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.
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]
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
But at 10,000 plus post, you have provided quite a bit of grist for the mill.
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.
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.
Not hardly. Look at how many posts have been made on this board: 4,802,482.
All I’ve provided are air molecules.
I do want to, unfortunately my bankcard is just laughing it’s ass off at me. I’ll do it next week.
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.
Woot! I’m a member, the deposit got there early… 
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!
Excellent! Welcome to the zoo. So pleased to meet you. With your good humor you’ll fit in well.
Welcome P___T___!!
Now, is anyone else here craving french fries and pork chops??
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.