# Pay to Post? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 9, 2001, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487 "2001-11-09T18:54:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/201 "2001-11-10T04:53:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Primaflora \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by JillGat \* > > \*\*$25 a year? That’s a beer or two in a pub a month. What an outrage. \*\* > > Yep, sure if one is choosing between a beer or two in a pub per month and the SDMB. Although isn’t that an awfully expensive pub?\*\* Maybe it’s an Australian pub. (D&R… 🙂 ) [sub]Seriously, I understand the purchasing power differential better now. It would be great if there was some sort of equalizer to help non-US Dopers get a fair deal.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/202 "2001-11-10T04:54:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CnoteChris \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by VeraGemini \* > > \*\*I am appalled at the elitist attitudes that this has brought out in some. Just because someone can’t/won’t afford to pay whatever amount a year makes them less valuable and worthy to contribute? The boards will IMPROVE if said posters are “weeded out”?? My god. Unfuckingbelievable. \*\* > > Amen to that. \*\* Actually, when I hear/read things like ‘weeded out’, I’m thinking of the tri-monthly troll infestations. And the thought of skipping that makes my little heart do a happy dance. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/203 "2001-11-10T04:54:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sue Duhnym \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > > Well, I complained to **Coldie** and **Uncle Beer** about **Demo**. Is it just me, or is this guy really pushing the “Don’t Be a Jerk” rule waaaaay too far? > > HEY EVERYONE!!! > > GUIN TATTLED!!! > > :rolleyes: \*\* Well now it’s in the Pit. So I can tell **Demo** what a true rat-bastard he is. Fuck you, **Demo**. Yeah, I guess I’ll default on my student loans to post here. Bite me, you fucking assgoblin. ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/204 "2001-11-10T04:56:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JillGat \* > **$25 a year? That’s a beer or two in a pub a month. What an outrage.** Glad to see you can afford it. As previously stated (ad infinitum), some can’t. The sarcasm in your post was very unnecessary. Did you even read this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/205 "2001-11-10T04:56:47Z")
If the SDMB goes to pay for posting, I will be able to do it if they keep it low. Say, 20 dollars. I mean, I need winter clothes. I need gas in my car. I need new cleaning supplies to clean up after the fucking slobs I live with (oops, was that out loud?). I need money to buy one billion extra books/play scripts/manuals my instructors don’t tell me about until it’s too late to drop the course with no penalty. And guess what? Though I am 18, and living in a dorm an hour away from my parents, they still control my life in some aspects. And one of their few rules is–I cannot get a credit card until I am 21. I seriously hope the Dope gives us alternative methods of payment, like money orders. I can swing that. I can’t do credit cards. I sure as hell can’t do 50 bucks a month. I have 5 dollars in my wallet and “emergency” money in my checking account, and I need a full tank of gas and nice warm clothes for winter. I’m not trying to bitch about it, but I’m halfway self-supporting and my parents won’t pony up money or credit cards to pay my subscription to a board. And that’s all there is to it. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/206 "2001-11-10T04:58:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > \*\*2) About 200 people pay to post, the rest leave or go to read-only. > \*\* That was my first predicction, 'way back on page one: The SDMB will become a museum of old posts, and old posters. The fresh, invigorating influx of newbies will dry up, and the only ones left will be the “old hands”. Lurkers will get to look on the bare bones of what was once a phenomenon, and fighting ignorance will only be done for the people who need it least. Everyone who stays will so quickly become familiar to eveyone else, that there’ll few reasons to post most things, as you’ll already know the majority of the reactions. Most things that _are_ posted will be current events an MPSIMS, and even those will eventually grow stagnant and boring. But I won’t be here to see it, I’ll have moved on, and will be able to remember what _was_, instead of what has _become_. ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/207 "2001-11-10T04:58:51Z")
