While reading through a zombie thread, I noticed that Persephone is still listed as a member rather than a guest, despite having died nearly 20 months ago. How is that possible? Did she pay for several years inadvance? Did the admins posthumously give her permanent member status? Glitch in the system?
I think this is probably a glitch in the system, dating back to when she passed and we put a block on her registration. This froze everything from that moment and we have just carried forward.
That being said, Persephone was always a big supporter of the Straight Dope dating back to the AOL days and if I remember correctly, she did pay up years in advance, so the combination of the two has kept this ongoing.
TubaDiva
I think it would be sad and not very fitting if Persephone’s title reverted to Guest, as if she had the chance to subscribe but didn’t. I think Member is a better fit, given her love of this place, but possibly confusing (as this thread shows). Maybe we could create a special title for her account. Would Dearly Departed be too morbid?
Forgive me if I’ve offended anyone.
I like the idea, but that’s a little morbid and cliche. How about “always remembered” or something along those lines?
Well then, just “Remembered” seems to be a fitting evolution from “Member”, and not too morbid or glaring.
Member Emeritus?
I don’t think she departed in a dear manner. Perhaps *Dear Departed * would be more appropriate?
Randy Cunningham’s This is True uses the term ‘honorary unsubscribe.’
‘Dearly Departed’ is the standard formula when talking about the deceased, regardless of the amount of sense it makes or does not.
Personally, however, I favor ‘Remembered’ now that it has been suggested.
My understanding was that if a Member did not post after the pay-to-post date (the date that the SDMB switched to paid subscriptions), their status continued to show “Member” unless they posted, in which case the status would change to “Guest” immediately after their first post following the pay-to-post date.
If they did not post at all after the pay-to-post date, their status would remain “Member”.
Member Eternal?
Hm. If I recall correctly, the switch was toward the end of that month, so this might be the explanation.
Why should it chap anyone’s butt to let it be as it is? There are times when less is more.
The existence of this thread proves whose butt got chapped.
Eh? No chapping over here, just idle curiosity.
I do believe that is the correct answer; I had totally forgotten about this.
And sadly enough, that’s what happened.
This was before Jerry’s subscription utility, which now sweeps the board every so often and converts status from “Member” to “Guest.” We had placed this registration in another category altogether way before the script was written, so it was not subject to the sweep.
TubaDiva