# How does one become a "Charter Member" **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 28, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415 "2013-08-28T17:17:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/1 "2013-08-28T17:17:38Z")
I have only “Guest” status. I would like to **block all these damned ads.** Also to sell something in the Marketplace, and I understand you have to be a paid subscriber or “Charter Member” to do that. But I cannot seem to find any button or any instructions in FAQ or stickies as to how I go about paying for a subscription. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/2 "2013-08-28T17:23:47Z")
Members are individuals who have paid their subscriptions. Anyone can become a Member. Charter Members have continuously paid for their membership since the board went to P2P. Becoming a Charter Member was a one shot deal a long time ago. Go to USER CP Click on PAID SUBSCRIPTIONS (at the bottom menu on the left) Under AVAILABLE SUBSCRIPTIONS choose “STRAIGHTDOPE BOARD MEMBERSHIP” Choose your member ship level (1 or 2 years) Click ORDER You will go through the Paypal portal, regardless if you want to use a Paypal account or not. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/3 "2013-08-28T17:25:37Z")
Click on “User CP” at the top left of any page, then click on “Paid Subscriptions” at the bottom of the column on the left. That will show you how to become a paid member. You can’t become a Charter Member, that boat has sailed. But paid members don’t see ads either. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/4 "2013-08-28T17:25:59Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > How does one become a “Charter Member” First, build yourself a time machine… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/5 "2013-08-28T17:48:23Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > First, build yourself a time machine… Do _not_ do this! I went back in time and stepped on a butterfly, and when I came back some gawdawful show called _According To Jim_ stayed on the air for nine years! I didn’t mind the little changes, like losing both our wings and eternal life, but _that_ just wasn’t worth the cost. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/6 "2013-08-28T23:24:30Z")
Hey man, SOME OF US used to attend _According To Jim_ Conventions. The cast members would sometimes attend, we could see the blooper reels from all 9 seasons, there’d be late night trivia contests and the always-popular “Who Looks Like Jim?” contest. There were some pretty cool replicas of props and other fine-quality collectibles for sale in the Jim Gym. I’m just sayin’. I also met my third wife Portia there. She was dressed up just like Amanda Plummer when she made her guest appearance in Season 5 in the much-beloved episode, " Catch-23 ". ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/7 "2013-08-28T23:40:10Z")
I only watched _According To Jim_ just to see Courtney Thorne-Smith. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/8 "2013-08-28T23:43:12Z")
Bummer. I was on the “Pay? You’re kidding, right?” side of the fence and missed out on a kewl title. Of course, the objection was to putting the entire forum behind the paywall, which lasted, what, six weeks? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/9 "2013-08-28T23:44:08Z")
And watch out, because after you become a charter member, one screw up where paypal won’t let you renew your subscription until a day after it expires, and you slip back down to member status, forever. \ ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/10 "2013-08-28T23:49:11Z")
Cappy, in OUR eyes, you’ll always be Charter Member material. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/11 "2013-08-28T23:49:16Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > And watch out, because after you become a charter member, one screw up where paypal won’t let you renew your subscription until a day after it expires, and you slip back down to member status, forever. > > \ The mods have restored some people’s charter status depending on the situation. You might want to PM Tuba. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/12 "2013-08-29T00:08:40Z")
A lifetime title then. ---
**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:** [August 29, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/13 "2013-08-29T00:19:07Z")
You can always use an adblocker. (Actually, you really should already be using one in the first place) ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/14 "2013-08-29T00:43:03Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > And watch out, because after you become a charter member, one screw up where paypal won’t let you renew your subscription until a day after it expires, and you slip back down to member status, forever. > > \ Not true. There’s been amnesty for a couple years now and many people have regained their Charter Member status. AND missing the window by a day or two is not fatal, neither; I have helped quite a few lapsed Charter Members get back in the club. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/15 "2013-08-29T00:43:22Z")
My member has no charter, it’s basically a free for all. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/16 "2013-08-29T00:44:56Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Bummer. I was on the “Pay? You’re kidding, right?” side of the fence and missed out on a kewl title. Of course, the objection was to putting the entire forum behind the paywall, which lasted, what, six weeks? Didn’t happen at all like that. You could always READ the board, regardless of your status. You had to be a Member to POST to the board. If you signed up as a newly arrived guest you got 30 days of free posting, then you had to sign up as a Member or go back to just lurking. That lasted for a couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/17 "2013-08-29T01:05:06Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Didn’t happen at all like that. > > You could always READ the board, regardless of your status. You had to be a Member to POST to the board. If you signed up as a newly arrived guest you got 30 days of free posting, then you had to sign up as a Member or go back to just lurking. > > That lasted for a couple of years. Hmm, maybe that’s why I lurked so long before finally joining. I"m glad I’m here now. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/18 "2013-08-29T16:14:39Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > … I have helped quite a few lapsed Charter Members get back in the club. But does that mean having to sit through the [del]fire and brimstone prayer service[/del] [del]time-share spiel[/del] [del]MLM rah! rah! fandango[/del] [del]Checker’s speech[/del] [del]Slim Whitman’s Indian Love Call[/del] [del]read Ed’s book out loud to a group of nuns[/del] [del]elevator music from The Blues Brothers[/del] sheer quiet while you work your magic? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/19 "2013-08-29T16:42:48Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Didn’t happen at all like that. > > You could always READ the board, regardless of your status. Hmm. I have pretty clear memories of discussion in The Other Forum about the whole forum going behind the paywall and people being outraged\* that even lurking was blocked, but I must be misremembering. - And amused at yet-another-attempt to squeeze bux out of the fabulous internet. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415/20 "2013-08-29T16:43:52Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > You can always use an adblocker. (Actually, you really should already be using one in the first place) Do this. So many times I’m surprised when people complain about ads here or on places like Facebook and Youtube because I’d completely forgotten they existed. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-charter-member/667415.md?page=2)