I meant, of course, 50 bucks a year. All this university book-larnin’ ain’t doing me much good. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/208 "2001-11-10T05:01:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tranquilis \* > \*\*I waffled at first, but then **Mr.Visible** posted somthing that made me think a bit more, and I’ve come down solidly on the “Won’t Pay” side. > > See my first post on page 3, bottom half of the post. \*\* **Tranq** : I’m concerned by this point too, but on the other hand, access to all of Cecil’s archives is worth (low-end) $20.00/year for me. I’m really uncomfortable with the idea of paying to be published (so to speak. Whatever you want to call it, it _feels_ like vanity publishing to me in a purely emotional way), but I can rationalize it as a subscription to Cecil’s columns, with posting privilges. Fenris, the great rationalizer. BTW: A :eek: / 😃 moment. Other than the pay/publish aspect, I agree with _everything_ **Stoid** said. Hey **Stoid** are _you_ becoming more reasonable, or am _I_? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/209 "2001-11-10T05:04:57Z")
I still don’t understand the problem with donations. I know this was first brought up at least over a year ago, and has been batted about a few times since. From what I have gathered about the hardware/SW upgrade requirements, it seems for around 10-15K (or even less), the system could be upgraded to handle many more users than it has now. Re the above, I don’t know if Jerry the Tech God gets paid or not for his fine work here, or if he is a salaried tech guy for the Reader who donates his time to the SDMB server/database. I see no problem with him being compensated also. I recall one of the main reasons given for nixing donations was that some people who donated larger amounts might try to use that as leverage against the mods/admins. I disagree. I think donations could be handled in such a way that this could not happen. It is just a mssg board, and I think most people who would donate would not be the kind of people who would act like that anyway. I do agree with what seems a majority of members that subscription based membership would kill the board, or at least the spirit. Well, this is too long, and I am probably naive and full of shit anyway, but I still truly don’t understand why this wouldn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/210 "2001-11-10T05:05:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wring \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by CnoteChris \* > > \*\* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by VeraGemini \* > > > \*\*I am appalled at the elitist attitudes that this has brought out in some. Just because someone can’t/won’t afford to pay whatever amount a year makes them less valuable and worthy to contribute? The boards will IMPROVE if said posters are “weeded out”?? My god. Unfuckingbelievable. \*\* > > > > Amen to that. \*\* > > Actually, when I hear/read things like ‘weeded out’, I’m thinking of the tri-monthly troll infestations. And the thought of skipping that makes my little heart do a happy dance. \*\* Accord to Silver Fire, all should rejoice because I shan’t be here once it switches over. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/211 "2001-11-10T05:07:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > **Tranq: I’m concerned by this point too, but on the other hand, access to all of Cecil’s archives is worth (low-end) $20.00/year for me.** Interesting… Yes, the Archives _are_ worth the money, and I’d likely pay for those, _seperately_. After all, it’s not my work, but someone else’s, and I’ve no rights to it save what they grant me. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/212 "2001-11-10T05:07:27Z")
What **Una** said. If you think it can’t/won’t happen, just keep believing. Click your heels. Maybe you’ll wake up in Kansas. But probably, you’ll just keep on dreaming. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/213 "2001-11-10T05:10:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mudshark \* > I never really needed to get a job, because I’ve always had about 100 dollars or more in mp pocket since I’ve been 13, so I guess I could (i **know** I could) pay my way here, I just don’t want to. Convincing my father to use his credit card, that would be another story. So I guedd what I said in mo other post is just me being lazy. That was basically my point. If you don’t want to, then you don’t want to. That’s nothing to look down on. As I said before: it’s all about priorities. If the SD isn’t that high on the list, then it’s not… who cares? If it is, then that’s cool too. I just didn’t understand using “can’t afford to” in place of “don’t really want to”.\* \*Disclaimer: Again, I’m not talking about those posters that REALLY and TRULY can NOT afford it. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/214 "2001-11-10T05:10:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by samclem \* > \*\*Click your heels. Maybe you’ll wake up in Kansas. But probably, you’ll just keep on dreaming. \*\* I wake up in Kansas every day…and I wish **Fierra** was the first thing I saw in the morning too. Maybe she needs to click her heels more. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/215 "2001-11-10T05:11:26Z")
