# Hey, thanks for the notice that my sub was expiring **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 11, 2008, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912 "2008-05-11T12:39:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/41 "2008-05-11T18:55:56Z")
I’m sorry, but do y’all truly believe that you seeing any ads, including Google ads, is solely under the control of TPTB? Really? :smack: Because if so, that’s a sad state of affairs. Me, I believe that it’s solely MY decision as to whether or not I choose to allow any part of a web site to load or not, as I please. YMM, and obviously D, V. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/42 "2008-05-11T19:09:31Z")
But if everyone does that, you’re back to the subscription model. So I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/43 "2008-05-11T19:35:14Z")
Okay, so I will see Google ads whether I pay or not. But if I pay, then I don’t see some crazy, loud obtrusive ads? If I don’t pay, can I still post, but not only have to put up with crazy, loud obtrustive ads, but also the Google ads? For free? So why do subscriptions expire then? Do people just log on see crazy, loud ads, or are they banned from posting until they pay? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/44 "2008-05-11T19:48:36Z")
[QUOTE=catsix] I just think it’s dishonest and sleazy to deliberately set the ‘free posting’ to begin 2 months after the vast majority of people are supposed to pay up for a year. It screams of a last minute money grab… [/QUOTE] If that was the intent, they would have withheld the announcement until after the Charter Members renewed. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/45 "2008-05-11T19:57:52Z")
[QUOTE=jtgain] So why do subscriptions expire then? Do people just log on see crazy, loud ads, or are they banned from posting until they pay? [/QUOTE] I got the crazy loud ads and, when I tried to post, was told that my guest membership had expired. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/46 "2008-05-11T20:06:14Z")
Because I still use IE, I took the big giant ad in the middle of the page as my notice. An email would have been nice. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/47 "2008-05-11T20:19:30Z")
[QUOTE=jtgain] Okay, so I will see Google ads whether I pay or not. But if I pay, then I don’t see some crazy, loud obtrusive ads? If I don’t pay, can I still post, but not only have to put up with crazy, loud obtrustive ads, but also the Google ads? For free? [/QUOTE] Looking at your join date, July 2007, you are paid up until July of 2008. You shouldn’t have a problem until then. Hopefully, the board problems will be settled by then. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/48 "2008-05-11T21:11:28Z")
I never did get a notice that my subscription was expiring. I re-upped Thursday night, but only because I knew my sub expired May 10th. A notice would have been nice, though. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/49 "2008-05-11T21:19:42Z")
**SmartAleq** , on my own computer, I can see what you mean. But on my work computer I have no control over what does or doesn’t get filtered, and right now that’s the main place I’m online. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/50 "2008-05-11T21:21:39Z")
[QUOTE=BiblioCat] I never did get a notice that my subscription was expiring. I re-upped Thursday night, but only because I knew my sub expired May 10th. A notice would have been nice, though. [/QUOTE] Likewise. No reminder was sent, but I did at least know my subscription was expiring soon, so I renewed a couple of days ago. IIRC, in previous years, we’d get reminders either via email a couple weeks in advance, or there’d be stickies saying something like “Most Charter Memberships are expiring soon.” ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/51 "2008-05-11T22:05:25Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] I got the crazy loud ads and, when I tried to post, was told that my guest membership had expired. [/QUOTE] Wait, what? Did you see ads with audio? I haven’t come across any of those, and it would suck because, like a lot of people, my computer is my primary stereo. Has there been any announcement about that? ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/52 "2008-05-11T22:26:46Z")
Let me recapitulate Ed’s latest message for you guys. The Reader is going to rip us off for another round of subscription fees and they are going to continue showing us ads, even after they promised us they wouldn’t. They feel justified in doing this because they now have two different kinds of ads. Ads that are extremely fucking annoying and ads that are only moderately annoying. “No ads” means that we won’t have to see the ones that are extremely fucking annoying if we pay. They are going to further justify charging us this fee by pointing out that they don’t have any competent IT staff that can implement the change in their business model within the next several months. But don’t worry, it’s a really good business model and is really worth the wait. We will definitely see some improvements around here. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/53 "2008-05-11T23:14:11Z")
