# Paid Subscriptions - What for? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 27, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367 "2004-05-27T16:39:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![P\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a587f6/32.png) [@P\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P_T)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/121 "2004-05-28T18:38:26Z")
Ok, here is the thing that I don’t get. You go to McDonalds. A value meal costs you anywhere from 2.99 up to 4.59 or so. (Nevermind that it’s not really a fucking meal, wrong thread.) Now, you realize that McDonalds has maybe 1.00 in product in that meal. Do you argue with the management about the price of said meal? Do you bitch and whine the entire time you are eating said meal about how overpriced they are? Well, maybe you do, but for the rest of us here if we really had a problem with it simply wouldn’t go there. So, it all comes down to this: Don’t like it? Fine. Go away. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/122 "2004-05-28T18:39:59Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Nah, it’s from Tod Browning’s Freaks (1932). (I believe the gooba gabba song is depicted in the top right photo in the group of six below the intro paragraph.) It just means you have been recognized by us as a fellow deviant. _This_ is what for. God you guys are somethin’ else. Gooba gabba! Oh. A hearty welcome to **P\_T\_**. May your stay be long and prosperous. We’re thrilled to have you. [sub]Go ahead. Do it today. You know you want to. Click on that Subscribe button.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![01010000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/0/94ad74/32.png) [@01010000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/01010000)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/123 "2004-05-28T18:46:13Z")
> [@P\_T\_](#): > > Ok, here is the thing that I don’t get. You go to McDonalds. A value meal costs you anywhere from 2.99 up to 4.59 or so. (Nevermind that it’s not really a fucking meal, wrong thread.) Now, you realize that McDonalds has maybe 1.00 in product in that meal. Do you argue with the management about the price of said meal? Do you bitch and whine the entire time you are eating said meal about how overpriced they are? Well, maybe you do, but for the rest of us here if we really had a problem with it simply wouldn’t go there. So, it all comes down to this: Don’t like it? Fine. Go away. You are quite a piece of work, staunch advocate of paid membership but still a guest. 😃 You slay me. The correct analogy is this one. You go to McDonalds and you help them cook, clean, serve and they still want you to pay 4.95 for a happy meal. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/124 "2004-05-28T18:47:15Z")
> [@01010000](#): > > From that thread I got the impression that nobody actually knew what the actual costs were and various things were thrown out in an attempt to justify what was done i.e. switch to paid subscriptions versus actually providing real information as to what the costs are. As others have already pointed out, the actual costs are irrelevant. The Chicago Reader says they’ve spent in the neighborhood of $100,000 over the last five years. However the subscription amount is not based on cost-plus pricing, so it really doesn’t matter. What matters is that the Chicago Reader said they’d no longer support this message board for nothing in return. A subscription model was put into place and the model was acceptable to over 3800 members. It’s as simple as that. They’ve said over and over that this is an experiment and the actual subscription model will possibly change over time. Sounds like simple capitalism to me. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/125 "2004-05-28T18:55:54Z")
> [@01010000](#): > > You are quite a piece of work, staunch advocate of paid membership but still a guest. 😃 You slay me. > > The correct analogy is this one. You go to McDonalds and you help them cook, clean, serve and they still want you to pay 4.95 for a happy meal. That might be the worst analogy in the history of creative thought. As far as I know, I don’t house these forums on my computer. I didn’t pay for the tech guy to fix crap when it breaks. I didn’t pay for the T1 connection. Your analogy makes me want to take an analgesic. ---
**Author:** ![P\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a587f6/32.png) [@P\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P_T)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/126 "2004-05-28T18:56:34Z")
> [@01010000](#): > > You are quite a piece of work, staunch advocate of paid membership but still a guest. 😃 You slay me. > > The correct analogy is this one. You go to McDonalds and you help them cook, clean, serve and they still want you to pay 4.95 for a happy meal. You are absolutely correct. For that, you would be an employee and entitled to the employee discount. 50% off. But wait, the current members here got their first year for 4.95, more than 50% off. Well shit, how could that be? :wally ---
**Author:** ![01010000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/0/94ad74/32.png) [@01010000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/01010000)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/127 "2004-05-28T18:58:41Z")
> [@Algernon](#): > > As others have already pointed out, the actual costs are irrelevant. The Chicago Reader says they’ve spent in the neighborhood of $100,000 over the last five years. However the subscription amount is not based on cost-plus pricing, so it really doesn’t matter. What matters is that the Chicago Reader said they’d no longer support this message board for nothing in return. If that were true, the powers that be would not be grasping at straws searching for justification. It could just be a case of bad selling, buy hey who knows. ---
