# Long-Time Members
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041
**Category:** About This Message Board
**Created:** [May 1, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041 "2009-05-01T22:49:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/1 "2009-05-01T22:49:34Z")
It just doesn’t seem right to me to read a post by a Board member who has been posting here for years and years labeled a “Guest.” Can we change that? We now have “Member”, “Charter Member” and “Guest.”
Perhaps for someone who has been here for over, say, 4 years, could be deemed a “Regular?” Or “Regular Member?” (At no extra cost)
Just a suggestion, but I think that these folks deserve more than being a mere guest.
Jack
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### Author:  [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/2 "2009-05-01T22:53:37Z")
I agree. It’s a little bit disconcerting to see people I saw hanging around (and posting!) years ago, posting as “guest”. There should be some other kinds of titles.
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### Author:  [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2009, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/3 "2009-05-02T00:24:31Z")
> [@norinew](#):
>
> I agree. It’s a little bit disconcerting to see people I saw hanging around (and posting!) years ago, posting as “guest”. There should be some other kinds of titles.
Like “guest that won’t leave”?
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### Author:  [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/4 "2009-05-02T00:40:35Z")
More importantly, the location field and post count of non-paying posters should be displayed.
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### Author:  [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2009, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/5 "2009-05-02T00:53:27Z")
How about “Dust in the wind”?
Guess I’d better pay up my dues. It’s getting to be that time.
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### Author:  [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/6 "2009-05-02T01:02:32Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#):
>
> Like “guest that won’t leave”?
😃 I like it. I’m guessing some of the people who would fit the title would, too.
> [@Pleonast](#):
>
> More importantly, the location field and post count of non-paying posters should be displayed.
Yes, this! Please? For the ease and comfort of those of us who are long-time subscribers? Please?
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### Author:  [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/7 "2009-05-02T01:11:40Z")
An old proverb says that after three days guests and fish start to stink.
My suggestion - after a month, change the title “guest” to “stinking fish”
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### Author:  [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2009, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/8 "2009-05-02T01:21:47Z")
Another possibility would be to label a Charter Member who’'s going to hang around without ponying up more dough “Sheridan Whiteside”, from the title character of [_The Man Who Came to Dinner_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_Who_Came_to_Dinner).
I’'ve never created a signature on this board, but I’m thinking of making mine “Join Date: September 2002. Location: Lafayette, Indiana”.
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### Author:  [@Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/9 "2009-05-02T01:27:50Z")
I believe the administration has already come right out and said they feel there are plenty of suckers willing to pay a yearly subscription fee to have a title upgrade and location-fieldedness.
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### Author:  [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/10 "2009-05-02T02:42:15Z")
> [@Pleonast](#):
>
> More importantly, the location field and post count of non-paying posters should be displayed.
I know that TPTB will say that they regard the display of these fields as a privilege for paying subscribers alone. But this is just retarded. As I and others have pointed out on previous occasions, EVERYBODY can access anyone’s location and post-count–all you have to do is click on the poster’s username, choose “Public Profile,” and there you go. There’s no real incentive to pay for something that you can already access for free (albeit involving another couple of mouse-clicks).
It would only make sense if those fields were entirely blocked for non-paying guests, and, conversely, visible in all posters’ profiles (inc. guests) for subscribers.
> [@Peter\_Morris](#):
>
> An old proverb says that after three days guests and fish start to stink.
>
> My suggestion - after a month, change the title “guest” to “stinking fish”
I like this!
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### Author:  [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/11 "2009-05-02T02:45:34Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#):
>
> An old proverb says that after three days guests and fish start to stink.
>
> My suggestion - after a month, change the title “guest” to “stinking fish”
I’m offended! 😃
PS This has been brought up almost regularly for months and months and it dies the same death.
Paying members and non-paying members alike all agree on this issue. **Damn it, already.. change the “Guest” title for those that aren’t actual drive-by visitors, and for god’s sake, turn on the freakin’ location and post count fields.**
Perhaps TPTB could see that this is an issue that could be easily solved and do so? Nah, I didn’t think so either. In fact, we have our own smilie for those of you who choose to hold your breath and wait.
☹ The correct color too!
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/12 "2009-05-02T02:48:15Z")
You pays your money, and you takes your chances.
Or not.
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### Author:  [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/13 "2009-05-02T02:58:45Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#):
>
> An old proverb says that after three days guests and fish start to stink.
>
> My suggestion - after a month, change the title “guest” to “stinking fish”
This!
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### Author:  [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/14 "2009-05-02T05:48:25Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#):
>
> This!
Now I’m really insulted!
However, I must say… if this is the decision, I like it. Much better than “Guest”
> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> You pays your money, and you takes your chances.
>
> Or not.
Yeah. Maybe I could get someone to sponsor me? Mr. Zotti? It would be an honor.
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/15 "2009-05-13T02:25:32Z")
Well, [Go alien](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php) has the title “Registered User”\*, which I think would be a good one to give guests that have been around a while.
\*I haven’t the foggiest why s/he has a special title.
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/16 "2009-05-13T02:47:50Z")
> [@BigT](#):
>
> Well, [Go alien](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php) has the title “Registered User”
That’s usually someone who is partway through the registration process.
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### Author:  [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/17 "2009-05-13T02:50:08Z")
> [@BigT](#):
>
> Well, [Go alien](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php) has the title “Registered User”\*, which I think would be a good one to give guests that have been around a while.
>
> \*I haven’t the foggiest why s/he has a special title.
Theoretically, I believe a “Registered User” is someone who registered but never posted. Titles got screwed up with the upgrade last year, so now there are some people who should be “Guests” who are now “Registered Users”.
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### Author:  [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/18 "2009-05-13T03:03:59Z")
It is kind of annoying that I’m labelled as a guest when I was the one who made the [first ever post on this board.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=481340) All other posts that have been made since then are just offshoots from that first primeval post. I see myself as Adam and you as my children.
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### Author:  [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/19 "2009-05-13T03:15:41Z")
Actually no, there were something like 10 million posts before you.
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### Author:  [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2009, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-members/495041/20 "2009-05-13T03:20:44Z")
No that was a different board. It began anew if you recall. And I was its genesis.
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