[QUOTE=alterego] Let me recapitulate Ed’s latest message for you guys. [/QUOTE] Bitch, bitch, bitch. There are some legitimate complaints to be made, sure–I’m pretty much in agreement with **Polycarp’s** and **John Mace’s** dismay–but the idea that this is some sort of moneygrab seems to be missing the point of capitalism. You pays your money, you takes your chances; this is a luxury service, not a necessity, and they can charge whatever they think they can get away with. As long as I like the luxury more than I like the cost, I’ll keep paying; the moment I don’t, I’ll give the Chicago Reader the only criticism they’ll care about, which is the withholding of my dollars. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/54 "2008-05-11T23:16:00Z")
[QUOTE=whiterabbit] **SmartAleq** , on my own computer, I can see what you mean. But on my work computer I have no control over what does or doesn’t get filtered, and right now that’s the main place I’m online. [/QUOTE] And that’s totally understandable, but I’m thinking that the majority of people who discovered their subscriptions had lapsed weren’t at work on a Sunday, just sayin’. Color me officially boggled. > [@Blank Slate](#): > > But if everyone does that, you’re back to the subscription model. So I don’t. You aren’t under the impression that I change my general browser settings depending on which tab I’m on, are you? Personally I’ve never had a problem with the subscription model, it’s an upfront exchange of privileges for pelf and that’s agreeable to both sides. However, the disingenous “free posting as long as you agree to look at the ads that you would never see nor voluntarily agree to do so on ANY web site because you don’t want to fork over for what is being represented as ‘free’” model has less going for it, philosophically speaking. And I totally agree that a little bit of notice would have been nice for you guys. I completely understand when I don’t get a notification because I’m just one unimportant member with a nonmemorable renewal date, but you’d kinda figure a mass email to your largest and oldest client base, all of whom share a single renewal date, would have been a nice gesture. ---
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/55 "2008-05-11T23:19:31Z")
No warning for me either, probably wouldnt have even realised if it wasnt for this thread because I didnt notice any difference with the ads. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/56 "2008-05-11T23:27:25Z")
[QUOTE=SmartAleq] …pelf… [/QUOTE] That’s probably not the best possible word to use there. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/57 "2008-05-11T23:45:26Z")
I forgot it was Sunday, but yes, I work weekends. But yeah, if it wasn’t for getting on here from work, I probably wouldn’t have paid, thanks to Firefox on my own computer. As it is, they got my money, because sheeeeeeeeeeyit, those ads were irritating. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/58 "2008-05-11T23:46:38Z")
I forgot it was Sunday, but yes, I work weekends. If I wasn’t getting on here at work, I probably wouldn’t have paid, thanks to Firefox on my own computer. As it is, they got my money, because sheeeeeeeeeeyit, those ads were irritating. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/59 "2008-05-11T23:49:32Z")
Aw crap. Sorry about that. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/60 "2008-05-11T23:55:27Z")
> [@](#): > > **hawthorne** said: > If you read Ed’s announcement and didn’t think “Free posting eh? Bet they won’t have their shit together to make it happen when they reckon” then you are inexperienced in the ways of the world. I figured that if it happened at all (and I am still not convinced it will until I see it), it would happen after everyone paid to renew. > [@](#): > > **scr4** said: > If that was the intent, they would have withheld the announcement until after the Charter Members renewed. They have to dangle something on that stick of theirs. > [@](#): > > **alterego** said: > Let me recapitulate Ed’s latest message for you guys. The Reader is going to rip us off for another round of subscription fees and they are going to continue showing us ads, even after they promised us they wouldn’t. They feel justified in doing this because they now have two different kinds of ads. Ads that are extremely fucking annoying and ads that are only moderately annoying. “No ads” means that we won’t have to see the ones that are extremely fucking annoying if we pay. They are going to further justify charging us this fee by pointing out that they don’t have any competent IT staff that can implement the change in their business model within the next several months. But don’t worry, it’s a really good business model and is really worth the wait. We will definitely see some improvements around here. This. A thousand times. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912.md?page=4)