Thanks to another active thread here (the banned one) which had a link to a 17 year old thread, I noticed 2 Charter Members in it. This one, Alphagene, hasn’t signed in here since 2004, yet he still has the title. Is this to say that either some people prepay for all future years at once, or that they still pay the fee each year, in both cases without actually participating here anymore at all? Why would they do that?
Poking around, I see that Alphagene was at one point a mod. Does that get you a permanent (free) subscription?
They may still read the boards and don’t want to catch a virus.
I believe a deceased Member or Charter Member retains their title.
I thought Charter Members still had to resubscribe every year or two. I remember some members losing their charter status because they didn’t re-up in time. I seem to recall an amnesty program that let lapsed Charter Members regain their title. And yes, I think former mods do keep their membership in perpetuity.
Yes, former mods do keep membership in perpetuity. And it’s also possible, or at least once was possible, to re-up for an arbitrary number of years in advance, which some folks have done.
Perhaps the charter members could set up a tontine, last survivor gets a bundle. And the rest of us could make book on it, thus letting all Dopers in on the fun. All bets void of course should someone decide to give Nature a helping hand, which is unfortunately sometimes the way of these things. (It could add to the amusement though!)
I actually like this idea.
Mods and former mods have a permanent Charter Membership. That also goes for members of the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board. The late Q.E.D., a SDSAB member who passed away some years ago, is still listed as a Charter Member.
I think this is my first post in about seven months.
7 months and 1 day. Close enough.
Heck, I’m in. I was 19 when I signed up; I’ve got as good a shot as anyone. Do we need the goat for the contract ritual, or is it done by e-sig these days?
First, you take the e-cig and stick it in your… wait you’re not cleared for that.
I come back every 2 years and re-up. It’s a thing.
Esprix
If your title changes while you’re logged off, it remains the same, I believe. So if the owner of an old account comes back, they will lose their Charter unless, of course, they were a Mod.
As a former mod you can keep the charter member title or the mug. Not both.
Ha! I have the Charter Member title and I still have my mug! Neener neener neener!
You know, I’m starting to believe there’s neither a goat or a mug, and I’ve been had.
I think a lot of us would like you to come back more than every 2 years. :smack:
Being a Charter Member has to do with your subscribing and not with your posting.
Yeah, figured that out. Just that it’s kinda like paying the annual dues to belong to a club-where you join in absolutely no activities (or stop doing so at some point).