# Lost my old account -- help! **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 11, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-old-account-help/452603 "2008-06-11T18:38:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SpartanDC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@SpartanDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpartanDC)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-old-account-help/452603/1 "2008-06-11T18:38:55Z")
I’m the poster normally known as SNenc. I had just recently crossed the 1,000 post threshold when external events (nothing bad, just busyness) kept me away from the board for awhile. But last I had heard, the board was switching to a model under which you could have a free account with ads, or a paid account without ads (i.e. no more temporary guest accounts, like the kind I’m using right now). As such, I wasn’t exactly keeping an eye out for an e-mail telling me my subscription was about to expire. Of course, that meant I missed it entirely when I got it about a month ago. So I was pretty surprised when I logged in yesterday under my normal account to find I couldn’t post anymore. So I’m wondering… was the plan for free accounts abandoned? And is there anyway to post under my old account other than paying the $14.95 now? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-old-account-help/452603/2 "2008-06-11T18:47:24Z")
As far as I know they’re still “working” on the free posting plan. Current estimates put implementation somewhere between July and the 12th of Never. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-old-account-help/452603/3 "2008-06-11T19:18:22Z")
I suspect a mod will be a long soon and tell you that if you want to post, you’ve got to pay. Then they’ll ban your sock. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-old-account-help/452603/4 "2008-06-11T19:24:34Z")
Here’s what Ed said on the subject a short time ago: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9717853&postcount=26](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9717853&postcount=26) “I don’t have much to add to [what I said earlier](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=461088). As of now a subscription is still required to post, and most charter member subscriptions expire around May 10. It’s highly unlikely we’ll be ready to switch to free posting by then - June or July is more like it. While dropping the fee is simply a matter of changing a software setting or two, we need to have an alternative revenue stream in place before we do so, and getting that set up is proving to be more complicated than I thought. So if you wish to keep posting once your subscription expires, you need to re-up, knowing that free posting may start within a month or two. If you’d rather let your subscription lapse and wait for free posting, that’s up to you. I remind you that free posting means you’ll see display ads, whereas subscribing means you won’t. I’m sorry I can’t be more definite, but felt it was better to give you what little information I have than simply surprise you.” Now we need to get these two accounts synced up under your old name – which you can either subscribe with or wait until the free posting window opens. Which is not yet. ---
**Author:** ![SpartanDC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@SpartanDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpartanDC)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-old-account-help/452603/5 "2008-06-11T19:56:44Z")
[QUOTE=TubaDiva] Here’s what Ed said on the subject a short time ago: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9717853&postcount=26](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9717853&postcount=26) “I don’t have much to add to [what I said earlier](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=461088). As of now a subscription is still required to post, and most charter member subscriptions expire around May 10. It’s highly unlikely we’ll be ready to switch to free posting by then - June or July is more like it. While dropping the fee is simply a matter of changing a software setting or two, we need to have an alternative revenue stream in place before we do so, and getting that set up is proving to be more complicated than I thought. So if you wish to keep posting once your subscription expires, you need to re-up, knowing that free posting may start within a month or two. If you’d rather let your subscription lapse and wait for free posting, that’s up to you. I remind you that free posting means you’ll see display ads, whereas subscribing means you won’t. I’m sorry I can’t be more definite, but felt it was better to give you what little information I have than simply surprise you.” Now we need to get these two accounts synced up under your old name – which you can either subscribe with or wait until the free posting window opens. Which is not yet. [/QUOTE] I see… thanks! Honestly, I understand if I have to pay full price and won’t complain about that. I’ll probably just use this account and hope that by time it expires, free posting is either here or just around the corner. Nor do I care if posts from this account go toward my old account’s post count. I’ll just revert back to it once free posting kicks in. I will be able to post under my old account once that happens, right? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-old-account-help/452603/6 "2008-06-11T20:12:25Z")
[QUOTE=SpartanDC] I’ll probably just use this account and hope that by time it expires, free posting is either here or just around the corner. [/quote] [Sorry, but that’s not an option:](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/rules.php?) > [@The Rules](#): > > Only one screen name is permitted per user. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-old-account-help/452603/7 "2008-06-12T19:32:22Z")
I’m locking this thread now. **SpartanDC** says he’ll rejoin the board under his new name after the change to free posting.