# Member vs Charter Member **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 8, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/member-vs-charter-member/238944 "2004-04-08T13:40:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/member-vs-charter-member/238944/1 "2004-04-08T13:40:32Z")
Forgive and redirect me if this has been asked/addressed before but what’s the difference between the titles of Member and Charter Member. BANNED, Mod, Admin, Guest, Perfect Master, and I thought Charter Member were all pretty self explanitory, but from time to time, I see just Member. Dope, please. TIA! jngl ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/member-vs-charter-member/238944/2 "2004-04-08T15:22:28Z")
My understanding is that “Member” is someone who has paid for a subscription, yet has not posted since making the payment. Once that person posts, the title becomes “Charter Member”. ---
**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:** [April 8, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/member-vs-charter-member/238944/3 "2004-04-08T18:21:16Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > My understanding is that “Member” is someone who has paid for a subscription, yet has not posted since making the payment. Once that person posts, the title becomes “Charter Member”. My understanding is that the “Charter Member” designation is being used now so we can track, in these early days, if a subscription has gone through or not; it’s simply a way to easily look at the situation. The change in title tells you the transaction completed and it makes it easier for us to see if it doesn’t and we can then correct as need be. When we get past the initial sign-up periods, “Charter Members” will simply become “Members.” your humble TubaDiva Administrator ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/member-vs-charter-member/238944/4 "2004-04-08T19:51:45Z")
Then what is a “registered user” (I’ve only seen it on a few posts). ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/member-vs-charter-member/238944/5 "2004-04-09T04:18:34Z")
Member vs. Charter Member is answered here: > **[Ok, I'm a bit confused. (Guest/Member question.)](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=247135)** > > I am hesitant to add to the growing number of threads regarding the new subscription policy. But I am curious and must have missed this vital fact in my reading. What is the difference between a GUEST and a MEMBER? For the sake of the hamsters,... ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/member-vs-charter-member/238944/6 "2004-04-09T05:04:36Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > When we get past the initial sign-up periods, “Charter Members” will simply become “Members.” Yay!