# 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:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**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 3, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/41 "2016-11-03T20:03:35Z")
> [@erysichthon](#): > > Well, it’s pretty clear what that fifteen bucks _really_ buys: a majestic, lofty sense of moral superiority. Pfft. I’ve _got_ one of those. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/42 "2016-11-03T21:29:09Z")
I remember 15 years ago when the whole ads vs subscription debate started Of course that’s when most websites were charging subs. … but then that model was found to be lacking (unless your a newspaper it seems) and the ads started all over the net theres an adult website that charged but after a few years dropped it because " it all gets stolen/hacked and no one wants to pay anyways … I don’t mind ads here but some of them seem to be scams of some type … But when you use an d company you don’t get to pick ---
**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 3, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/43 "2016-11-03T23:41:29Z")
> [@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. Good for you. However, some of us disagree, and that doesn’t make us bad people. It doesn’t make us thieves. YMMV. ---
**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 4, 2016, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/44 "2016-11-04T11:18:44Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > You really think you’d get your money back? When you subscribe, you are given that option. “If the train should jump the track, do you want your money back?” I forget which option I clicked, and it doesn’t show up on Control Panel. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/45 "2016-11-04T12:22:14Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > However, some of us disagree, and that doesn’t make us bad people. It doesn’t make us thieves. It makes you _Guests_ here. ---
**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 4, 2016, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/46 "2016-11-04T12:45:41Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Good for you. However, some of us disagree, and that doesn’t make us bad people. It doesn’t make us thieves. YMMV. WYF? :dubious: Dis anybody in this thread imply you were? ---
**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 4, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/47 "2016-11-04T17:26:16Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > WYF? :dubious: > Dis anybody in this thread imply you were? [Post #21.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19745225&postcount=21) ---
**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 4, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/48 "2016-11-04T17:50:14Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > [Post #21.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19745225&postcount=21) Oh goodness. In that case, since this isn’t the pit, let me just politely say I disagree with that posters sentiments. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/49 "2016-11-05T06:17:50Z")
Totally worth it. I always make sure to keep up on it. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/50 "2016-11-05T07:33:32Z")
where can you get sub info? I’m tired of ms edge’s ad blocker and the board fighting over ads and freezing up this toaster … ---
**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 5, 2016, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/51 "2016-11-05T10:18:39Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > where can you get sub info? I’m tired of ms edge’s ad blocker and the board fighting over ads and freezing up this toaster … Click on User CP at the top of the page, then go to the bottom on the left pane where it says Paid Subscriptions. It may tell you to use PayPal, but if you’re not down with that, if you continue, it will let you let you use a credit card without PayPal. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/52 "2016-11-06T19:30:28Z")
nm. I didn’t see there was a second page and just gave the same instructions. :o ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/53 "2016-11-07T00:12:32Z")
I’ve been here since 2001, wandered off for some time when they talked about a paid subscription. Came back and became a member. The dope is my daily internet fix, and I like the lack of ads. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/54 "2016-11-07T01:43:17Z")
I used to subscribe until I missed a Charter payment, lost status and felt like I was getting less now that I could never regain Charter. I tell myself that I’ll subscribe again when the board has a working search function; which keeps my checkbook safe. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/55 "2016-11-07T15:33:12Z")
For me, paying the subscription is simply an expression of appreciation for a service I use all the time. I am here multiple times a day, every day, learning from and communicating with other members, many of whom are much smarter than I am, and that is worth something in my book. I don’t have to pay but I do because I believe I derive value from this board. This doesn’t make me any better than anyone who chooses not to contribute financially. ---
**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 7, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238/56 "2016-11-07T16:07:04Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > 僕は女性の香りが大好きですよ。フア！ I would have sprung for the Membership long ago if I knew how to get foreign glyphs in my status instead of just the slightly obscene “Member.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-paying-for-membership/770238.md?page=2)