# OFFER EXPIRES MAY 27! Lapsed Charter Members can regain their title **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 2, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725 "2010-04-02T13:35:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/121 "2010-04-05T18:07:26Z")
This is such a dilemma. On the one hand, I’d like my charter membership back. I missed the deadline and let it slip. On the other hand, I’m pretty much invisible here anyway. I have a grand total of 0 PMs in the 10+ years I’ve posted here. On the third hand, I don’t really mind the ads. In fact, I don’t even notice them really so it makes no sense to pay for a membership just to avoid the ads. On the fourth hand, I’ve really really trying to avoid frivolous expenses and paying for perks that I don’t need or use and to avoid ads that I don’t even notice doesn’t seem like such a good investment. Back to the first hand, though, I like having my title and I do like the idea of supporting the board. I wish I had unlimited disposable income. Then the choice would be so easy. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/122 "2010-04-05T18:36:39Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > From someone whining that the only reason she keeps the title is for the discount, how can you fault people who want to secure that same discount for themselves in the future? I think some people (lets face it, I’m not the first one to think of this) may not be too sure that this place will still be around 3 years from now, and that is part of the cynicism. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/123 "2010-04-05T18:47:49Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > I missed the deadline and let it slip. Heh. When I started out as charter member, I got the renewal notice in a timely fashion. However, in 2008, I got my renewal notice a day after my membership expired. Oddly enough, I was able to re-up with no penalties. Then last year, I never got the renewal notice at all. I hadn’t even noticed I lost it until I saw my max PM allotment decreased dramatically. I was disappointed for a bit, but then went “meh” and got over it. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/124 "2010-04-05T19:02:50Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > T On the other hand, I’m pretty much invisible here anyway. I have a grand total of 0 PMs in the 10+ years I’ve posted here. Maybe it’s because you have FOUR HANDS! People are sometimes freaked out by those kinds of disfigurements. (I kid, I kid) ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/125 "2010-04-05T19:13:35Z")
If I was invisible and had four hands, oh, the things I’d do! ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/126 "2010-04-05T19:16:39Z")
[QUOTE=Sleeps With Butterflies] Maybe it’s because you have FOUR HANDS! People are sometimes freaked out by those kinds of disfigurement [/QUOTE] See, and I think it has more to do with the shower, the shadows, creepy music, the knife and…those [big ears](http://happybunny.orbitearthstores.com/images/cutepsychosticker-huge.jpg) (only visual I could find quickly…you’ll have to imagine putting the bunny into the movie on your own). -XT ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/127 "2010-04-05T19:50:03Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > This complaint is pathetic. Some people wanted this. TPTB found a way to make it happen. They actually invested effort into having someone find a way to make it happen. That should be considered a _good_ thing, one of those _responding to the wishes of your members_ kind of thing. Edit that: _responding to the wishes of your **paying** members_. This should be cause for celebration and spreading of thanks. I agree 100%. The powers that be are _giving us something we asked for!_ Apparently in some people’s eyes they’re damned if they do, damned if they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/128 "2010-04-05T23:08:18Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I thought that it would be some of the current Charters bitching that it was unfair to them because they had paid on time all of these years and other people shouldn’t be able to buy the perk. I didn’t imagine that people who had no interest in the deal would be annoyed about people who did. You’ve just ruined my day in that (Like Cat Whisperer) I never thought of that and got suitably outraged. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/129 "2010-04-08T00:05:17Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > Nobody ever remembers me. ☹ That’s because you’re not a Charter Member. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/130 "2010-04-09T05:27:10Z")
I lost CM due to a stint out of country and being busy. I was told to get over it. I did, and paid double. Then I got over that. Besides, people can’t see my post count now. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/131 "2010-04-09T05:32:26Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I lost CM due to a stint out of country and being busy. I was told to get over it. I did, and paid double. Then I got over that. > > Besides, people can’t see my post count now. I’m over not seeing your post count. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/132 "2010-04-09T05:33:53Z")
I’m over **Cicero** not seeing your post count. Oh, come on, someone was going to post it! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/133 "2010-04-09T06:37:21Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Besides, people can’t see my post count now. > [@Your Profile](#): > > Date of Birth > August 21 > Join Date > 04-13-2002 > Total Posts > 10,038 😛 ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/134 "2010-04-09T06:40:34Z")
Ha ha, made you look. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/135 "2010-04-12T15:23:38Z")
I just happened to check back into the boards after a brief hiatus. 🙂 I’m one of the last boys who lost his charter membership. A IM to xash is on it’s way. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/136 "2010-04-15T21:00:12Z")
Thanks for bumping this. I would have missed it all together. Though, I don’t recall if I lost my CM or never had it. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/137 "2010-04-16T02:23:32Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#): > > Questions that will undoubtedly occur to you. > > **Can I get a Charter Member title if I wasn’t one before?** > > Not for $30 you can’t. Did I miss something? What’s the going rate to be a CM if you weren’t one before? I honestly don’t even remember if I was a CM or not. Feel free, anyone, to support the board by paying my fee, whatever it may be. Or not. I \*\*\*must \*\*\*freeload, but I will not stop anyone from using my membership to kick in more of their hard earned money to help the SDMB. Or not. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/138 "2010-04-16T13:57:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Did I miss something? What’s the going rate to be a CM if you weren’t one before? I believe that’s called “snark”. Welcome to the Straight Dope. 😃 (I don’t think there’s going to be a way to become a Charter Member if you weren’t one before.) ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/139 "2010-04-16T17:38:35Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I believe that’s called “snark”. Welcome to the Straight Dope. 😃 > > (I don’t think there’s going to be a way to become a Charter Member if you weren’t one before.) I \*\*\*thought \*\*\*that didn’t read right! 🙂 Thanks for the confirmation. ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725/140 "2010-04-17T13:23:50Z")
Well, I haven’t posted here in years. I used to be a charter member, and then let it lapse when I didn’t want to pay anymore. The I joined TotalFark. This place is cheaper. I’m just not sure that I want to pay two places. Hard to believe I joined here (officially) 8 years ago. Chicago Fark 2003 was 7 years ago. Seems crazy. Anyway, having the opportunity to start posting here again, and regaining my title actually gives me pause. I may just do it. I’m going to go surf the boards first for old times’ sake though. h [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offer-expires-may-27-lapsed-charter-members-can-regain-their-title/534725.md?page=8)