Pay to Post?

[quixotic78]

Random responses…

Nacho4Sara

This full-time college student who DOES have a job and works 30 hours a week simply cannot afford an extra $20 a year. I would like to be able to pay it, but books for winter and spring semester, a winter coat that keeps me warm, and a front-end alignment takes precedent.

So you work 31 hours a week for, what, like two weeks? Money saved. Buy a cheap coat from GoodWill. Money saved. You can afford it, you just choose not to.

obfus – well said. People can afford it, they just choose not to.

pepperlandgirl

The long and short of it is, I pay 20/mnth for the internet. That’s my entertainment budget. It would be pretty silly to cut my entertainment budget in order to afford the SDMB, wouldn’t it? … I don’t live on campus, but I’m there 7 days aweek for at least 9 hours a day anyway.

So, you give up Earthlink for a month and do your Net access at a computer lab on campus. Money saved. You can afford it, you just choose not to.

Arden Ranger

I take my kids to McDonalds once a week. It’s their weekly treat and a cool family thing that they enjoy. I will not ask my kids to give up something so I can participate on a message board… Our only luxery is our internet connection and I still get that at a student discount or I wouldn’t have it.

You won’t ask your kids to give it up, not that you CAN’T. This is a willful decision, not a forced one. Also, see my comment to plg regarding net access. One month of jonesing, and you can have all the SDMB you want.

Guinistasia

I also do not appreciate being looked down upon because I would rather buy a book than post.

If someone is looking down at you for that reason, they suck. If you are claiming that you CAN’T afford $20, then you’re lying. If you’re claiming that you choose not to afford $20, then I’ve got no argument with you.

Mudshark

I am only 15 and I can’t afford to post here if they charge money.

I’m not going to speak for you, but I had next to no financial responsibilities when I was 15. No rent, no food money needed, clothes were bought for me, etc etc. Don’t you get an allowance? B-day/Xmas gifts? Like Demo said, a paper route?

milroyj – Also well said. The whole post, so I won’t quote it.

Feh, I got tired of personalized responses fast. So, in general:

99.99% of you CHOOSE to not afford the SDMB, not that you CANNOT.

If you have Internet access, go to NetZero for a month, suck up the shittiness of it, then make an Ali-like return to the SDMB. Those of you with cars–I didn’t have a car till I was 22, and it’s a piece of shit, but it gets me from place to place. Buses are nice. (That’s a lie, but at least they’re cheap). Sell some CDs, tapes, books, plasma, clothing–whatever.

I also would like to state that I think Demo has clarified his laziness stance he originally took, and has apologized, somewhat. Just my two cents, of course. And I’m sure I’m going to be accused of being in the “Good Ole Boy” club now, because I agree with him. FTR, he’s an intelligent man, and the Good Ole Boy club has lots of porn, so it’s not a bad thing

[techchick68]

Quixxy hun,

I am of those that CAN afford and I choose not to.

Priorities, priorities…simply stated if anyone here REALLY wanted to afford it they could find a way I am sure. The internet for many is a “luxury” as it is, to go further, no matter the cost is too much… Deal with it.

However, what is the beef with those that state they can’t afford it anyway? If anything you all should be harping on those of us that stated we can afford it but choose NOT TO.

Really bassackwards thinking if you ask me.

For some $20 is a chunk of change that some don’t get.

I love you to Quixxy but I gotta slap you with a trout here.

[samclem]

Tranquilis said

Now, while I’m no Fenris, I’ve contributed knowledge (earned over the course of hard years and much labor), and some (maybe) wit to these fora. Those comments and posts are my intellectual property. Per the agreement I (and everyone of us) made when joining this board, I surrendered to the Chicago Reader the priviledge to use my intellectual property in any way they saw fit.

You, sir, are no Fenris (At least you got that part right)

As to the rest, BWAAHHAAA, fuckin’, HA!

[pepperlandgirl]

---

The long and short of it is, I pay 20/mnth for the internet. That’s my entertainment budget. It would be pretty silly to cut my entertainment budget in order to afford the SDMB, wouldn’t it? … I don’t live on campus, but I’m there 7 days aweek for at least 9 hours a day anyway.

So, you give up Earthlink for a month and do your Net access at a computer lab on campus. Money saved. You can afford it, you just choose not to.

