# Going to subscriptions? Oh NO!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [March 18, 2004, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069 "2004-03-18T19:30:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/1 "2004-03-18T19:30:27Z")
I just happened to glance up at the top of the page and I now regret not stealing a computer 3 years ago.
It’s been a lot of fun, but when TSDMB goes subscription, I won’t have the resources available to subscribe – other obligations, don’cha know?
To lessen the blow I have done something that I may regret later. I went to Yahoo and started a new group for Straight Dope refugees. This will allow subscribers to stay in contact with nonsubscribers, and allow those who can’t/won’t subscribe for whatever reason to have a common meeting place where we can still keep in touch.
The site address is [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TSD\_Refugees/](http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TSD_Refugees/)
(I disabled signature parsing in this instance because I’m not certain the mods will approve – but there has to be some place we can meet that doesn’t have a cover charge, right?)
I’m new to this groups thing, so please be patient. If anyone wants to help moderate (I think it’ll eventually require several groups anyway) please email me from the group site. If I remember who you are (not a sure thing – I only just got reinstated) I’ll let you help out.
The reason I’m posting this in MPSIMS rather than another forum is that this is where I spent most of my time and had most of my fun. If I didn’t do something like this I don’t know how I’d be able to withstand the isolation.
This isn’t goodbye. After all, it’ll be a little while before it goes subscription and then there’s the free thirty-day trial. Hopefully by then I’ll be deconfused about how to run a group.
–SSgtBaloo
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### Author:  [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/2 "2004-03-18T19:46:43Z")
> [@SSgtBaloo](#):
>
> It’s been a lot of fun, but when TSDMB goes subscription, I won’t have the resources available to subscribe – other obligations, don’cha know?
I got your $5 taken care of, if you seriously want to hang here. That’ll give you another year to think about it.
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### Author:  [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/3 "2004-03-18T19:48:20Z")
I’m of two minds on the issue, but one mind is winning.
On the one hand, we’ll lose a lot of interesting newbies.
On the other hand, we’ll lose a lot of really awful drive-by single-issue posters, especially at certain times of year, or when board wars threaten.
On the one hand, we may lose a lot of great Dopers who won’t / can’t pay.
On the other hand, it’s _five bucks_, and I’m sure that for those who can’t afford it, some enterprising Dopers will figure out a way to make sure nobody is left out.
On the one hand, the board may get ‘elitist’ when we lose the person-off-the-street influence.
On the other hand, it’s already somewhat elitist - witness all the observations about the ‘clique’ and inside jokes, and some less-than-welcoming attitudes that some newbies have reported.
All in all, I think it’s a good idea.
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/4 "2004-03-18T19:56:42Z")
Christ, how tight a budget are you guys on?
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### Author:  [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/5 "2004-03-18T20:05:01Z")
Maybe the mods could set up some sort of payment plan, where one could pay $0.41 a month, or even $0.09 a week. Perhaps zero interest financing, with no payments for sixty days?
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### Author:  [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/6 "2004-03-18T20:09:39Z")
_looks at SSgtBaloo’s nick_
Criminy. This from a Staff Sergeant? If this guy can’t pony up five bucks, there’s something wrong here. Even moreso if he’s Army.
_looks at SSgtBaloo’s profile_
Oh. Wal-mart associate. Criminy, doesn’t Wallyworld pay enough to spare five bucks?
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### Author:  [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/7 "2004-03-18T20:09:44Z")
It’s the price of 1 new paperback. And I get SO much more out of this. So I’m paying, but my husband, the lurker, probably won’t.
But “Charter Member”? Could be a cooler name, like “Those To Be Eaten First” or something. 😃
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### Author:  [@luluBahrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luluBahrain)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/8 "2004-03-18T20:16:15Z")
Did we ever figure out how the people like me that don’t have a credit card and don’t know how to use Payppal can do this?
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### Author:  [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/9 "2004-03-18T20:21:45Z")
I have absolutely no problem paying for services I use especially ones that are so enjoyable. I’ll pay even though I never say anything. Probably the only way I wouldn’t is if I couldn’t read if I didn’t pay… then I couldn’t waste so much time here.
