# I think I'll spend my $14.95 elsewhere... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 10, 2004, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149 "2004-08-10T03:55:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/81 "2004-08-10T19:12:38Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > Yaaaayyy!!! šŸ˜ƒ FUN!!! > > Weā€™ll try to go on without you, and just make do paying for a board that attracts so many intelligent members it requires policies about bumping old threads and editing posts and searching and moderator influence just in order to function! šŸ˜‰ HOORAY!!! šŸ˜ƒ > Geez, what is this? _The Long Goodbye_? Nah, just the extended play version with the drum solo. psssstā€¦hey everyone, I donā€™t think sheā€™s listening any longer ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/82 "2004-08-10T19:17:50Z")
Iā€™ve been on (and still participate in) a few other boards. I think this one is the best for rules and moderation. I was on a board that was unmoderated. What a free for all! What jackasses! He who spoke loudest won all the debates, because eventually, no one was willing to put up with the insults. Eventually I left - stuck it out for six months because I had a lot of friends there - but it wasnā€™t worth the insults. Iā€™m on a board now that allows people to edit their posts - and yes - its problematic. Several times people have changed their inital post - only to come back with ā€œthat isnā€™t what I said.ā€ Its so much more honest to post ā€œsorry, I overreactedā€ or ā€œgee, I was wrong.ā€ Love that about this place. Iā€™ll put up with everyone knowing how bad a typist I am (and my City of Heroes friends will note Iā€™m a much worse typist in real time) for the honesty that no editing bring. Iā€™m on a board with nanny moderators - and I OFTEN think about leaving. If it were something I cared more about - or less about - I would leave. No swearing - and slap on the hands for even little innuendos. Spend too much time disagreeing with the mods and you get banned. Threads closed because the mods canā€™t tell the difference between a discussion and an argument. Threads disappearing because the mods didnā€™t like them. Threads being combined with other threads willy nilly. So, to each his own. Iā€™ve found this one to be pretty close to perfect to my taste for reasonable moderation, rules that make sense, and a community that I enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/83 "2004-08-10T21:21:32Z")
Ow! :mad: I was drinking that, you know! ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Roscoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@Captain\_Roscoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Roscoe)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/84 "2004-08-10T21:29:21Z")
I donā€™t think $15 is too much. Like **Rysler** I have lurked for years. I have laughed out loud at threads, and been amazed at the knowledge of the posters here. I watched everyone scrambling to sign up for the $4.95 introductory fee, and I couldnā€™t see the point. But I carried on lurking, and here I am now! A fully paid-up member of the club! I love the honesty, I love the friendship and the fighting, and I love the learning. I think the moderators are spot-on most of the time; although Iā€™m sure Iā€™ll be careful about what I say for a long time just in case - I donā€™t want to get flamed. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/85 "2004-08-10T21:52:33Z")
> [@OxyMoron](#): > > Picture **Coldie** and **Manny** on 'roid rages Hey, letā€™s NOT picture that, OK? šŸ™‚ **DrDeth** , you have one official warning according to our archives, but **CK Dex** ā€™s comment you linked to wasnā€™t it. šŸ™‚ **Principessa** : well, so long, I guess. Sorry for being such a power hungry bastard. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/86 "2004-08-10T22:05:03Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Bummer of a birthmark, Carl. [Not, Carl, but Hal.](http://store1.yimg.com/I/coolrags_1805_15020) **Principessa** : The [mug](http://www.store.yahoo.com/coolrags/bumofbircofm.html) sells for $10.95, thus saving you $4.00 in the long run. Enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/87 "2004-08-10T22:16:25Z")
A hearty welcome to you **Captain Roscoe**. And thanks to **Elenia28** for sharing your experience. Iā€™m sure there are many more like you whoā€™ve been frightened away, but never returned. Iā€™m glad you came back. There is one point Iā€™d like to make to all the people who have stated that they donā€™t care what the people who reject membership think of us. I have to disagree. I think it is just as important to understand why customers _arenā€™t_ buying our product, as it is to understand why customers _do_ buy. The problem is that it is damn hard to get this kind of market intelligence. It is irrelevant whether or not we agree with **Principessaā€™s** reasons for not joining. Itā€™s a data point. Iā€™d love to know the exact reasons why Guests decide not to subscribe. Is it the dollar amount? Is it the level of Moderation? Is it the type of forums available? Is it because they didnā€™t feel comfortable or welcomed? I believe we need a continual inflow of new blood, lest we become even more inbred and cozy than we are now. And, like **Gadarene** (and others), I think the dollar amount after a 30 day trial is too high of a hurdle. If that wouldā€™ve been the policy when I joined, Iā€™d have never done so. In the numerous threads that kicked around concerning the possible consequences of the subscription plan when it was introduced, these worries were voiced, and I know that the Powers That Be want to remain flexible. If the consequences are too negative, I think the plan could change. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/88 "2004-08-10T22:18:02Z")
> [@ZebraShaSha](#): > > ā€¦I have exactly three friends who would all make wonderful posters hereā€¦and (theyā€™re) liberal to boot. Not one of them would consider the price of admissionā€¦ [smartass] Thatā€™s probably because theyā€™re waiting for enactment of an internet tax on the rich that will subsidize theyā€™re membership fee. [/smartass] ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/89 "2004-08-10T22:19:13Z")