Ok, apparently you missed the part where I said earlier that I work 2 jobs, and I go to school full time.
I’m on campus 7 days a week because both of my jobs are on-campus jobs. I fit them in between my classes. Then I come home. As much as I would love to throw a computer lab hour in there somewhere, it’s impossible.
Also, I moderate for another message board. Am I supposed to abandon my duties there in case I can’t find time to go to the lab?
Another thing, my husband who I love dearly, hates the Straight Dope a whole heck of a lot. How cool would it be for me to go to him and say, “Look babe, I need you to give up your internet access for a month so I can pay for the SDMB. Huh? oh, it won’t bother me to give it up, I can just tack an hour to the end of my day at school. Of course, if I do that, you have to walk home from work, in the dark. But that’s just good exercise, right? What are you supposed to do? Hmmmm, I don’t know, just live without it I guess.”?

Here’s what I don’t understand, why are you so certain that it’s possible in our lives to use your suggestions? I mean, honestly. Do you think I posted because A)I’m making the shit up, or B)I haven’t already racked my brain looking for a solution? Are you so insightful that you can see things about my life (which you know nothing about) that I just can’t?

[Stoid]

*Originally posted by Tranquilis *
** Sure, the current situation costs money. That is the price the Reader pays to have full free access to all the intellectual property of thousands of posters, placed here over the course of years.
**

Tranquilis, having communicated with you successfully in the past, I’m gonna assume that you are sincerely not getting it.

I understood the source of the complaint completely. My point, which you seem to be failing to pick up on, is that your intellectual property, in the form of contributions to this board, is * currently costing them money. They are publishing you at a loss to themselves. In other words, in real terms, your intellectual property is currently a liability to them. *

Put another way, under the current system, the LAST THING they WANT is your intellectual property, and they will get RID of it if we don’t start paying because it has NO VALUE.

But what is it costing * you * to get an ** audience ** of tens of thousands? Meaningless “rights” that the Reader will almost certainly never invoke. (And you understand, I hope, that it isn’t even “costing” you that much, since you retain all your own rights as the original author. Anything you post here you can post elsewhere or otherwise publish, shoudl you be so inclined)

IANAL, but I feel pretty confident that that clause is there strictly to cover the Reader’s ass, and not because they have plans to exploit all the literary geniuses around here chattering on about their favorite episode of “Star Trek” or the long and involved tale of how they got screwed over by the meter maid.

<insert multiple rolleyes here>

stoid

[alice_in_wonderland]

*Originally posted by quixotic78 *
Random responses…

Um, this response seemed rather insensitive. You don’t know about these peoples’ financial responsibilities, and it’s unfair to suggest that they are lying about them.

There have been points in my life when I could NOT have afforded $20 a year. This is not one of those times, and I would gladly pay for the service because I can. I’m certainly not going to criticize someone because they are CHOOSING to do something nice for their children, rather than themselves.

Like I said before, I would happily sponsor any doper that really couldn’t afford a membership - rather than slaging people off, why don’t you make a similar offer - that’s two less dopers that will be in this thread worried about losing a small pleasure in their lives.

Al.

[quixotic78]

*Originally posted by techchick68 *
**Priorities, priorities…simply stated if anyone here REALLY wanted to afford it they could find a way I am sure. The internet for many is a “luxury” as it is, to go further, no matter the cost is too much… Deal with it.
**

Hey, I don’t have to deal with it. I’ve got no gripe with those people who say, “Well, it’s been fun, but you’re not worth $20.” I agree with you entirely about people REALLY wanting to afford it being able to.

**

However, what is the beef with those that state they can’t afford it anyway? If anything you all should be harping on those of us that stated we can afford it but choose NOT TO.**

Because they’re lying to me? And, sometimes it seems to me, they want me to feel bad for them? Stop blowing smoke up my ass, admit that you CAN afford it but choose not to, and I’ve got no problem with you. I respect your right to pass the SDMB over. I don’t respect you if you expect me to believe that you cannot scrape together… what, a postage stamp a week, someone said?

And before anyone accuses me of being wealthy, let me show you my credit card statement. Hoooooo boy!

Quixy

[Fenris]

*Originally posted by anenquiringmind *
**And to the people who are “willing” to sponsor one of the “misfortunates”, NICE GESTURE, but I’m sure there are some people on here who do have some PRIDE and refuse to accept charity. I certainly wouldnt but would offer a heartfelt, “Thanks Anyway”.

