# If the SDMB was a Pay site, would you Pay to Post? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 13, 2003, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164 "2003-10-13T12:30:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/41 "2003-10-14T07:44:42Z")
There are many problems with going to a pay service format. As scr4 mentioned, the quality and diversity of the board would take a major hit. As several have pointed out, the SD would be required to maintain quality service, which would likely increase their headaches for little to no profit. And finally, banning posters would become a much trickier issue. I like the amount of power the mods currently have. I’d hate to see them handcuffed by high-priced boosters who decided they were entitled to post abusive/misleading comments. But I _love_ the idea of banner ads, coupled with the ability to voluntarily donate to turn them off. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/42 "2003-10-14T08:28:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Geobabe \* > **I like the system LiveJournal has, where everybody can use it, but paid accounts get you perks that the free users don’t get. Having ads that go away if you pay is a nice idea.** That sounds reasonable. The Opera browser uses the same approach; the software is free to download and use, but it displays ads until you register it. I have a registered copy. I also agree that if I’m going to pay for it, I expect the servers to be upgraded. And I want it to be available 24 hours a day, not 23 and a half. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/43 "2003-10-14T09:39:05Z")
At one time I would have. But these days, I’m not so sure. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/44 "2003-10-14T09:58:23Z")
Pay a subscription? No. I might well contribute to a tip jar every so often. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/45 "2003-10-14T12:08:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scr4 \* > \*\*I also agree that if I’m going to pay for it, I expect the servers to be upgraded. And I want it to be available 24 hours a day, not 23 and a half. \*\* The servers aren’t unavailable for that time (30 minutes?) because they’re inferior; they’re unavailable because they must be backed up every night. It’s especially important in such a dynamic environment as this one, with a zillion new posts and threads each day. Now, a new server might not take as long to back up (I’m no techie), but I would imagine regular board maintenance would still need to be performed, regardless of how wonderful (or expensive) the server is. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/46 "2003-10-14T12:21:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > **The servers aren’t unavailable for that time (30 minutes?) because they’re inferior; they’re unavailable because they must be backed up every night.** I realize that. I also realize it’s impossible to find a time that’s convenient for everyone, but right now it happens late afternoon for us Asians and Australians. If I became a paying customer, I think I’d feel justifed in requesting that the backups be done a bit quicker, and/or they investigate ways to do it with less disruption. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/47 "2003-10-14T12:23:37Z")
In a perfect world, there would be mirror SD sites all over the globe, each feeding off the other as redundant arrays or something. 🙂 You’d go to the main page and choose the closest geographic server, and… ok, maybe that wouldn’t work… ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/48 "2003-10-14T12:38:51Z")
Well if someone donated one of [these](http://www.go-l.com/desktops/machl38/features/index.htm) to the Chicago Reader we would have no problem with the server. Notice the exhaust pipes in the Server Specs link 🙂 I got me one of the Professional models for my house, it was installed on Sunday! ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/49 "2003-10-14T13:09:13Z")
Probably not. I’m more then happy enough to wait to read Fark until after the links and comments become free. I suppose I’m just too used to certain entertainment venues (TV & the internet) being free. I use 602 PRO suit for my document and spreadsheet needs because it’s free. Heck, I just started walking to Borders and reading their books rather then buying them. Excuse me, I have to go pinch some pennies. ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/50 "2003-10-14T14:25:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Phlosphr \* > \*\*Well if someone donated one of [these](http://www.go-l.com/desktops/machl38/features/index.htm) to the Chicago Reader we would have no problem with the server. Notice the exhaust pipes in the Server Specs link 🙂 > > I got me one of the Professional models for my house, it was installed on Sunday! \*\* Wow, _someone_ likes Apple’s website… As for me, I would pay about $25/year. I think lurkers could see for themselves how fun the board is, and it would cull the idiots. (“But you just said you’d stick around, Sani!” Har har har…) I like the “pay for features and no ads” idea, though. I pay for weatherunderground because I don’t want the ads. But the server here had better improve if we have to pay. ---
**Author:** ![Balle\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/51 "2003-10-14T14:28:48Z")
I’d happily cough up $25 a year for improved service. I think I could manage to do without one carton of ciggies over 52 weeks to pay it. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/52 "2003-10-14T16:49:03Z")
While I don’t mind the idea of a small yearly fee…I agree it would affect the diversity…especially from Dopers in smaller, foreign countries. It kind of smacks of snobby private school, with them poor folk looking in the window. Too bad SDMB just couldn’t be a non-profit organization and take donations, or have a big E-Bay style auction with members donating stuff and all the profits go to buying some equipment. Perhaps there is a legal way to be a private club…charge $1.00 for a lifetime membership, create a secret handshake, a secret password “Hi Opal”, and then you can have private fund raisers? ---
**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/53 "2003-10-14T16:51:59Z")
No, I don’t think so, I really love this place though. Maybe If I got more bang for the buck, like an archive of ALL Cecil’s columns and maybe some exclusive content, but not for what it is right now. This came up for real in the past didn’t it? I would just open up a rival site, that was free, as some here have, though you can bet I would lurk. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/54 "2003-10-15T12:00:04Z")
no, as have been mentioned a pay site would change the culture on the board as we know it. i would buy merchandise where a portion of the profit goes toward the boards though, like maybe a 1920s style key chain, a toy og or something… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/55 "2003-10-15T12:05:49Z")
Maybe an affilate link with Amazon? If you set up an affiliate link, 5% of any Amazon item purchased through that link goes to your site. Here’s the _Sluggy Freelance_ example. [http://sluggy.com/amazon/buyabook.html](http://sluggy.com/amazon/buyabook.html) I use this, but if it’s the SDMB, I’s switch from Sluggy’s link. ---
**Author:** ![skeptic\_ev](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@skeptic\_ev](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skeptic_ev)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/56 "2003-10-15T14:25:25Z")
One of the best things about the SDMB is the diversity. If they did charge, I would lurk and THEN pay if the posts were up to par, but they probably wouldn’t be. So, then, not only would I not pay to post, but I probably wouldn’t even lurk. Sad but true. I would happily pay to be without banner ads, though. If, however, the SDMB ever starts using floating ads (those annoying ads that pop up inside the active page directly in front of what you are reading) I’m gone. I’ll occasionally click on an interesting banner ad (usually not a popup ad, because I find it hard to believe that I, only I, have won a DVD player), but as a matter of principle, I refuse to click on those in-your-face can’t-close-'em hostage-holding content-blocking floating ads. Also, what everyone else has said about the hamsters. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Angel\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_Heart)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/57 "2003-10-15T22:53:30Z")
$25/month is out of my price range, but I’d gladly pay $80-100 a year. But I don’t have a credit card so there would need to be a check/money order option. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/58 "2003-10-16T00:18:39Z")
At one time I would have, and actually signed up that I would to receive a ‘special rate’ but now I’d just say good bye. Actually all in all this site has cost me money in lost productivity ;). ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164/59 "2003-10-16T01:06:14Z")
No. Out of principle. Unless there were no moderators, then I might consider it. But probably not…unless the Fabulous Forums of Fathom became a premium site too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-sdmb-was-a-pay-site-would-you-pay-to-post/207164.md?page=2)