I do it because I love to lord it over others.
Cold harsh cash in the hands of the board owners seems to benefit me, because I want the boards around and would be happy if they thrived, not just survived.
My impression of the SDMB masses is a bunch of liberal, granola-eating cheapskates who don’t make enough money to pay for a little membership to a great board because they are but a disproportionate number of misfits stuck in their rooms gaming, watching “LOTR” and/or underachieving in some way, but blaming it all on our horrible country and government.
And I want nothing to do with that image! Charge me a 100 per year and I’ll pay.
But I love all of you.
Do you have cameras in my house?!
+1. I don’t post that much, but I figured from all the time I have spent on this board, and all the enjoyment (as well as some frustration) I have got out of it, I owe it some financial support. Plus, I like belonging to things. 
I want to support the board (even thought the new Pit rules are idiotic), and the 7.50 is nothing to make the ads go away during the time I spend here.
I love the SDMB and it’s brought me a lot of joy over the years. $.67 per month (or thereabouts) is a pittance.
Private massages? Man, I really need to pay more attention to the VBulletin features.
It’s cheap, and I don’t have to see ads. Or load something to block them, which I can’t be arsed to do at work especially.
$7.50/year?
It’s like my public radio membership. While I could use both of them for free, I feel it’s worth
the membership to help keep around something I value.
That, and I can’t run ad blockers at work, so no ads is a very nice item.
What he said. I’m not rich but c’mon, the price is less than what I’d pay for a cocktail at an airport bar.
And I like having a little title under my name.
…and?
What most people have said - this is a community I like, and I want to support it, and $7.50 USD really isn’t too much for me to afford.
And I’ll go ahead and say it…I like being a Charter Member rather than a Member or a Guest, for no other reason than misplaced pride and snobbery.
I know it doesn’t matter, I know AdBlock can get rid of ads, I know you can still see a user’s post count, location, etc in their profiles, and I don’t even use PM all that much so don’t need the extra space. But I’ve been here for a long time, and when they went P2P I chose to stick around, and that special little title (and the discount) was a nice little bonus for signing up. I’m not a member of much else online or in the real world, so I take my stupid little nuggets of false prestige when I can get them 
That said, I don’t think less of Members or Guests, and in fact I only notice someone’s title when I’m looking for their location in order to understand a post or situations like that. Heck, I barely even notice who posts what, and I have no idea who is cool or not around here. I just like being a Charter Member when other people ask “what’s the big deal about being one?” or “how do I get it back?”. It makes me feel special, even though I’m not!
I am richer than Croesus, so I’m happy to dispense largesse to the masses.
I hope in some way my small contribution will help the board continue to operate. I’d miss it if it were gone.
I keep my Charter Membership to piss off the management here - they want me to see ads, or they want me to pay full price, but if I keep my Charter Membership, I keep getting the discount and no ads! MUWAHAHAHAHA!
Hmm, perhaps I’ve said too much…
I give just like I give to NPR; sure I could use it for free, but use of this community means more to me than a lot of the stuff I’m compelled to pay for. The “charter” is like the tote bag I get from NPR, doesn’t impress anyone but I like to have it anyway.
And for less than 8 bucks, I feel the cost is pretty damn reasonable.
No ads - that’s the biggest reason, really, since now even guests can search.
I want to contribute. It is important to me not to be a taker, but rather be a more complete part, and that means an obligation to help out. This is not just applicable to the SDMB, but I try to be consistent in life. Social contract and all that.
(And in terms of cheap entertainment, as much as I use the board, my costs are probably less than a penny per hour)
And no ads.
I haven’t really been paying attention. Posting to see if I am a charter member.
Your awesome nonchalance fills me with inexplicable glee.