And which one of you “SPONSERS"will decide which of the
posters are " w o r t h w h i l e” as GASPODE/member put it. Will they be required to have similar views as you?
Will they be required to submit a financial statement?
Do they have to be exceptionally well read,exceptionally funny? What constitutes, worthwhile?
**

Um…I’d base any hypothetical sponsorship soley on the basis of whether I liked the poster or not. The end.
I’m certainly not gonna shell out my hard-earned money, should I choose to sponsor someone, to someone who I don’t like. There is no affirmative action plan for jerks or people who annoy me in the hypothetical FenrisFund.

On a completely unrelated note, I doubt you’ll have to worry about someone offending your “PRIDE”

**

Maybe I’m a HAVE, Maybe I’m a HAVENOT, I’m not telling, but I sure wont be paying. **

And we’ll miss you.

Fenris

[Nacho4Sara]

SilverFire - you are acting like a 3-year-old. Racinchiki starts a thread, Demo and Mr. Cynical pile on her like a bunch of school yard bullies arguing over who has the bigger dick, and then you chime in. To me (and obviously other posters, as well) it seemed like you were saying that Racinchikki will be weeded out. If so many people misunderstand your writing, is it possible that you were unclear? Maybe, just maybe? Please shut up.

Some of the “poor me” folks need to get a grip. I’m thinking of the “poor” college students, in particular. Did your Mama teach you that life was fair? I’m quite sure she did NOT.

Here’s the situation: people say that simply CANNOT afford to pay $20. Demo comes along and antagonizes the people who claim this. He (and others) accuse us of being overdramatic, lying, and being fragile and overemotional. “Come on,” they say, “surely you can afford this!”

When people say no, actually we cannot afford it, the response is the same. We’re being overdramatic, as well as too lazy to get a second job (or third, for me, since school certainly takes up the time of a part-time job). So we say, no really, this is our income, these are our expenses, we cannot afford it. My response was this - to simply say that I absolutely cannot afford $20. No one believed me the first time, obviously, so I felt the need to reiterate. I don’t claim that life is fair. I was poor until I was twelve, and I am in the same boat now. I’m not complaining, I’m simply stating my reality. I have mentioned my financial straits time and again on this Board. I make no qualms about being destitute. It is the price I am paying for college, literally and figuratively, that is making me poor. I don’t recall anyone, myself included, saying Poor me!

The OP asked a question. We repsonded, were insulted profusely, and then we responded again. Where in all of that did anybody suggest that life is fair? Thank you for condescending all of us college-age adults, though, with your valuable life lesson. Please share some more of your wisdom with us.

The fact of the matter is, I am unable to pay for the SD. I simply do not have the availible money. I am certainly not looking for pity. If someone offered to pay for me, I would not, simply because I do not take handouts. I would rather do without than accept charity. I would tell the person who offered to donate the money to a charity fund helping people who really need it, and that’s that.

You all can think whatever you want of me now that you know my financial situation. But do not presume that your interpretation is reality, because you do not know me, you do not know my mother, you do not know what sort of life I’ve led, you don’t know the lessons I’ve learned, and you don’t know anything about the numbers in my checkbook.

I really thought last week’s “Let’s attack the Oprah-Book-Club-reading housewives in velour sweat suits” took the ultimate cake for prejuduce, blatant stereotyping, and ridiculous overstatement. But this one is far and above.

Where do any of you get off judging us?

[Fenris]

*Originally posted by Stoid *
** Anything you post here you can post elsewhere or otherwise publish, shoudl you be so inclined)
**

< minor hijack >
IANAL
Although by posting it, you’ve blown “first publication rights” which is what most publishers want. And that’s regardless of any legal notices. If you posted your content on the Usenet, you’ll have lost “first publication rights”. (You’ve also lost “electronic publishing rights”, although publishers aren’t as concerned about those, yet.

The moral: What Stoid said earlier (Geez! Twice in one night, Stoid! What’ll the neighbors think! ) : If you wanna publish, don’t post!

</ minor hijack >

Fenris

[samclem]

frinkboy you have posted the same post to at least two different threads. Not slamming you, but this is a big no-no here. Just notify a Mod by email to delete one, apologize, and things will be ok. Again, you haven’t been posting here that long, and might not know. Of course, you have been reading for at least a year and half. So, what do I know.

(fixed formatting error - Jill)

[Edited by JillGat on 11-10-2001 at 02:05 AM]

[quixotic78]

*Originally posted by pepperlandgirl *
Ok, apparently you missed the part where I said earlier that I work 2 jobs, and I go to school full time.
I’m on campus 7 days a week because both of my jobs are on-campus jobs. I fit them in between my classes. Then I come home. As much as I would love to throw a computer lab hour in there somewhere, it’s impossible.
Also, I moderate for another message board. Am I supposed to abandon my duties there in case I can’t find time to go to the lab?

