# How many Charter Members are still left? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 30, 2007, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575 "2007-10-30T14:45:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/101 "2007-11-05T18:22:20Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] Why wasn’t I told about this? [/QUOTE] Perhaps folks took you seriously without you even noticing it. Even when others take you seriously, it’s good to not take yourself too seriously. 😉 Then, you’d become boring, as I fear I did, rattling on in my previous post. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/102 "2007-11-05T19:58:47Z")
I’m a Charter Member, and I plan on staying that way. Partly for the prestige (what little there is). Partly for the craic (of which there is plenty – and let’s face it, what else would I do all day when I’m meant to be working?). But mainly because half price is a bargain in anyone’s books, and with the exchange rate the way it is… Yeah, I’m cheap. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/103 "2007-11-05T20:41:32Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] I suppose. If you consider a smart Aleck answer to a serious question the proper setup for a whoosh. At any rate, if I was whooshed, at least I answered the question without being condescending. Try it. You might find it agreeable. [/QUOTE] What is your problem here? Liberal answered a question. You posed another question, in essence offering an alternative indication of importance for the term “99er” which indicated that '99 was different because of the fact that it was our first year of existence. Liberal responded by noting that it was also the year of something completely trivial. I am certain most here understood his post to mean that your attempt to distinguish your alternative from his was a distinction without much value. In response, you stated, “I mean, literally hundreds of things happened in 1999.” This appeared to miss the point to Liberal’s commentary. Thus, I offered that you had been whooshed by his comment. Now perhaps you consider the suggestion you’ve been whooshed to be somehow insulting. In that case, I can only say that I’ve been whooshed enough around here that I’ve grown bald from the backwash of the engines, and I’ve never found it upsetting if someone points that out, as long as they aren’t horribly impolite about it. After all, it’s not like Uncle Cecil himself is known for his charitable, kindly manner when spotlighting error. So I hope you aren’t all upset because of the simple comment “whoosh.” Otherwise, I’m not sure why your tone has to go all wonky here. I don’t see where anyone was “condescending” in tone at all. And, in the future, if you have some particular problem with anything I say or do here, please feel free to send me a polite, private message with your concern. 🙂 ---
**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:** [November 6, 2007, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/104 "2007-11-06T15:26:10Z")
[QUOTE=DefyingGravity] Oh, no. Now I feel really really depressed. I have truly been here since early days, and when I subscribed when it went to pay I seem to recall that it was if you subscribed within a certain time period you got “lifetime” Charter Membership. Since when I un-lapsed my membership my post count and my account popped back into existence, why do I lose my lifetime charter status? I wish I hadn’t responded in the first place, that seems like kind of a harsh thing to do, to a 7 or so year member, a first subscriber, a recipient of lifetime charter status, and a generally all-around nice person who doesn’t hurt kitties or anything like that? ☹ EmmaJane [/QUOTE] Not meant to be cruel, not at all and I’m sorry you feel so disappointed. The Charter Member offer was made one time and one time only. It was a promise made to you and a promise on your part. Our promise to you: Charter Members pay half the going rate for as long as they stay subscribers. Your promise to us: You will keep subscribing every year. That’s really all there is to it. Once Charter Membership is lost it cannot be regained. If you stop subscribing and the subscription expires you are no longer a Charter Member. (In the interest of full disclosure I will mention we have had ONE person regain Charter Member status, but that was because he was in the U.S. Armed Forces and did not have access to the Straight Dope while overseas, many websites are blocked on military computers. Under the circumstances we felt granting that one exemption was reasonable. We don’t plan on doing this a lot; if it’s up to Jerry it will never happen again.) All you have to do to keep Charter Membership in force is to continue to subscribe. If you stop subscribing, it’s over and Charter Member designation is lost. It’s as simple as that. It’s as clear as that. We remind you when it’s time to resubscribe – there’s announcements on the board, we send you email – more than one email, in fact – people talk about it. It’s not a secret. I always hate it when someone becomes unhappy like this but dammit, what can we do? I can’t fix retroactively what you didn’t take care of in the first place. I routinely receive email from people who feel they’re still entitled to be Charter Members and request reinstatement. When I explain the situation they become angry and hurt. There’s nothing I can do about any of it. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2007, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/105 "2007-11-06T17:49:43Z")
