This is the end my friend. Zweistein is dead. This is my last post.
I completely understand that some costs have to paid but I fear the new board wil trigger a polarisation towards US residents and, honestly, I am not interestedin that situation.
So, thanks for all the people who patiently answered my questions, and maybe, we 'll meet again,
cheers
Z
I thought people outside the US had money? Did I miss something?
Me ! Me ! A few 'murkins aren’t enough to scare this canuck away !
I don’t see the polarization towards Americans, tho. Seeing as you can post for free for another month, can you elaborate?
I don’t see a polarization either: I’m from old Europe and it was absolutely stress free to pay the 5 bucks via credit card. I had to debate this with myself for a couple of days though, as I usually boycott pay-sites. But as someone else put it, signing up for a year can be seen as a tribute to a great board. Whether I will stick around for a second year will be decided sometime in the future.
But back to the OP - I don’t see a polarization either. How did you reach that conclusion?
Another signed-up Canuck here.
I’m from the Old World as well. It’s only 4 Euro’s for us!
That said, 'mericuns seem to be more comfortable with paying on the Internet. In Europe it is not as common, so I can see a general reluctance being more prevelant among the Europeans.
Well, this means the burden of raising the tone of this board rests on those of us strong enough to go on. : sigh : 
About the fee.
I have no problem paying $5 or $15 or $50, the problem is that in Europe (dunno about Oz and NZ) a credit card is not commonly used, rather debit-cards (or PIN cards) and that very few users use a credit card for something else than a restaurant.
The problem is if you visit e.g. 20 messageboards of your choice, and and lets say the average fee is $15. If all boards charge, you’ll end up with $300 or so. Or in other words you have to select what board and what not.
About the polarisation
The board will become unreachable for African residents and/or Asian residents. Many European residents will retreat. So, many opinions will be missed on interesting topics. Future opportunities will be missed. Students cannot post questions even if they post maximum 5 posts in total per year. Frequent posters may take over and get bored by lack of interesting topics. Anyway this makes the otherwise great borad less attractive Z.
Zweistein, have you ever been out of your own country? I’m in England and credit cards are widely accepted here, and in France, and in Belgium, and in Luxembourg, and in Holland, and in Abu Dhabi, and in Dubai, and in Brunei, and in Malaysia. In short you’re talking out of your arse.
Your OP and later clarification make no sense whatsoever Zweistein. You’re leaving the board because there will be no non-US posters left, yet by leaving you are turning that prediction into a self-fulfilling prophecy.
You say you have no problem forking out the dosh, but you predict that the average European reserves his/her credit card solely for eating-out. What? C/cards are NEVER used for other things? I call bullshit.
Your other ‘problem’ is that paying a sub fee for the SDMB has in your mind turned into paying sub fees for ALL boards. By all means, you do need to be selective about which boards you pay/not pay for, but the $5.00 for the SD is not a problem IN ITSELF.
I think you are being grossly pessimistic about the economic status of posters from Africa and Asia (I presume you are saying that they cannot afford it). From my reading of the Whinge Threads about this issue, it has overwhelmingly been the US posters who have protested their poverty. Just because somebody lives in Africa or Asia does NOT mean they live in a mud hut with an ox as their only worldly possession. It’s really quite condescending of you to anticipate their ability or willingness to sign up.
And anyway, don’t you see? This is what we have all been waiting for…a chance for non-US Dopers to take over the board. Mwa-hahahahahahahahaha. You’re either with us, or a’gin us.
QTS. thanks for the intelligent answer. Glad your are a subscriber. I am not talking about acceptance of credit cards, I am talking about usage of credit cards. Huge difference.
BTW except Brunei I have been in all countries you mention.
I hope your predictions are not realised Zweistein. This is something that didn’t even cross my mind. As Kambuckta said, it seems most of the people who stated they were not going to subscribe, were predominately from the US.
I joined this board because of the large international content, and certainly hope it continues to be this way.
I subscribed with a debit card. Why would it be a problem?
I suspect that by “debit card” he wasn’t referring to the mode of payment for a more or less credit-card-like thing, but to something along the lines of an EC-Card. In Germany those are by far the most common form of electronic payment in shops and credit cards (visa, MC… regardless of payment mode) have been pushed into a small niche. e.g. I just have one because it is free. In fact I had to search for mine and it was still in the original bank envelope.
For those of you who have never seen an EC-Card: Historically it was used for authentication in a europe-wide check system and it is the one big european ATM card. Today you can use it for electronic payments on special (hardware) terminals, but details differ from country to country and each bank can choose the features for their own customers.
What type of card did you mean?
Mine’s a Visa debit card - funcitonally identical to a credit card. Pretty much a standard part of any UK bank account.
Australians are plastic money crazy. I use my credit card for everything from fuel to beer to pizza (online) to the SDMB. Signing up for the dope took me about a minute. The currency conversion took place automatically. At worst there might be some sort of currency conversion fee imposed by my bank. It’ll be in the order of A$1. I can live with that.
Perhaps because of this? Nobody has tried to help out so far.
I signed up using a debit card (VISA) and have used it many times to buy items/services online. Heck, I can hardly remember what my credit cards looks like!
That’s a CREDIT card that isn’t being recognised.
That’s not true. Read Ed Zotti’s stickie about payment problems here. I know that Ed and xash have also responded in other similar threads. I think in people’s consternation they have not been looking to see if other threads are already open on the same topic.
Anyways, if you have looked through the ATMB threads in which people offered to help, no one has said they would only help their own countrymen if gift subscriptions were being offered. (Where posters were just looking for someone to submit payment on their behalf, it of course helps to be working with the same currency.) If you really wish to stay here, Zweistein, there are plenty of people willing to lend a hand… all you have to do is ask.
I paid - with my credit card. There are lots of people in Ireland who use credit cards …