And again, I can guarantee they’ll have trolls even if they have to pay. Serlin types, who are obsessed with this place. Who have money to burn and are bored. And if the mods try to police this place, they won’t be dealing with posters but with _customers_. I wouldn’t pay to post on a message board even if I could afford it, because I know of other things I’d rather spend my money on. That said, I still think it sucks the meat. It’s also a vanity publishing thing, like **Fenris** said. I can publish my own stuff for free through my website. Or my stuff at SAAN. ---
**Author:** ![Sterra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Sterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterra)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/216 "2001-11-10T05:16:38Z")
I wouldn’t pay untill donations have been tried. I’ve seen just about every website I visit frequently start collecting donations. It seems to work much better as any subscription based thing tends to target groups that I am not a part of. I have enough money to pay the fees, but being a student without a job I wouldn’t have that money if I spent money on stuff that I could get free elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/217 "2001-11-10T05:18:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > I see how this could be a confusing concept, but I’m at a loss for how to explain it in simpler terms. I’m sorry that my posts are so bewildering to you. Damn. It’s too bad _I_ wasn’t forbidden from working when in High School. That way, I could have taken the time I wasted earning a few bucks and devoted it to studying more. Then maybe I’d be as smart as you, and not so bewildered. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Nacho4Sara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Nacho4Sara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nacho4Sara)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/218 "2001-11-10T05:20:02Z")
> [@](#): > > $25 a year? That’s a beer or two in a pub a month. What an outrage. Assuming some of us can afford beer. Assuming some of us make more than $8 an hour (that’s all I make folks, and I’m not getting a big raise because of the downturn of the economy, according to my manager - no one is). Assuming some of us recieve paychecks of more than $250 every two weeks, which is immediately written out in checks for car insurance, gas, tuition loans, book loans, credit card bills (I can honestly say that 95% of my charge account goes to car repairs; the other 5% is spent on emergency school supplies/books), medical bills, dental bills, and neccessities like tampons, shampoo, soap, and an occasional haircut. Assuming some of us have disposable income. The truth of the matter is that many of us simply do not. And for the record, I am positively _repulsed_ at how many people have somehow decided it’s okay to insult people for not having money: accusing us of being lazy, stupid, and unappreciative of this Board. If you are the people who are going to be left over, I am grateful that I cannot afford it. You all truly make me sick. I think it’s extremely hypocritical to claim to be fighting ignorance while perpetuating stereotypes about poor people and addressing us as if we are somehow inferior and need to be weeded out. I have $7.59 in my bank account until next Friday. Yup, you’re right, you ARE better than me. I guess I’ll have to go fight ignorance in the free public library. As it stands, I’m really not that upset. I was at first, but not any more. ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Defense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Civil\_Defense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Defense)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/219 "2001-11-10T05:21:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Accord to Silver Fire, all should rejoice because I shan’t be here once it switches over. Impossible, racin- you must stay and fight ignorance forever 🙂 Hell, I’d front for you if it keeps you here 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487/220 "2001-11-10T05:21:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wring \* > \*\*Actually, when I hear/read things like ‘weeded out’, I’m thinking of the tri-monthly troll infestations. And the thought of skipping that makes my little heart do a happy dance. \*\* To add clarification to **racinchikki’s** post above, and to give insight into what I was referring to, the thread in question is here- [Fuck you, Demo](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=98172). **Silver Fire** more than insinuates that racinchikki’s being “weeded out” because of the fee-based proposal is not only good, but should be something to be look forward to- simply because she disagrees with her opinion Pretty sad. And if that’s the attitude that rules supreme around here when and if this system takes hold, then I can’t see why I’d want to stay… I wouldn’t. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-post/92487.md?page=12)