See, if I could edit my posts theyā€™re would magically become their ---
**Author:** ![Jadis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@Jadis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jadis)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/90 "2004-08-10T22:39:20Z")
> [@Gadarene](#): > > But once they register (or at least once they make their first post), theyā€™ve got thirty days, period, to make up their minds. (And if they let their guest status lapse and then decide later on they like the place after all, they get banned when they come back. Yay!) This is factually incorrect. If someone declines to register after 30 days, they can continue to lurk for however long they want, and if they subsequently decide to register, all they need to do is register their expired guest ID. No fear of banning upon return. The only thing they canā€™t do is post/search between the end of their guest period and when they do decide to register. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/91 "2004-08-10T22:51:17Z")
**Jadis:** Thanks for the correction. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/92 "2004-08-10T23:09:00Z")
Goddamn ā€œGuestā€ posts a thread about how this place sucks and is going to leave and it gets more replies than any damn thread Iā€™ve ever started! :mad: šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![sangfroid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@sangfroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sangfroid)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/93 "2004-08-11T00:19:27Z")
[QUOTE=EddyTeddyFreddy] :: **ETF** strides out onto the balcony, bouffant hairdo tangling in the breeze, manure from mucking stalls still stuck to her stiletto heels :: Thatā€™s no way to get ready for a show! At least switch to spurs šŸ˜‰ ETF/ My Patron Saint/ Thanks for caring/ You mightā€™ve dismissed/ An SDMB immortal (IMHO šŸ˜ƒ ) Oh yeah, the OP! Like anything else in life, if you donā€™t like it - CYA wouldnā€™t wanna be-ya. I like the format, long may I never be bannedā€¦ šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/94 "2004-08-11T00:38:53Z")
> [@Coldfire](#): > > Hey, letā€™s NOT picture that, OK? šŸ™‚ > > **DrDeth** , you have one official warning according to our archives, but **CK Dex** ā€™s comment you linked to wasnā€™t it. šŸ™‚ > . Ok, post a link. šŸ˜• I thought that was the only warning I ever got, but you know, my memory isnā€™t what it used to be. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/95 "2004-08-11T01:00:46Z")
[Here you go.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4252800&postcount=94) No worries mate, it was pretty mild, as far as warnings go. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/96 "2004-08-11T01:04:02Z")
> [@gatopescado](#): > > Goddamn ā€œGuestā€ posts a thread about how this place sucks and is going to leave and it gets more replies than any damn thread Iā€™ve ever started! :mad: > > šŸ˜ƒ You noticed that too? Same for any of my threads. On top of that, she disses us, stomps off in a Huff (or was that a Tizzy?) and the thread devolves into a story-telling, joke-making love-fest. Where is the bile? Where is the venom? Where is all the gratuitous swearing? šŸ˜ƒ Oh, yeahā€¦fuck you, \*\*Principessa! \*\* Weā€™ve noted your data-point, so piss off! ---
**Author:** ![Fecko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Fecko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fecko)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/97 "2004-08-11T04:55:30Z")
From what Ive seen, the Mods seem to be a little over zealous in their role playing of God, with regard to 2 issues; 1. No material contained in this site may be republished or reposted without express written consent of the Chicago Reader, Inc., except that message board users retain the right to republish or repost their own work. I know of heaps of websites, which DO repost without written consent. Its called the Fair Use provision of U.S. copyright law. If posting other peoples threads on a website is ā€œillegalā€, why isnt posting the LINK? From what Ive seen, the Mods are quick to point out a ā€œbreachā€ of copyright, but once made aware of the fair use provision, crawl back into their ivory towers. 1. The no-no of rehashing old threads; I mean, really, if its such a problem, WHY KEEP OLD THREADS ONLINE? Other than that, I think they do an excellent job, and Iā€™ll be subscribing soon :). ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/98 "2004-08-11T05:19:19Z")
> [@Fecko](#): > > 1. The no-no of rehashing old threads; I mean, really, if its such a problem, WHY KEEP OLD THREADS ONLINE? So we can read them? ---
**Author:** ![Fecko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Fecko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fecko)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/99 "2004-08-11T05:21:32Z")
Then close them! SIMPLE, NO? ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149/100 "2004-08-11T05:27:21Z")
I absolutely agree with **Algernon** ā€“we need to have an understanding of why guests donā€™t choose to become members. If we want to maintain or improve our conversion rate (the percentage of people who enter a store who actually buy something) we need to know what makes some people leave without subscribing. We donā€™t necessarily have to change the rules that these folks object to. We may want to consider helping our guests understand why we find these rules necessary. So, I thank **Principessa** for sharing her thoughts. I also agree wholeheartedly with **Fecko** on part his second point. The ā€œno bumping of old threads after three monthsā€ rule seems quite arbitrary, and goes against the long standing custom of searching for older threads before starting new ones. If old threads should stay inactive, they should be locked or archived or something. The old threads should remain online, however. They remain a valuable repository of information and/or entertainment. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-ill-spend-my-14-95-elsewhere/259149.md?page=6)