# Is The SDMB Switching to Paid Subscriptions? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 28, 2004, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487 "2004-06-28T03:32:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/1 "2004-06-28T03:32:02Z")
Really, you’d think that if it was, there’d be an announcement of some kind and that it’d be posted above every forum. And it’d be nice, you know, if it was just left there in perpetuity, instead of being changed at some point to reflect that the site was _now_ a paid subscription site, instead of the freebie site it used to be. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/2 "2004-06-28T03:35:58Z")
Huh?! ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/3 "2004-06-28T03:37:50Z")
He’s ranting about how the sticky says we are changing to a paid site. Seeing as we have been one for some time now. I sort of agree. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/4 "2004-06-28T03:39:12Z")
I believe Tuckerfan is commenting on the fact that the sticky announcement is no longer timely. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/5 "2004-06-28T03:46:26Z")
I’ve heard that there are people who don’t log in for, like, _months_. Sort of like Breatharians. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/6 "2004-06-28T03:51:36Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > I’ve heard that there are people who don’t log in for, like, _months_. > > Sort of like Breatharians. Well, you know, then perhaps the board could do something like sending them an email, telling them that it was going to be switching to paid subscriptions or something. You know, maybe as a way of letting them know what’s going on. Just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/7 "2004-06-28T03:51:45Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > I believe Tuckerfan is commenting on the fact that the sticky announcement is no longer timely. That was an articulate and civilized answer indeed; however, seeing that we are in the BBQ Pit, your reply sorely misses a liberal dose of profanity. I encourage you to be more judicious next time… fuck! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/8 "2004-06-28T03:57:31Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Well, you know, then perhaps the board could do something like sending them an email… Somehow, I think calling SENDMAIL 40,000 times, is not something the hamsters would want to do. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/9 "2004-06-28T03:57:41Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Well, you know, then perhaps the board could do something like sending them an email, telling them that it was going to be switching to paid subscriptions or something. You know, maybe as a way of letting them know what’s going on. Just a thought. You mean some MORE emails? I remember having received a notification to that purpose. Can you explain to us what prompted you to start this thread? Just curious, because you know, as news goes this one ranks there with ‘Franco is still dead’. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/10 "2004-06-28T04:07:25Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > You mean some MORE emails? I remember having received a notification to that purpose. You know, I’d completely forgotten that I got one of those too, until your post prompted me to look through my old emails (I’m _such_ a packrat). Sure enough, there it was: > [@](#): > > Excuse the spam, but we’ve got some good news for you: The Straight Dope > Message Board has switched to paid subscriptions. Why is that good news? > Because it means we’re serious about maintaining the SDMB, one of the best > boards on the Net. Now for some even better news: For a limited time you > can subscribe for the first year for an unbelievably low _ **US $4.95.** _ In > addition, you get a 50% discount on subscriptions for later years. If you > DON’T act now, a subscription will cost you a still pretty reasonable US > $14.95. If you haven’t stopped by the SDMB in a while, why not do so now? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/11 "2004-06-28T04:07:53Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Somehow, I think calling SENDMAIL 40,000 times, is not something the hamsters would want to do. 😃 So I guess asking for an e-mail notification everytime some responds to a thread is out, too. Bummer. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/12 "2004-06-28T06:19:30Z")
Odd, I don’t remember getting an e-mail announcing the switch. Huh. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/13 "2004-06-28T06:53:44Z")
It might have only gone to people who had ‘Administrators can email’ checked off… I think I didn’t but now I do. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/14 "2004-06-28T07:03:24Z")
So, **Tuckerfan** , couldn’t you find anyone interested anymore in arguing the merits of the Tucker vs, say, the Panhard rotary? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/15 "2004-06-28T07:25:10Z")
Just thought I’d mention that I also received an email notification before the boards went to pay. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/16 "2004-06-28T10:05:55Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > Just curious, because you know, as news goes this one ranks there with ‘Franco is still dead’. What? He’s _still_ dead? Why does no-one tell me these things! Is it a conspiracy? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/17 "2004-06-28T13:59:29Z")
If the purpose of this thread is to give us a kick in the butt because we haven’t updated sticky threads, then our thanks, and a request for patience. We’ll get to it. It’s not like that’s been a first priority. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/18 "2004-06-28T14:56:35Z")
At 12:33 AM -0500 3/11/99, **Ed Zotti** wrote: > [@](#): > > You asked to be notified of any improvements to the Straight Dope Web site. > We’re pleased to announce we’ve just launched the [Straight Dope > Web message board](http://www.straightdope.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/Ultimate.cgi). We invite you to be among the first to check it > out - we won’t post a public announcement until Thursday night. The message > board software is a little different from what you’re used to, but we think > you’ll like it a lot once you’ve used it for a while. > > Couple things to note: > > 1. We’re starting with pretty much a clean slate here, messagewise. However, > if there’s an interesting discussion on our AOL MB that you’d like continue on > the Web, feel free to C&P it. > > 2. Though posting on the new MB is pretty self-explanatory, the fine points > are covered in the [FAQ](http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/faq.html), > which we implore you to read. > > 3. Although this MB is not a deep dark secret, and we don’t mind if you tell > your friends, please don’t post a general announcement of the new MB on the > AOL SDMB - we’ll do that ourselves when the time comes. > > Further upgrades of our Web site are also planned - we’ll keep you posted. In > the meantime, we hope you enjoy the new SDMB on the Web! ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/19 "2004-06-28T15:44:01Z")
Please tell me that you aren’t keeping emails dating back to 1999… ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487/20 "2004-06-28T16:02:41Z")
Wait a minute, we’re on the _web_ now!? Holy crap, why didn’t someone tell me? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sdmb-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/252487.md?page=2)