I’m not sure how to take this, plg. You say that it’d be impossible to squeeze an hour into your day, and then you say that you’re a moderator? Doesn’t that take an hour a day? Simply put – it seems to me you’re CHOOSING being a moderator over going to the computer lab.

**Another thing, my husband who I love dearly, hates the Straight Dope a whole heck of a lot. How cool would it be for me to go to him and say, “Look babe, I need you to give up your internet access for a month so I can pay for the SDMB. Huh? oh, it won’t bother me to give it up, I can just tack an hour to the end of my day at school. Of course, if I do that, you have to walk home from work, in the dark. But that’s just good exercise, right? What are you supposed to do? Hmmmm, I don’t know, just live without it I guess.”?

**
I’ve seen you in chat, and you’re a nice person, so I won’t respond smarmily. That’s clearly a pickle of a situation, but it’s not impossible to resolve. Not that I know how specifically in your situation, but I’ve been in relationships where sacrifice, compromise, and understanding were integral. [Upon preview, that was a rude thing to say. If Net access isn’t sacrificiable because you’re not the only one using it, then it’s not sacrificiable].
**

Here’s what I don’t understand, why are you so certain that it’s possible in our lives to use your suggestions? I mean, honestly. Do you think I posted because A)I’m making the shit up, or B)I haven’t already racked my brain looking for a solution? Are you so insightful that you can see things about my life (which you know nothing about) that I just can’t? **

I didn’t mean for my short list to be an Authoritative and Complete List of Shitty but Necessary Things to do to Raise Money. If you can tell me that you’ve sold all the CDs, books, clothing, other useless crap, and plasma that you can, then you’re off the hook, I guess. I’m in the midst of hocking something really dear to me to pay my bills. It sucks, but I’m doing it.

To put it another way: no, I don’t know the specifics of your life. But let’s take a hypothetical. Suppose you had some magic auditor who was spot on, and could take an inventory of every single cent you’ve spent in the past year. Can you honestly tell me that the “Luxury” column adds up to less than $20? If so… yeesh, gimme your address so I can send you the cash to register?

Quixy

P.S. Probably the last post for a while, as I’m going to bed soon then drinking tomorrow. Go Buckeyes!

[Klaatu]

Looking through the boards (simple search} at an astounding number of posts by the “I’m a poor college student who can’t afford
shit” crowd, I see a number of posts that say “Dam that concert was cool” (prolly 50 bucks at least for tickets}" “Yep that road trip
was fun” (gas ain’t free) etc…

And yet you whine about 20 or 30 bucks for a year?
A lot of you probably spend that gettin drunk on a weekend.

Hypocritical much?

I agree a subscription based SDMB would suck, but be fucking honest!

[Nacho4Sara]

So you work 31 hours a week for, what, like two weeks? Money saved. Buy a cheap coat from GoodWill. Money saved. You can afford it, you just choose not to.

obfus – well said. People can afford it, they just choose not to.

Jesus Christ.

I work 31 hours a week, the money goes to school and my car. Look, Quix, I may not even be able to attend college next semester if I don’t get a scholarship through the English department to cover books. I do not have the money. I do not have the money. I do not have the money. Say it with me. Nacho4Sara does not have the money.

My coat that I’ve been wearing for the past three years is from a thrift store. It does not keep me warm anymore. I plan on buying my next one from there, too. I plan on spending the least amount of money possible, so that I can put more money toward my school tuition and loans. Do you know that school is expensive? And since I commute 60 miles or so to school each day in my 89 Oldsmbile that breaks down once a month, a bus is out of the question.

You people are being rude, inconsiderate, and ignorant to the realities of our situations. You accuse us of lying, and when we attempt to back up our argument, you accuse of us being whiny and wanting pity.

When I finish college and start making an income that rings in above the poverty line, I hope I’m nothing like any of you.

[AmbushBug]

I lurk, and get 99.9% of my enjoyment by sponging off you other nice posters.

I used to contribute heavily (relatively, to my personality) to another board (pyroto, which led me here thru Bricker and manhattan) and I left off that because I grew to dislike that environment, and… well enough about me.

I would pay $20-$50/year though I rarely post, as I lurk every day and feel like a part of this community.

