# Charter Member vs Member **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 6, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691 "2004-08-06T22:34:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Adoptamom\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Adoptamom\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adoptamom_II)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/1 "2004-08-06T22:34:50Z")
In [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=269991) nonpolar says that he paid his Straight Dope subscription yesterday. He is shown as a Charter Member. I thought that only folks that sent their subscription pennies in before the initial deadline date were designated Charter Members, and all those after the deadline are designated Members. Am I mistaken? I’m not picking on nonpolar, he’s just the first person I noticed this on. I’m just curious is all. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/2 "2004-08-07T04:41:09Z")
I asked a similar question in this thread [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=266553](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=266553) under my old (guest) name of **bodswood**. You will note that although a lot of folk chipped in (some of them old-timers), the dope that was achieved was by no means the straightest. Does this question need to be forwarded to “Cecil”? ---
**Author:** ![Adoptamom\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Adoptamom\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adoptamom_II)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/3 "2004-08-07T04:59:38Z")
Thanks for your response. I reviewed your thread and still come to the conclusion that Charter Members and Members (new ones anyway) are/were determined solely based on whether or not the paid their subscription before or after the deadline. 😕 Is this just a glitch that the mods and admin are aware of but either a) Don’t have the time to correct it b) Don’t care to correct it. c) ?? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/4 "2004-08-07T13:53:26Z")
It’s not within the Moderators control, it’s got to be a system change and there’s just not been time or personpower to fix. ---
**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:** [August 7, 2004, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/5 "2004-08-07T15:44:06Z")
It’s a technical issue that will be addressed at some point; right now, what’s the difference, who cares? My understanding is that at some point all paid members will be just that, “Members.” The Charter Member designation was needed at the beginning as we sorted through the sign-up process, but it’s not necessarily needed now. We don’t hold it against you that you just got here and you don’t necessarily earn brownie points because you came to us earlier. It just doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you’re here now and we’re happy to see you. your humble TubaDiva Administrator ---
**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:** [August 7, 2004, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/6 "2004-08-07T15:50:35Z")
> [@Adoptamom\_II](#): > > In [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=269991) nonpolar says that he paid his Straight Dope subscription yesterday. He is shown as a Charter Member. > > I thought that only folks that sent their subscription pennies in before the initial deadline date were designated Charter Members, and all those after the deadline are designated Members. Am I mistaken? > > I’m not picking on nonpolar, he’s just the first person I noticed this on. I’m just curious is all. Yes, you’re mistaken. your humble TubaDiva Administrator ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/7 "2004-08-07T16:04:30Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > I asked a similar question in this thread [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=266553](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=266553) under my old (guest) name of **bodswood**. > > You will note that although a lot of folk chipped in (some of them old-timers), the dope that was achieved was by no means the straightest. > > Does this question need to be forwarded to “Cecil”? You need to email an admin and let them know that you had a guest name and now have a different one. This is a bannable offense. If you already have, good job. I really like this name, by the way. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/8 "2004-08-08T16:18:41Z")
You know, it might be nice to keep the “charter member” vs “member” difference. Assuming this board lasts another decade, byt that time there will be damn few Charters still around. Would it be that difficult? ---
**Author:** ![mkl12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@mkl12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkl12)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/9 "2004-08-08T17:34:02Z")
The sticky that announced the switch to paid subscriptions says: > [@Ed Zotti](#): > > What does a subscription get me? > > ``` > * Posting privileges for one year. > * The title under your name says "charter member." > * [etc.] > > ``` It never said anything about different titles for early and late subscribers. ---
**Author:** ![Adoptamom\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Adoptamom\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adoptamom_II)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/10 "2004-08-08T17:36:52Z")
My mistake. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Powers106](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@Powers106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Powers106)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/11 "2004-08-08T18:00:39Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You know, it might be nice to keep the “charter member” vs “member” difference. Assuming this board lasts another decade, byt that time there will be damn few Charters still around. > > Would it be that difficult? I agree that is a cool idea too, but then don’t forget about the “join date”. Assuming this stays listed then there isn’t really an issue. Personally, I like the join date since I don’t post much and you can see that I’ve been around the block for a while - but being a “charter member” is pretty cool and definitely resume-worthy! cheers, Powers ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/12 "2004-08-09T01:49:40Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > You need to email an admin and let them know that you had a guest name and now have a different one. This is a bannable offense. > > If you already have, good job. I really like this name, by the way. 🙂 I’m still trying to work out whether C.K. Dexter Haven is a relation. The name change was necessitated by the fact that the SDMB didn’t like my credit card when I tried to subscribe by my original name. No, not George Kaplan - bodswood. I emailed admin - who hadn’t run across this kind of problem before - and decided to try again under another name and email address. Bingo! I feel, well, I feel like an innocent man caught up in a chain of events that I cannot control… ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/13 "2004-08-09T13:45:14Z")
And some people seem to be ‘members’ when it seems (to me) that they should be Charter Members. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/14 "2004-08-09T13:53:57Z")
That’s usually due to there having been a manual status change. If the status is set manually, the system won’t perform global changes on it. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/15 "2004-08-09T13:58:06Z")
> [@](#): > > _roger thornhill_:I’m still trying to work out whether C.K. Dexter Haven is a relation. An interesting question. We could be identical twins separated at birth, except that you look a little older. Middle initial “O”, eh? and matchbooks labelled R.O.T.? ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/16 "2004-08-09T17:30:52Z")
I thought the title of “Charter Member” (for those who subscribed _before_ the cut-off date) was to differentiate those who will be given a 50% discount on the renewal rate for subsequent years? ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/17 "2004-08-09T23:49:16Z")
I also have “Charter Member” under my name, and, as I’ve only been a member for about a month, I’m pretty sure that I signed up after any kind of cut-off date (and I don’t remember seeing anything about a discount on next year’s subscription renewal). 🙂 I like the idea of all paid members eventually becoming just “Member:” I’m a case in point of the fact that a separate “Charter Member” designation wouldn’t make much sense these days. And **Powers106** has an excellent point: we’ll always know who the ‘old timers’ are as long as our Join Dates continue to be visible. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/18 "2004-08-10T00:24:32Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > An interesting question. We could be identical twins separated at birth, except that you look a little older. > Middle initial “O”, eh? and matchbooks labelled R.O.T.? 😕😕 ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/19 "2004-08-10T02:00:26Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > An interesting question. We could be identical twins separated at birth, except that you look a little older. > Middle initial “O”, eh? and matchbooks labelled R.O.T.? Oh, now, steady on, old boy! A little older than my mother, I grant you, but no one’s perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Purple\_Brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f19dbf/32.png) [@Purple\_Brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purple_Brain)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691/20 "2004-08-10T02:23:00Z")
I confess, I confess. I’ve been listed as a Charter Member although I accidently paid a couple of hours late. I hadn’t mentioned this before because I thought it was pretty cool to be considered “old school”. I’ve been a doper since my friends and I discovered the television show, late night in a Montana bar. Ever since I’ve had an image of Cecil in my mind, as an hot intelligent bald guy with beautiful eyes and a great smile. I wonder… Anyhow, I’ve been spreading the dope ever since, but it won’t really hurt my feelings if I’m re-relegated to lowly Member status. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charter-member-vs-member/258691.md?page=2)