# My wish regarding all the old members who are not Guests **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 30, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789 "2009-10-30T23:42:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dreamy\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dreamy\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dreamy_B)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/21 "2009-11-07T11:45:09Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > There’s no nice way I can say this so I’ll just be short here: No. Now that’s customer service. If I could only find my credit card. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/22 "2009-11-08T01:36:47Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Ok, I’m going to give your idea a try, but I’m not sure I’m completely following it. > > * * * > > Join Date: May 20, 1999 > Male/45/Washington DC > Posts: 6,981 Gawd almighty. Seven thousand posts, man. Don’t you have a life? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/23 "2009-11-08T18:01:12Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I think it would be totally awesome if there were, like, quests we could do to get more status points. No there isn’t, and you should stop bothering the moderators, who are fantastic people doing an _awesome_ job despite unjustified abuse and lack of pay. If they choose to hand out status points for whatever reason, that’s their business. You rock, guys! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/24 "2009-11-08T18:15:44Z")
I wholeheartedly endorse your blubbering adoration of the Luminous Ones, who sit at the right hand of The Cecil and embody all that is wise and good. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/25 "2009-11-08T18:37:19Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I wholeheartedly endorse your blubbering adoration of the Luminous Ones, who sit at the right hand of The Cecil and embody all that is wise and good. Damn straight. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/26 "2009-11-08T22:26:26Z")
> [@Dreamy\_B](#): > > Now that’s customer service. If I could only find my credit card. **TubaDiva** = **Ms. Irlweg** United Breaks Guitars! ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/27 "2009-11-09T15:38:25Z")
> [@KlondikeGeoff](#): > > I understand why so many choose not to renew their paid subscription. They are then demoted to Guests. > > What I really miss with these old-timers is the number of posts racked up, and their location. > > Is it at all feasible to restore those for old members who slumped to pitiful guests? 😃 I don’t know if I qualify as an old-timer, but at least for another week or so you can see _my_ location and post count. Savor it. 😉 I’ve been mooching subscription fees for several years, but I’m not going to this time. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/28 "2009-11-09T18:19:21Z")
> [@Rico](#): > > **Geoff** , click on the guest’s name, then “View Public Profile.” > > The information is still there. Son of a bitch. I have over 10,000 posts. I remember back when Handy broke the (not-quite-so) profound barrier, and I thought how sad it must be to spend so much time here… ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/29 "2009-11-11T06:28:42Z")
I just think that it’s sad that the policy dictates what can and can’t be done here. TPTB have access to just about any and all data that has ever been recorded on the SMDB. Those we can ask things from, just aren’t able to. Can all “Charter members” and members be restored their post counts, and titles, yes. Can they, given the current hierarchy? No. The data is still there, when and if that data is made public, is up to someone that feels that it should not be, unless specific conditions are met. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/30 "2009-11-11T16:23:03Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > [Quote=RaftPeople] > Ok, I’m going to give your idea a try, but I’m not sure I’m completely following it. > > * * * > > Join Date: May 20, 1999 > Male/45/Washington DC > Posts: 6,981 Gawd almighty. Seven thousand posts, man. Don’t you have a life? [/QUOTE] That gets right to the heart of my confusion. I only have about 1,600 posts, but **Patty O** wants us all to say we have 6,981. I think it’s a Harrison Bergeron kind of thing. * * * Join Date: May 20, 1999 Male/45/Washington DC Posts: 6,981 ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/31 "2009-11-11T17:09:20Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > I only have about 1,600 posts, but **Patty O** wants us all to say we have 6,981. Where did you get 6,981 from? ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/32 "2009-11-11T21:14:27Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > Where did you get 6,981 from? I’m going to be a little proactive on this one. * * * Join Date: May 20, 1999 Male/45/Washington DC Posts: 6,995 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/33 "2009-11-11T22:10:41Z")
6,981 · 2[sup]310359[/sup]-1 is prime. So that’s pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/34 "2009-11-12T15:10:50Z")
I thought the major difference was that the “members” don’t see the ads. They don’t bug me, so I don’t pay. I don’t really care how many posts a person has, or how often they pay SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/35 "2009-11-12T15:36:31Z")
> [@Fetchund](#): > > I thought the major difference was that the “members” don’t see the ads. They don’t bug me, so I don’t pay. I don’t really care how many posts a person has, or how often they pay SDMB. Not sure I am following your point, let’s recap: 1. **KlondikeGeoff** cares about number of posts and opens a thread 2. **Fetchund** doesn’t care about number of posts Therefore what? Is the conclusion supposed to be “ **Fetchund** doesn’t care therefore **KlondikeGeoff** shouldn’t care?” ---
**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/36 "2009-11-12T16:16:11Z")
Whoa there. Why do you think I am making any sort of judgement about **KlondikeGeoff**? That is certainly NOT my intention. My point was closer to: If the only way to see posts is if we all pay up, it isn’t important enough for me to join. AND that I believed the main selling point for paying up was that you don’t see the ads. That point seems to be missing in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/37 "2009-11-12T16:38:04Z")
> [@Fetchund](#): > > Whoa there. Why do you think I am making any sort of judgement about **KlondikeGeoff**? > > That is certainly NOT my intention. My point was closer to: If the only way to see posts is if we all pay up, it isn’t important enough for me to join. AND that I believed the main selling point for paying up was that you don’t see the ads. That point seems to be missing in this thread. Ok, thought you were saying that **Klondike** shouldn’t be asking for it because it’s not important. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/38 "2009-11-13T01:37:22Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > There’s no nice way I can say this so I’ll just be short here: No. I don’t understand this. I paid the price to be a charter member for a long time and then got careless and missed the window. Why couldn’t we have a new category named “window missing morons” or some such? Or what if we paid double or even triple the old rate? I hate being a guest. I want some recognition. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/39 "2009-11-13T01:47:16Z")
No. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789/40 "2009-11-13T09:21:35Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > I don’t understand this. I paid the price to be a charter member for a long time and then got careless and missed the window. Why couldn’t we have a new category named “window missing morons” or some such? Or what if we paid double or even triple the old rate? I hate being a guest. I want some recognition. Not being a charter member, I’m not directly involved in this, but I’ve always thought that because of a moment’s carelessness, years of recognition can be ‘disappeared’ is wrong. There is a disconnect, I think, between TPTB and the user base. Some posters feel like they belong to a club; they feel emotionally involved, they care about their ‘status’ and their history. TPTB either don’t recognise that, or don’t think it is important. TubaDiva has repeatedly said that the policy will not change. TPTB have a history of not giving in to popular opinion. They have repeatedly not allowed compassion or a sense of understanding in to their policy making. That is what the Straight Dope is. The only choice is to accept that, or stop participating, because I don’t see them changing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wish-regarding-all-the-old-members-who-are-not-guests/515789.md?page=3)