**Author:** ![01010000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/0/94ad74/32.png) [@01010000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/01010000)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/128 "2004-05-28T19:01:02Z")
> [@dantheman](#): > > That might be the worst analogy in the history of creative thought. As far as I know, I don’t house these forums on my computer. I didn’t pay for the tech guy to fix crap when it breaks. I didn’t pay for the T1 connection. > > Your analogy makes me want to take an analgesic. But at 10,000 plus post, you have provided quite a bit of grist for the mill. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![01010000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/0/94ad74/32.png) [@01010000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/01010000)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/129 "2004-05-28T19:06:01Z")
> [@P\_T\_](#): > > You are absolutely correct. For that, you would be an employee and entitled to the employee discount. 50% off. But wait, the current members here got their first year for 4.95, more than 50% off. Well shit, how could that be? :wally I didn’t say **worked** for McDonalds, I said helped them. ---
**Author:** ![P\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a587f6/32.png) [@P\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P_T)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/130 "2004-05-28T19:07:39Z")
> [@01010000](#): > > I didn’t say **worked** for McDonalds, I said helped them. Oh… Well if you just tried to help them then they’d probably still charge you full price, or just call the cops. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/131 "2004-05-28T19:13:59Z")
> [@01010000](#): > > I didn’t say **worked** for McDonalds, I said helped them. You’re right. If a bunch of people showed up at McDonald’s and helped them make the food, the building and hamburgers and paper hats would magically all become free and it would be wrong of them to charge anyone for food. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/132 "2004-05-28T19:14:02Z")
> [@01010000](#): > > But at 10,000 plus post, you have provided quite a bit of grist for the mill. 😃 Not hardly. Look at how many posts have been made on this board: 4,802,482. All I’ve provided are air molecules. ---
**Author:** ![P\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a587f6/32.png) [@P\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P_T)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/133 "2004-05-28T19:21:13Z")
> [@Algernon](#): > > [sub]Go ahead. Do it today. You know you want to. Click on that Subscribe button.[/sub] I do want to, unfortunately my bankcard is just laughing it’s ass off at me. I’ll do it next week. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/134 "2004-05-28T19:26:42Z")
> [@01010000](#): > > The correct analogy is this one. You go to McDonalds and you help them cook, clean, serve and they still want you to pay 4.95 for a happy meal. I agree this is an incredibly stupid analogy. A more accurate one would be renting the back room at your favorite tavern so you can have a good time with your friends. The SDMB provides the space where we can make our own entertainment. For that service, they deserve payment. ---
**Author:** ![P\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a587f6/32.png) [@P\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P_T)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/135 "2004-05-28T19:31:59Z")
> [@P\_T\_](#): > > I do want to, unfortunately my bankcard is just laughing it’s ass off at me. I’ll do it next week. Woot! I’m a member, the deposit got there early… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/136 "2004-05-28T19:35:07Z")
helped them? more like a bunch of people appearing at mcdonalds, taking over all the tables without buying anything (except for the odd mug of coffee…) and sitting down to do their homework and talk cock the entire day. don’t even _dare_ suggest that they pay! ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/137 "2004-05-28T19:38:53Z")
> [@P\_T\_](#): > > Woot! I’m a member, the deposit got there early… 🙂 Excellent! Welcome to the zoo. So pleased to meet you. With your good humor you’ll fit in well. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/138 "2004-05-28T19:44:06Z")
Welcome **P\_\_\_T\_\_\_!!** Now, is anyone else here craving french fries and pork chops?? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/139 "2004-05-28T23:13:33Z")
> [@01010000](#): > > But at 10,000 plus post, you have provided quite a bit of grist for the mill. 😃 Look, buster, you knew that if you wanted to keep posting, you had to pay the subscription fee. You were a long time poster…you want to keep posting, pay up, or go play elsewhere. Lynn For the Straight Dope ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367/140 "2004-05-28T23:47:02Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > Look, buster, you knew that if you wanted to keep posting, you had to pay the subscription fee. You were a long time poster…you want to keep posting, pay up, or go play elsewhere. > > Lynn > For the Straight Dope Isn’t the long term poster **1010011010** , who is listed as a charter member? This guy is **01010000** , several digits shorter. However, I would think he might be banned just on the grounds of having a copycat name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paid-subscriptions-what-for/247367.md?page=8)