# Does anyone actually give a shit about being a "Charter Member?" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 23, 2008, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525 "2008-04-23T10:55:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![auRa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@auRa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auRa)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/21 "2008-04-23T14:13:31Z")
Well, that title under my name _is_ cool, in a way, but somehow I think I’ll get used to not seeing it any longer once June/July rolls around. I suppose I could have renewed to keep my posting privileges for the two-month period TPTB are saying it will take for free posting to become active, but meh. I just really hope it IS only two months and the free-posting date doesn’t get pushed back even further. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/22 "2008-04-23T14:21:06Z")
Don’t take away what little I have. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/23 "2008-04-23T14:32:22Z")
The arbitrary removal of that title is a total dis to those of us who have it. Wars have started over lesser slights. ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/24 "2008-04-23T15:17:50Z")
Yes, I do, thank you for asking. I won’t end my life if it goes away, but, yeah, I give a shit about it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/25 "2008-04-23T15:18:24Z")
I’d rather be Knighted, or inherit a fortune from a wealthy relative. But failing that, it’s pretty good to have some kind of status allowing me to look down on the ordinary people. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/26 "2008-04-23T15:26:22Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] Gee, **Guin** , I’d figure you of all people would remember the dark days when it looked like this board was about to be shut down and TPTB were begging us to pay to post. And a huge number of long-time members said “screw it, it’s just a message board. I’m not paying for that.” and left. But a rag-tage group of true believers, hangers-on, eccentrics and people who needed to get a life actually forked over some cash. As a result, the board lived on. Now, my ID marks me as a member of the “Class of '99” which is all the status I really need. But I think it’s appropriate that those of us who kept this enterprise going be acknowledged in some tiny little way. I mean, other than the hookers and blow, of course. [/QUOTE] This covers it very well. Except I’m of the “Class of 2000.” ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/27 "2008-04-23T15:26:32Z")
I don’t care one little tiny bit and have no understanding for the people who do. If I wake up tomorrow and find myself only a Member, I’ll check to see if my 50% rebate still stands and if it does, I won’t even ask about it. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/28 "2008-04-23T16:30:53Z")
Heh heh. Heh heh heh. “Member.” Heh heh heh. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/29 "2008-04-23T16:57:53Z")
A tiny, tiny part of me would die if the Charter Member title were to be withdrawn. Maybe a quarter-of-an-eyelash size part of me. But it would die. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/30 "2008-04-23T17:01:22Z")
I like it, mainly because I like this place $7.48 enough, but I’m not sure if I like it $15 enough. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/31 "2008-04-23T17:20:48Z")
It’s not a _big_ deal. But, yes, I give at least one shit about it. ---
**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:** [April 23, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/32 "2008-04-23T17:24:59Z")
I like it. I feel like I earned it. I wanna keep it. I won’t quit the boards if TPTB, in their infinite wisdom, take it away. But I won’t be _quite_ as happy as I would be, with it. ---
**Author:** ![NightRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NightRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NightRabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/33 "2008-04-23T17:33:11Z")
Why, I don’t care in the slightest 😛 I mean, were I to have had it, and such… ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/34 "2008-04-23T17:37:17Z")
I just keep holding on to my Charter Member status for the hot chicks. [SUB]I’m still waiting for mine… must be a backlog in the system, or something.[/SUB] ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/35 "2008-04-23T17:38:31Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] I like it, mainly because I like this place $7.48 enough, but I’m not sure if I like it $15 enough. 😉 [/QUOTE] WORD. ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/36 "2008-04-23T17:38:44Z")
The title, not at all. I appreciate the discount as long as the board remains pay, but I probably won’t pay $7.50 for a month or two of posting before free posting starts up. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/37 "2008-04-23T17:40:38Z")
It’s a minor distinction, a daily reminder of longtime commitment to a worthy cause. I always presume (easily rebuttable) that Charter Members have at least something on the ball. It lends a modicum of Doper cred. So although I don’t rejoice in the title myself, yes, I give a shit. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/38 "2008-04-23T17:57:19Z")
I have no board notoriety (that I know of) and have rarely shared long personal epics of my life so there’s no great significance attached to my presence here. However, I have been around a while and think about the people here, and what I’ve learned from the facts and opinions expressed … so I very much feel that I’ve ‘belonged’ here for eight years. “Charter member” gives me a cozy little feeling of belonging. So yes, one shit actually has been given, personally. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/39 "2008-04-23T18:03:51Z")
I resent the implication that people who don’t have Charter Member under their names are somehow disloyal to the boards. As a student, I put tuition over the 'Dope, and registered when I could, after the “Charter Member” deadline passed. But I’ve been paying since January 2005 (or January of whatever year the pay-to-post was implemented). For those of you who appreciate being seen as “old timers,” doesn’t the “Join Date” indicate that just fine? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/40 "2008-04-23T18:06:38Z")
I missed the deadline. When I found out I went home and cried myself to sleep. [sub]not[/sub] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525.md?page=3)