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/140 "2001-05-24T06:14:00Z")
Yay! I win! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127.md?page=8)