# 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:** 10\ **Page:** 8
**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, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/141 "2001-05-24T22:46:26Z")
The thought occurred to me - what if I pissed someone off and they wanted to Pit me but I hadn’t paid for it. Would I get a freebie for just that thread? I still like the Cool Joe Smeghead idea. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2001, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/142 "2001-05-25T00:22:38Z")
The idea of “free to view”/“pay to post” doesn’t take into account the fact that there are at least 10 times more views than posts, meaning the posters would be paying for the viewers. The non-paying people would be using up at least 90% of the server’s resources. Not really fair to posters and might even discourage potential posters. I have only one question about the idea of making people pay to post for GD, IMHO, MPSIMS, and pay to view and post in the Pit: _How many people would anyone pay just to access these particular forums?_ I wouldn’t. I’d happily confine myself to the areas with free access. There are already plenty of places like IMHO, MPSIMS, and the Pit. GD _might_ attract some people because it has moderated discussions, but I wouldn’t bet on it. I might as well post my idea: free view access only for a limited time, perhaps one to three days. They’d want to strike a balance between letting people getting familiar with the SDMB and limiting view load on the server. After that, pay for access. And as I’ve said in one of the poll threads, I would pay under a scheme like this. I’m sure Cecil, Ed, and the Reader will come up with a reasonable plan. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2001, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/143 "2001-05-25T00:24:01Z")
(sigh) Make that “How many people would pay just to access these particular forums?” ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2001, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/144 "2001-05-25T01:03:42Z")
Either all subscription or all free posting, that’s my preference. Reading could be free. We’re not talking about a huge investment here, and I’m sure there could be a way to accommodate those who can’t afford to pay. Are we so afraid that people will take advantage of the rest of us? Are there that many liars out there? I don’t think so. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2001, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/145 "2001-05-25T01:26:01Z")
I have to agree that many posters may simply abandon MPSIMS, IMHO and the Pit if they had to pay for it. I know I would without giving it a second thought. I think if you are going to charge for them, you might as well just delete the forums completely. The big games in MPSIMS probably don’t help the server, and neither do the five-page rants in The Pit. Also, it pretty much contributes nothing to a board dedicated to fighting ignorance. Asking people to pay for those forums would be tantamount of Yahoo! asking everybody to pay for chat. It’s pointless, and there are other games in town. ---
**Author:** ![galt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@galt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galt)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2001, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/146 "2001-05-25T03:37:51Z")
Also note that not only might people abandon the not-for-free areas, but they might put their posts which _should_ go in those areas in the free areas. If you think people post MPSIMS in GQ too frequently _now_, wait to see what happens when they gotta pay to post in MPSIMS but not in GQ (for example). ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/147 "2001-06-09T02:49:10Z")
While perusing the Darwin Awards the other day I came across a link to something on [amazon.com](http://amazon.com) called ‘honor system’ or ‘paypage’ (some information located [here](http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P3CVG7EXZTW168). I know nothing about it but what I read on that link, but it’s one more thing to toss into the discussion (if it hasn’t been already). ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/148 "2001-06-09T07:07:23Z")
It’s a bit odd making people pay to provide content. I would prefer a variant of the volunteer method. [Salon.com](http://Salon.com) is trying that at the moment, though I don’t know how well it’s working out. An ad page, where a single $20 banner could be purchased for your choice of charity (Habitat for Humanity, Amnesty International, GAVI or whomever) might work. Here’s a thought: you have to pay to either post or read anything beyond the first page of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/149 "2001-06-09T16:45:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe\_Cool \* > \*\*In summary: > To READ or POST in ATMB, GD, or GQ, registration is free for unlimited use. > > To READ MPSIMS or IMHO is free for unlimited use. > > To POST to MPSIMS or IMHO requires a paid membership. > > To READ OR POST in the Pit requires a paid membership. > > Whaddaya guys think? \*\* I think that this will result in people poting MBSIMS or Pit type posts in GD. Then the mods will have to move them and the OP can’t participate any more. The whole board will have to have the same access or it will be an even worse nightmare for the Mods. Haj ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2001, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127/150 "2001-06-17T23:47:53Z")
I found this while looking through some old threads and I realized things could get a lot worse. 🙂 > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gilligan in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=364428#post364428) \* > > Good: The SDMB finds a way to become profitable. > Bad: By merging with another message board. > Ugly: Left Behind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-through-to-the-straight-dope/64127.md?page=7)