count me as another one who had no idea my dues were due, and didn’t notice until I became a welcomed guest. I’d be happy to pay, but don’t even know how I would do so, nor am I really that interested in finding out.
I was hoping that after so many posts my title would change. I disillusioned myself - now I know better.
~S.P.I.~
As welcome as the character in The Man Who Came To Dinner?
Ditto. I liked having the Charter Member thing, but I’ve just been so disappointed with the whole management of the boards over the last year or two, that I can’t in good conscience give them my money, even if it’s only a small amount.
I’ve been here ten years. I simply refuse to keep paying. They promised big upgrades, and none happened, so they can’t have my money.
I’ll bet you’re fun at parties.
Used to be a Charter Member, missed the deadline for paying again, turned into a Member for a while and then, when my dues were, um, due again, I discovered that I had to pay via Paypal, which I don’t have. So ‘guest’ I am.
LOL…you need to come to a CleveDopeFest if you think that is bad!
I was just agreeing with the OP, and explaining why I’ve paid attention to the status line. There has always been a high respect for spelling on this board, and it is noticeable when someone slips. I make more than my share of typos, but using the wrong word usually gets people mugged around here. It’s not just me. But I was an English major, so it matters to me.
Most honored guest, welcome to humble abode. Please to sit in most ordinary of chairs, which resides at head of table for such as yourself. You bless us with your exalted presence. The ancestors dance a dance of joy for the honor you bestow on this family, and beg you forgive their lack of substance which is the fate of all ephemeral men.
I vote for Most Honored Guest as a title instead of Guest.
Something else that may be a factor…the boards are now searchable by Google. Some non-Doper searches a topic, finds a Dope thread, and signs up and replies, without lurking first.
The bolding is mine! (My first time doing one of these - awesome!)
I was just wondering if you meant sustenance rather than substance?
Thank you in advance,
~S.P.I.~
Perhaps it’s both. No substance because they are all dead, and no sustenance provided either if they are the ones meant to be doing the cooking. 
True dat.
I let the Charter Member status lapse this year. I’d just lost interest in the whole thing (though not enough to stop posting all together.)
Well, you’d have to work up to that.
Guest
Guest Star
Special Guest Star
Distinguished Guest
Most Honored Guest.
Or maybe if they changed “Guest” to “Troll” they’d drum up more subscriptions. 
Substance as in physical matter.
I think a lot of us should be called Charter Guest but I know for certain it won’t happen.
Newbie…
I apologize for any of the delay, your writings are very important and not in the words of our Preesident
Yeah, but what I miss most is the number of posts. Even long-time dopers who reverted to Guest should have that statistic shown.
I am totally awed at anybody with 10,000 or more posts. Or even 5,000+