# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/81 "2008-04-24T03:46:52Z")
Well, if we lose the title, we lose it. I’ll soldier on. But I do like it, and hope we can keep it. It’s not a big deal, but I give at least a shit. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/82 "2008-04-24T03:50:52Z")
I like the discount. I doubt I’d even notice if I lost the title. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/83 "2008-04-24T03:54:10Z")
Why yes, I do like it, and I do care. I’ll be unhappy if and when it’s taken away. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/84 "2008-04-24T04:44:11Z")
What **Liberal** and **silenus** said. If that makes me pompous and pathetic, it’s less pompous and pathetic than finding those of us who are pompous and pathetic to be pompous and pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/85 "2008-04-24T04:58:54Z")
Well, Gaudere is having a ball with me. First, I misspell one the pathetics, then after noticing I had done so and using editing to correct the error, I inadvertently placed the edit reason in the wrong field. Then, I hit submit rather than preview and the damn thing posted with the edit reason in the subject field. Then I noticed there was nothing in the reason field, and, not yet understanding why, I edited again to show the reason I edited. Then, after the edit window passed, I noticed that the edit reason was in the subject field. I’m pathetic…and less pompous. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/86 "2008-04-24T05:00:39Z")
[QUOTE=percypercy] Before y’all all pile on Guin, even though I know how much fun that can be, let me just say that she hasn’t said anything in this thread that I don’t agree with(yet). Or more succinctly Guin X2 [/QUOTE] Thanks. It wasn’t so much what he said, but _how_ he said it. Or what **AudreyK** said. (I would also point out that the non-Charter Members probably helped even more, in a way-because they paid more for their subscriptions. So don’t THEY deserve a little something?) ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/87 "2008-04-24T07:22:25Z")
My join date is 01’. But I came back after the P2P. I’m glad I came back, but I don’t miss the title I never had. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/88 "2008-04-24T10:17:10Z")
I kind of like it. I wouldn’t have a hissy fit if they changed it, but it’s a wee bit of a smile. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/89 "2008-04-24T10:51:36Z")
New title - Mary Poppins - Practically perfect in in every way- The exception is you didn’t maintain your Charter Membership. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/90 "2008-04-24T11:25:46Z")
Wasn’t there talk of letting us come up with our own titles (within reason) at one point? If we’re paying to post, or paying for no ads, it could be another perk, like searching is now. ---
**Author:** ![YellowTail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5ac83/32.png) [@YellowTail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YellowTail)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/91 "2008-04-24T23:30:31Z")
Sometimes I create useless posts just to see it up there under my user name. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/92 "2008-04-25T00:59:28Z")
I like it. It gives me a great deal of authoritah! “Wait!” the N00bs say, “Isn’t Astroboy a **CHARTER MEMBER**? Perhaps I should read his scintillating remarks again, lest I miss something of great worth.” And all conversation among the initiates halts until my posts are digested properly. This is as it should be. Srysly. ---
**Author:** ![Olive\_The\_Other\_Reindeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Olive\_The\_Other\_Reindeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olive_The_Other_Reindeer)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/93 "2008-04-25T01:11:29Z")
I like the title! I want to keep it!!! I don’t post much, but I do read the forums every day (well, maybe every other day). I just happened to be reading the forums when the P2P scheme came about, and since I do like to stick my $0.02 in once in a while, I joined. I think each of my posts cost me about $0.64, but it’s money well spent. I like to think that someone takes my contributions a little more serious when the see “charter member”, but then again, maybe not. I’d hate to lose it - it’s more a show of continued support for SDMB, from when they really needed people to put their money where their mouths (fingers?) are, than an elitist, pretentious thingie. I don’t often get in at the beginning of something. Olive ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/94 "2008-04-25T02:15:34Z")
[QUOTE=Morbo] Where is this a big deal? Is there a thread I missed? All I can find is [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9717853&postcount=26), which doesn’t mention anything about “Charter Member”… [/QUOTE] My charter membership was revoked when I didn’t pay up in time. No big deal I guess. Marc ---
**Author:** ![NightRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NightRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NightRabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/95 "2008-04-25T02:27:51Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] I ponied up when they went pay-to-post in exchange for which they promised such things as search privileges and the title “Charter Member”. Maybe in your mind I didn’t do much for them, and they didn’t do much for me. But after many years here, I was operating on the assumption that those of us who were there at the time were willing to come together, put our money where our mouth was, and even sponser others who couldn’t afford it. It was a one-time event when the board and the people who cared about it at that time and place came together to help make it solvent. That’s not to say that no one else has ever cared about the board before or since. It’s just to say that we are justified, in my mind, in thinking that we did something special. Together. And I don’t know why anyone would begrudge that. [/QUOTE] And, every time a Charter Member posts, an angel gets its wings… ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/96 "2008-04-25T02:41:30Z")
I had completely forgotted this was an issue back in the day. I suppose it’s a nice thing to see after sticking around all these years, but if nobody else has it, who cares? I’d like to get riled up about it, but I can’t. Y’all either know me or you don’t, and one word under my name won’t change that. Unless you change “charter” to “giant,” in which case I’ll start accepting applications forthwith. ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/97 "2008-04-25T13:28:42Z")
[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] Ditto, although with all other things being equal, I wouldn’t want it changed. ---
**Author:** ![Aestivalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Aestivalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aestivalis)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/98 "2008-04-25T18:40:46Z")
Had it, lost it on purpose because I figured SDMB needed the money. And as I’m primarily a lurker, nobody would notice the difference anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Hellestal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ab097/32.png) [@Hellestal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hellestal)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/99 "2008-04-25T20:23:27Z")
I like it. My post count is pretty low, but that’s not the result of me having taken any sort of extended hiatus away from the boards. I’ve been here the whole time, and the title demonstrates that. I wouldn’t cry if it was gone, but I think I would chew on my inner cheek in frustration for at least twenty seconds. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525/100 "2008-04-25T21:11:45Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] It’s also a little bit crass, if you think about it, to say, “Hey-I paid less than you did-HA HA!” **Lib** , no offense, but I find that rather pompous and pathetic at the same time. [/QUOTE] The title you gave this thread: \* Does anyone actually give a shit about being a “Charter Member?”\* Just asking the question shows you do. (Not in any positive way, apparently.) If you don’t want to be associated with “crass” and “pompous and pathetic” sentiments, feel free to let your charter membership expire and get the “Member” title at the regular rate. Of course, then there’s a slight risk that you might fall into pompous and pathetic sentiments of your own. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-give-a-shit-about-being-a-charter-member/446525.md?page=6)