I’ve lurked around other boards when they were switching to subscription and the costs have been like five dollars per month. This sounds like a pretty good deal, worth it anyway to get half off forever. I have noticed those other boards get pretty boring, the same 12 people posting all the time. I hope this bargain basement rate prevents that from happening.
I know a lot of people on very tight budgets and don’t know of anyone who can afford a computer and internet access that can’t easily find an extra five bucks.
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### Author:  [@xcheopis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xcheopis)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/10 "2004-03-18T20:22:21Z")
> [@luluBahrain](#):
>
> Did we ever figure out how the people like me that don’t have a credit card and don’t know how to use Payppal can do this?
I guess you could try something wacky and crazy, such as learn how to use PayPal.
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### Author:  [@luluBahrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luluBahrain)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/11 "2004-03-18T20:25:23Z")
> [@xcheopis](#):
>
> I guess you could try something wacky and crazy, such as learn how to use PayPal.
Thanks :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/12 "2004-03-18T20:25:56Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#):
>
> Oh. Wal-mart associate. Criminy, doesn’t Wallyworld pay enough to spare five bucks?
I’m a retired (20 years) AF SSgt (Army equivalent is Sgt, not SSgt). I’m paying for a house, child support, attorney’s fees (TW is still actively thwarting visitation – despite going to court over this recently), bankruptcy payments, and a host of other RL gremlins that cost money.
Sorry, but not all military retirees go on to a lucrative career in the military-industrial complex, drat the luck. 😛
–SSgtBaloo
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### Author:  [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/13 "2004-03-18T20:28:37Z")
Hi, **LuluBahrein** - A few of us have raised the same problem on another thread. I am SURE it can be dealt with.
🙂
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=245825](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=245825)
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### Author:  [@luluBahrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luluBahrain)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/14 "2004-03-18T20:31:40Z")
Thank you, **Celyn**. I hope it can i have become too addicted to this board. But it’s such a nice addiction.
:stumbles out, drunk on SDMB:
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### Author:  [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/15 "2004-03-18T20:35:31Z")
> [@xcheopis](#):
>
> I guess you could try something wacky and crazy, such as learn how to use PayPal.
Play nice. There are moer things in heaven and earth, as they say …
My credit union, for example, doesn’t let me use PayPal. If I didn’t have a credit card, I’d be screwed, no matter how wacky or crazy I was.
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### Author:  [@xcheopis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xcheopis)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/16 "2004-03-18T20:38:20Z")
> [@cowgirl](#):
>
> Play nice. There are moer things in heaven and earth, as they say …
>
> My credit union, for example, doesn’t let me use PayPal. If I didn’t have a credit card, I’d be screwed, no matter how wacky or crazy I was.
Not-able-to-use is not equivalent to don’t-know-how-to-use.
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### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/17 "2004-03-18T20:40:33Z")
> [@luluBahrain](#):
>
> Did we ever figure out how the people like me that don’t have a credit card and don’t know how to use Payppal can do this?
Sure: find someone who will sign you up, and write them a check. The signup can be done as **Ed Zotti** outlined [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4657574&postcount=40).
I’ve got PayPal, and I’d be happy to sign up anyone that sends me a check. Just pull my email from my profile if you want to get the ball rolling.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/18 "2004-03-18T20:44:10Z")
I’ve said this before, but let me say again: subscriptions will be the end of this board.
For me it’s not a monetary issue. I do okay financially. I subscribe to other boards. I’ve given voluntary donations to other boards. I’d have no problem paying fifty dollars a year, or even more, for access to this board as it now exists.
But once there’s a subscription charge, this board will no longer exist in any fashion which resembles what it is now. I won’t be surprised to see a 90% dropoff rate. Combined with a virtually non-existant sign-on rate. The decline will be irreversible and painful to witness.
So while I will certainly pay for the first year, I’m predicting there probably won’t even be anyone left to collect if I wanted to pay for a second year. Oh well, it was good while it lasted.
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### Author:  [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/19 "2004-03-18T20:47:59Z")
I’ll second RTFFirefly’s offer.
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### Author:  [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-subscriptions-oh-no/235069/20 "2004-03-18T20:49:30Z")
To atone for the extra “f” in the above post, I have removed one rom this post.
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