I’m in with the “In” crowd I go where the “In” crowd goes I’m in with the “In” crowd And I know what the “In” crowd knows ---
**Author:** ![DefyingGravity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@DefyingGravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DefyingGravity)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/106 "2007-11-06T18:14:29Z")
[QUOTE=TubaDiva] Not meant to be cruel, not at all and I’m sorry you feel so disappointed. … I always hate it when someone becomes unhappy like this but dammit, what can we do? I can’t fix retroactively what you didn’t take care of in the first place. I routinely receive email from people who feel they’re still entitled to be Charter Members and request reinstatement. When I explain the situation they become angry and hurt. There’s nothing I can do about any of it. [/QUOTE] You know what? No worries. That was yesterday, today I’m more than over it. It’s not your fault if I didn’t remember the terms of service when I registered. I was only mostly kicking myself for bringing it to your attention. :smack: (Do people really get “angry and hurt” to that degree?? I could see maybe over the discount but over the title?) Thanks, She who was Formerly Known As CharterEmmaJane 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/107 "2007-11-06T18:52:22Z")
Is the username “Charter Member” taken? ---
**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:** [November 7, 2007, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/108 "2007-11-07T04:46:48Z")
[QUOTE=DefyingGravity] (Do people really get “angry and hurt” to that degree?? I could see maybe over the discount but over the title?) Thanks, She who was Formerly Known As CharterEmmaJane 😛 [/QUOTE] Yeah, angry and hurt. Been called everything except a child of God sometimes. Been taken to task quite a few times in email and on this board and elsewhere. Some of them would pay more than the going rate – if they could just keep the title. No fooling. It’s the bling of the board, baby. ::: sigh ::: ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/109 "2007-11-07T16:05:44Z")
Hey…you know, come to think of it, I never did get my tote bag. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/110 "2007-11-09T05:41:30Z")
[QUOTE=TubaDiva] Some of them would pay more than the going rate – if they could just keep the title. No fooling. It’s the bling of the board, baby. [/QUOTE] I gotta say, this statement made my day. I’m a Charter Member _and_ it’s a blingful thing? Sounds good to me! And if the word “blingful” didn’t exist before, I want full credit. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/111 "2007-11-09T22:57:37Z")
OK, so here’s the current list as I know it: [ul][li]Charter Member[/li][li]Member[/li][li]Guest[/li][li]Moderator[/li][li]Administrator[/li][li]SDSAB[/ul][/li] So what’s up with [THIS](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9158658&postcount=20)? ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/112 "2007-11-09T23:24:50Z")
You forgot -Suspended -Banned -Posting Sabbatical -Perfect Master [Why Boyo Jim is “Best of the Worst”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=435873) ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/113 "2007-11-10T05:03:29Z")
[QUOTE=bbs2k] You forgot -Suspended -Banned -Posting Sabbatical -Perfect Master [Why Boyo Jim is “Best of the Worst”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=435873) [/QUOTE] I wanted “Village Idiot”, but **Tuba** said no. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/114 "2007-11-10T05:12:40Z")
[QUOTE=dogbutler] I wanted “Village Idiot”, but **Tuba** said no. ☹ [/QUOTE] There’s a waiting list for that one. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/115 "2007-11-10T05:15:16Z")
I’m a charter member, although at the time the board went pay-to-play, I didn’t even have a credit card. (I think my then-girlfriend helped me out the first year and **Dante** got me the second year, but I could be misremembering.) Today I pay my own way, as I am a millionaire with a mansion and a yacht. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/116 "2007-11-10T05:31:48Z")
[QUOTE=dogbutler] I wanted “Village Idiot”, but **Tuba** said no. ☹ [/QUOTE] Jesus, Mary and Joe Cocker, I’d trade “Charter Member” for that in a second. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575/117 "2007-11-10T06:08:46Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] … as I am a millionaire with a mansion and a yacht. [/QUOTE] Elmer Fudd? Is that you? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-still-left/424575.md?page=5)