However. I think requiring a fee would kill this community. When I read 4000+ post-counters saying they’d leave over said fee, I’m a bit incredulous. Valid points have been raised as to the vitality provided by new blood and diverse international participation, which would doubless diminish after a fee.

How about this:

Donations, to the tune of $10/month (yes, expensive, bear with me…)

Having donated gets you: nothing extra. Except “Member” under your ID changes to reflect your supportive status and term thereof. “Member” becomes something like “Member+ || Apr 17 2002”. No refunds, any circumstances.

–

Add’l idea: Allow subscription time to be transferred. Anonymously. You like a poster, send 'em some days. They won’t know who did it (only Admins can see, and only would on claims of fraudulent transfer).

I didn’t see anything quite like this in my perusal of this thread, so I thought I’d put this forth. Besides, if I want to impress people and my post count is low, at least I can spend a bit and have a high sub time displayed win-win!

[Nacho4Sara]

Looking through the boards (simple search} at an astounding number of posts by the “I’m a poor college student who can’t afford
shit” crowd, I see a number of posts that say “Dam that concert was cool” (prolly 50 bucks at least for tickets}" “Yep that road trip
was fun” (gas ain’t free) etc…

I haven’t been to a concert I piad for myself…ever.

I have never been on a road trip.

But thank you once again for that enlightening view of my financial situation.

[Bossk]

So, what’s wrong with the poorer members posting to alt.fan.cecil-adams?

Or is this too much like segregated bathrooms for some tastes?

[pepperlandgirl]

I’m not sure how to take this, plg. You say that it’d be impossible to squeeze an hour into your day, and then you say that you’re a moderator? Doesn’t that take an hour a day? Simply put – it seems to me you’re CHOOSING being a moderator over going to the computer lab.

I took on the responsibility of being a moderator 6 months ago, before I graduated HS, before I married, before I started school, and before I got my jobs. AFAIC, my position as moderator will be the last thing I give up, even if I have to stay up till 3 AM every night. I made a promise to somebody. I don’t make promises lightly. I don’t know, maybe you can understand where I’m coming from, maybe you can’t. I imagine the mods here are the same way. They made a commitment to the SDMB, and they do a damn fine job. Where would we be without committed mods?

I’ve seen you in chat, and you’re a nice person, so I won’t respond smarmily. That’s clearly a pickle of a situation, but it’s not impossible to resolve. Not that I know how specifically in your situation, but I’ve been in relationships where sacrifice, compromise, and understanding were integral. [Upon preview, that was a rude thing to say. If Net access isn’t sacrificiable because you’re not the only one using it, then it’s not sacrificiable].

Well, thanks for conceding that point. I just don’t think it would be fair to make my husband sacrifice his own entertainment outlet for a whole month.

If you can tell me that you’ve sold all the CDs, books, clothing, other useless crap, and plasma that you can, then you’re off the hook, I guess. I’m in the midst of hocking something really dear to me to pay my bills. It sucks, but I’m doing it.

Well, the CDs are out, as they are not mine to sell. They are ours. Books? Hmmm, I don’t know how much dog-eared beat-up paperbacks are going for these days. And the plasma is out of the question.
Basically, I don’t own anything valuable. I’ve only been living on my own for 5 months now, so I nothing before July 7 really counts. I can’t tell you about the whole year. I haven’t had time or money to accumulate anything really worth much, and I certainly haven’t had the money to do much.

[Primaflora]

*Originally posted by Klaatu *
**Looking through the boards (simple search} at an astounding number of posts by the “I’m a poor college student who can’t afford
shit” crowd, I see a number of posts that say “Dam that concert was cool” (prolly 50 bucks at least for tickets}" “Yep that road trip
was fun” (gas ain’t free) etc…
**

Klaatu

care to give some cites? You won’t find me talking about road trips or concerts. You’re tarring a whole lot of us with that claim and it certainly doesn’t fit me.

[GuanoLad]

Let them eat cake, indeed.

The board would have to offer so much more than it currently does to be worth paying for - it’s fun for me to read (that won’t change I guess) but I have gotten just as much grief as joy after posting, so having to pay what may be up to the equivalent of $100 Aus to do so… well, that ain’t gonna happen, and it’ll thin the crowd so much the boards will die. It’ll become an elite club, and nothing like it currently is.

Stop your catty bitching, people, you’re showing really bad sides of yourselves here - which if anything is making people want to leave NOW rather than when they’re forced to later.