# Is it worth paying for membership? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 31, 2016, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238 "2016-10-31T08:43:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2016, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/21 "2016-11-01T20:59:59Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > “Is it worth it?” > > Does that mean, “Am I getting $10 worth of value per year for my donation/payment?” Yes. Unquestionably. > > Do I get something EXTRA for my $10 that people who don’t pay AREN’T getting? No. > > Then why give? > > I’m glad to pay, because in my own value system\* it’s the right thing to do for a service i use a lot that is costing \*\*someone \*\*to run. We can use the service for free, but it’s not free. Even if we’re not required to pay, hosting a web site with this much volume isn’t free. Everyone who comes here knows that, and yet some are able to rationalize using it for free, even while coming here to complain about it. Irony, anyone? There have been threads recently on what I’ve learned here, and even one on how something/someone here changed my life. I noted that many (NOT ALL) of those posters who said they had experienced great and even life-changing connections on the SDMB were not paying members. > > I’m not aware of any malfunctions that occur routinely while interacting with the board. _Search, first new post_, work fine on my computer as well as on my kindle. I find the content worthwhile enough and the posters good enough to visit multiple times per day. I don’t care about the software as long as the board functions for me, and it does. > > The board is not perfect. It’s not a perfect community, but it is unique. I’m a retired widow and I’m not wealthy, but I can spare $10. It’s worth way more TO ME than $10 per year and I’m happy to contribute such a small amount. > > \*My values were shaped by a 38-year career as a development professional (18 of those years as a free-lancer), raising money for services that clients (mostly) did not have to pay for. At one of my jobs, we made a sign (just for staff) that said, “Doing what people think **just happens**.” Except for acts of God and nature, things don’t “just happen.” People are making them happen and someone is bearing the cost. Beautiful. You (any you) either have a value system that supports paying your “fair share”, or you have a value system that tries to avoid paying your “fair share.” The rest is bickering over details. To me, not paying then using an ad blocker is just like emptying all the sugar, Splenda, whatever packets into your purse at the restaurant. While saying “They wouldn’t put them out on the table if they didn’t want me to use them.” If that truly is what it takes to keep a roof over your head and enough calories to get through a day I’ll cut you all the slack you need. If not, not. I paid for a year and a half while I was on self-imposed sabbatical from the place. Had I saved that money I could have bought 4 whole draft beers over the same 18 months. Woot! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/22 "2016-11-02T01:53:07Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Beautiful. > > You (any you) either have a value system that supports paying your “fair share”, or you have a value system that tries to avoid paying your “fair share.” > > The rest is bickering over details. > > To me, not paying then using an ad blocker is just like emptying all the sugar, Splenda, whatever packets into your purse at the restaurant. While saying “They wouldn’t put them out on the table if they didn’t want me to use them.” If that truly is what it takes to keep a roof over your head and enough calories to get through a day I’ll cut you all the slack you need. If not, not. > > I paid for a year and a half while I was on self-imposed sabbatical from the place. Had I saved that money I could have bought 4 whole draft beers over the same 18 months. Woot! Sweet Christ, it’s an internet message board – some of you act like we’re stealing from the poor box at church. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/23 "2016-11-02T02:01:02Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Beautiful. > > You (any you) either have a value system that supports paying your “fair share”, or you have a value system that tries to avoid paying your “fair share.” > > The rest is bickering over details. > > To me, not paying then using an ad blocker is just like emptying all the sugar, Splenda, whatever packets into your purse at the restaurant. While saying “They wouldn’t put them out on the table if they didn’t want me to use them.” If that truly is what it takes to keep a roof over your head and enough calories to get through a day I’ll cut you all the slack you need. If not, not. > > I paid for a year and a half while I was on self-imposed sabbatical from the place. Had I saved that money I could have bought 4 whole draft beers over the same 18 months. Woot! I don’t get this, honestly. I belong to a few message boards that don’t have ads and don’t ask you to pay, and they’re still in business. I’ve belonged to one of them for over 15 years. I don’t need to use an adblocker on those sites and never have. They’ve never served me malware or tried to force downloads on me. Why does the Dope need to be different? I can’t justify paying to belong to a site that makes it an unpleasant experience unless you pay for protection. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/24 "2016-11-02T02:50:06Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > To me, not paying then using an ad blocker is just like emptying all the sugar, Splenda, whatever packets into your purse at the restaurant. While saying “They wouldn’t put them out on the table if they didn’t want me to use them.” If that truly is what it takes to keep a roof over your head and enough calories to get through a day I’ll cut you all the slack you need. If not, not. That’s ridiculous. First of all an administrator here once pretty much came out and said that subscriptions are a tiny source of income for the boards compared to ad revenue. They are very much appreciated, but not necessary. The board supports itself with ads. Lots and lots and lots of ads. It doesn’t matter that the regular “guests” here all use ad blockers either because we’re not the target of them. The site, thanks largely or almost entirely to all of our wonderful posts, draws in tons of people from google searches. They view at least 5 or more ads the second they click the first link. That, more than anything, I suspect drives the revenue for the boards. I think it’s a nice gesture to subscribe and I’m sure the PTB are more than grateful for everyone who does. For me it isn’t about the money or the ads. I use the boards often enough to justify 10 bucks a year or whatever it is. But there’s no way to pay anonymously. By subscribing it creates a permanent association between your posts here and your real life identity. The SDMB can’t promise to protect that link now or in the future and I prefer to post anonymously. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/25 "2016-11-02T04:42:22Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > To me, not paying then using an ad blocker is just like emptying all the sugar, Splenda, whatever packets into your purse at the restaurant. While saying “They wouldn’t put them out on the table if they didn’t want me to use them.” If that truly is what it takes to keep a roof over your head and enough calories to get through a day I’ll cut you all the slack you need. If not, not. Of course, you could make the reverse argument that making people pay for the content they generate completely free for this board - the content _being_ this board - is dishonest and immoral. Insert your own anecdote here. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/26 "2016-11-02T06:00:59Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > …You (any you) either have a value system that supports paying your “fair share”, or you have a value system that tries to avoid paying your “fair share.” > > The rest is bickering over details… Hmm, I don’t know about this. It seems to me that every value system (perhaps excluding the system of a sociopath) supports paying your fair share, and the bickering is all that’s matters: the dispute over quantifying what’s “fair”. Ayn Rand, for example, enthusiastically supported paying your fair share, which, so far as I can discern, she sincerely believed to be zero. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/27 "2016-11-02T07:36:00Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Beautiful. > > You (any you) either have a value system that supports paying your “fair share”, or you have a value system that tries to avoid paying your “fair share.” > > The rest is bickering over details. Well, it’s pretty clear what that fifteen bucks _really_ buys: a majestic, lofty sense of moral superiority. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/28 "2016-11-02T08:11:26Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Beautiful. > > You (any you) either have a value system that supports paying your “fair share”, or you have a value system that tries to avoid paying your “fair share.” I _also_ have a value system that says “paying for the privilege of being insulted on the regular by racists would be dumb”. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/29 "2016-11-02T12:52:01Z")
I use the board and value it and the board accepts donations. Those are my only considerations when it comes to forking over my $10. I don’t care of the SDMB needs the money or not or gets tons of ad revenue. I also don’t care whether I see ads or not. I’m paying a really small amount of $$ for a service I use. That’s the long and short of it. Pretty simple, really. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/30 "2016-11-02T13:30:40Z")
I look at it like this: The amount of hours I’ve spent logged onto this board **while at my place of employment** , I’ve literally been paid thousands of dollars over the years for enjoying this place. I figure the SDMB is entitled to a small cut of that. Especially when you consider what I get in return. And in case my IT department is reading any of this, I’m totally kidding about all of the above., ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/31 "2016-11-02T16:01:38Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > To me, not paying then using an ad blocker is just like emptying all the sugar, Splenda, whatever packets into your purse at the restaurant. This statement is ridiculous. Nobody steals the sugar packets. They steal the ketchup, mustard, hot sauce etc. bottles. And those people are idiots because they should be stealing the cash register like me. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/32 "2016-11-02T16:27:16Z")
