I believe that Demo said he wasn’t talking about those people when he said:
I believe he meant that there are some people who say they can’t afford it when the really mean they don’t think it’s worth it. It’s all about priorities. If you’d rather spend that $X on a new book, a meal out, or a movie, that’s fine. But turn around and then say “I can’t afford” to pay to post.
Again, I’m not talking about those people that REALLY can’t afford it, like Pepper described her situation above.
Altoids is the one I was referring to. But now that you mention it, I do recall a very brief Blue Man Group banner ad, as well. I don’t remember any others, but I do stand corrected.
I hereby modify my above post to say that I recall all of two banner ads - both for very limited runs - ever.
20/mnth for Earthlink, I think, is reasonable. They are a good provider, I’ve never had problems, and it’s unlimited access. I decided having unlimited time was worth the extra 10 bucks, and I spend a lot of time doing HW and research online, and I prefer to do it in the privacy of my own home, because I’m rarely there anyway… I don’t live on campus, but I’m there 7 days aweek for at least 9 hours a day anyway.
Furthermore, if you had read my post, I said my one splurge is ground beef to go along with rice and pasta.
Comparing this move to other websites charging subscriptions is not really sensible. I check out Salon.com pretty frequently, and occasionally I see some “premium” content that makes me consider a subscription. But that content isn’t going to go away while I deliberate over whether or not to subscribe. The irony of this situation is that instead of paying for extra stuff, those who do choose to pay will be paying for SDMB “Lite” – Because a lot of people are going to disappear. I sure wouldn’t want it to turn out like a certain New-Year’s Eve party that I paid $300 bucks for a few years ago – we got there and found we were in a sparsely populated room, where most people were more concerned with getting their money back than partying.
Out of curiousity, are there any respectable “pay” message boards out there right now?
Yes, orr, I did qualify that statement by saying that my information was 2 years old.
But I also said that even if the revenues were 1/4 of that, the fact remains that The Reader hasn’t even tried it.
That’s what I resent.
ok Demo, now you’ve just gone too far.
i try and try and try to always reserve judgement for as long as humanly possible.
but jesus!
you cannot change my mind now without a long period of care and careful action to prove yourself…
Demo, you are, and to me probably always will be, A COMPLETE JACKASS.
For the record, the Burst Media ads are not pop ups. I have never, ever, EVER gotten a pop up window on that other message board in 5 years of being a member there with daily reading/posting habits. They’re merely banner ads that would go in place of that big blue and yellow Straight Dope banner at the top of every page. You scroll past them once you start reading the board, so they’re hardly intrusive.
But again, I reiterate, for me the bottom line is that they claim to have exhausted all other possible revenue resources, when any reasonably intelligent person can clearly see that that’s just plain not true.
Not that I’ve paid for. I have a friend at the the movie theater and he gets me passes ocassionally for movies I take my kids to**
Excuse me? No. Shop with a planned menu for the week.**
Only because it’s included in my rent, whether I want it or not.**
Nope. That’s what the library is for**
Not that I’ve paid for**
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.
Additionaly, I don’t subscribe to any magazines, I don’t belong to any clubs that charge a fee, am newly single and am struggling to make ends meet as it is. Christmas this year is going to be a major miracle to pull off and will likely entail a trip to the pawn shop where I will hand over my jewelry. Our only luxery is our internet connection and I still get that at a student discount or I wouldn’t have it. I also had to skip school another semester so I could go to work full time.
**
When I say I can’t, I mean I can’t. My priority happens to be my two kids, both who have special needs, both have to see a child psychologist once a week and one on medication.
Finding $20.00 in that is going to be difficult and will likely mean that I don’t eat dinner for a week. Fortunately, I work at a resturant so I’ll at least get lunch.
I’m afraid that statement is patently untrue. I did it when I was a kid, to make money for video games and pot. I was paid something to the tune of 2 cents an envelope. And, as always, all generalizations are stupid. 
Demo CUT IT OUT!!!
You are not helping to fight ignorance.
Yes, there are other things I’d rather have than the SDMB. And you know why? Because I think this place will suck once you switch to subscription.
I also do not appreciate being looked down upon because I would rather buy a book than post. Besides, as others have pointed out, those not in the States are going to be paying through the nose. It’s insane.
I thought it was about fighting IGNORANCE. It’s sad, but I truly think that the world isn’t going to get any better until we put more priority on learning than earning. Education is more important than money.
(Damn, that sounds cheesy).
Whoa! I never saw that in the ads! All I saw was “Earn money for a new bike.” Who knew? 
No problem.
And since we’re thanking each other, let me thank you for the laugh I got after your post.
That was great!!
You demean and criticize those who say they can’t afford the proposed fee by insinuating that they actually could if they only got off their lazy asses and worked, and at the same time- and post, mind you- talk about how kind and caring you are to those who actually can’t pay…
Friggin’ hilarious.
I haven’t seen such an odd about-face in quite some time… not to mention the blatant hypocrisy.
I don’t want to associate SilkyThreat with my opinions, as I am the current Asshole of the Board , but I did want to give him/her props on recognizing the quote. 
pepperlandgirl, I wasn’t dissing what you were paying, that’s pretty standard. I missed what you said about your splurge. My bad. Glad you guys aren’t malnourished.
To those of you who are asking me to knock it off: No, I won’t “knock it off”. I’m not making jabs and I’m not trying to be obtuse. I’m trying to make a point and until a mod comes along and tells me I am out of line(which i really don’t think I am), I will contiue to try to make that point.
To those of you who are implying that the reader is trying to get you to pay for your own content: Please. Get over yourselves. The Reader is simply asking you to pay for the privelidge of being a posting part of the community, for which they incur costs. Nothing more.
saepiroth, I hope you don’t lose any sleep over me.
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?
OK, please don’t take this the wrong way, but…why are those not in the US going to be “paying more”? Yes, I know that 50 US dollars is about 80 Canadian dollars. Isn’t the buying power roughly the same? I’ve been to 9 countries*, and other than a few key product areas, the Big Mac Index has been almost identical. One can say “Oh my God - $20 is nearly 4000 Escudos!”, but 4000 Escudos buys about $20 worth of stuff in Lisbon.
I’m not trying to be crass, or crude, or talk down to non-US posters at all - this is an honest question. Aren’t you comparing the proverbial apples and oranges? Or are most other countries (I guess all of the ones I haven’t been to) seeing less buying power as well as a different exchange rate? 
As many other posters have mentioned, if membership is $50, then it’ll cost us Aussies around $90 to subscribe. Even so, I’m not completely against paying that amount for a board of this quality.
However.
I might reconsider depending on how many other users dropped out. Without the influx of new posters to make up for it, I’m not sure that I would like the board as much as I do now.
HEY EVERYONE!!!
GUIN TATTLED!!!
:rolleyes:
I always thought that Australia’s buying power was similar to the US’s. I’ll go forage around the internet to see what I can find.
cry
He’s not being a jerk. He’s being a total dick. Brilliant loophole.