Not quite. My aged MIL steals the sugar packets. Her reasoning: “I’m a senior and I deserve it. Besides, there was a Depression once upon a time.” Other than that she’s an upstanding citizen. And as a 91 yo, she’s a big part of why Social Security is going broke. She gets out per month more than she put in per year. And has been doing so for decades. Wish I could get an investment like that! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/33 "2016-11-02T16:53:39Z")
I like artificial sweetener in my iced tea. We have a one pound(?) bag of some sort of artificial sweetener at home. At a flea-market I purchased a thousand 2"x2" jewelry/small parts zip-lock bags. So, I put some Splenda (or whatever) into the little bag and I can carry it and use it in iced tea. _But_, a few times I’ve forgotten my tiny bag at a restaurant. Artificial sweetener is probably the last thing whoever finds it will assume it to be. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/34 "2016-11-02T17:45:28Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I use the board and value it and the board accepts donations. Those are my only considerations when it comes to forking over my $10. I don’t care of the SDMB needs the money or not or gets tons of ad revenue. I also don’t care whether I see ads or not. I’m paying a really small amount of $$ for a service I use. That’s the long and short of it. Pretty simple, really. Agreed. It really is as simple as this. ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/35 "2016-11-02T20:10:31Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > I gladly paid for many years until I foolishly missed the subscription deadline one year and lost my Charter Membership. … This is a wonderful board, well and intelligently moderated with a membership covering a vast range of human experience. I personally have never had trouble with malware here (thanks to my adblocker) and rarely have problems with access. I was annoyed when I didn’t get emails saying that my Charter Membership was expiring. It expired. I felt “I’m gonna show them and not subscribe!” Later I figured that was petty. I get great value for $15, just like a good meal at a good restaurant. I don’t feel I’m being conned or blackmailed. I like what I get and I’m happy to acknowledge that. I just checked now and saw that, Again!, my subscription has expired. :eek: :smack: :o [sub]I was vaguely waiting for an email reminder.[/sub] Anyway, I’ve renewed. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![weef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@weef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/weef)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/36 "2016-11-03T10:47:03Z")
Besides supporting this great resource of knowledge and opinion, I recently found out subscribing would eliminate the ads so I did and now viewing this site on my creaky old iPad 1 is faster than ever! It actually feels like I have a new iPad. I wish I knew earlier about subscribing to eliminate the ads (SD should have a popup ad mentioning this). ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/37 "2016-11-03T13:07:23Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > The logic of this escapes me. 😕 > > WRT the part I’ve bolded: so you’re seeing some kind of secrecy/conspiracy thing going on here? Should the board NOT be seeking ad revenue? No conspiracy. I obviously didn’t explain myself very well. I believe the board makes more money from ads than subscriptions, or at least that is the business model being pursued. Understandably, those in charge are not disclosing how well that’s going. But until they actively start seeking subscription revenue, my position is I am potentially worth more to them as a Guest (so in theory seeing ads) than a member. > [@Crazyhorse](#): > > I think it’s a nice gesture to subscribe and I’m sure the PTB are more than grateful for everyone who does. I’m not convinced they are grateful, as above. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I use the board and value it and the board accepts donations. Those are my only considerations when it comes to forking over my $10. I don’t care of the SDMB needs the money or not or gets tons of ad revenue. I also don’t care whether I see ads or not. I’m paying a really small amount of $$ for a service I use. That’s the long and short of it. Pretty simple, really. That’s fair enough. But I’m lazy, have lots of other things to do with my time and money, and if I don’t get chased for payment I just don’t get round to it. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/38 "2016-11-03T15:34:02Z")
Yes. I love the board and spend a lot of time here and paying to be a member makes me feel good. Plus it’s nice to not have ads no matter where I log in. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/39 "2016-11-03T17:41:08Z")
I subscribed … and haven’t been BANNED. On a close decision, I assume the Mods don’t want to go to the bother of computing a partial subscription refund. :eek: :smack: ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/40 "2016-11-03T19:52:27Z")
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