# Please place all SDMB subscription complaints in this thread, you cheapskates! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 18, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100 "2004-03-18T22:30:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**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:** [March 21, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/301 "2004-03-21T21:53:13Z")
> [@MrVisible](#): > > And I’m unsurprised by the nastiness of that one. Wow, if that comment of mine was “nasty” you must not read many posts in the Pit. > [@](#): > > I just thought people might like to know that if they’re looking for their old stuff, they’ll have to subscribe to avoid scrolling through the three million plus posts on the boards to do so. That’s might big of you to make sure that everyone knows that the search engine will be a paid perk. I mean, with the way the admins are hiding that fact and all. I mean the very least Ed could have done was make sure that he said so in his announcement thread. Oh wait… [QUOTE=Ed Zotti] **Attention, Teeming Millions! Your five-year free-trial period is about to expire.** **What does a subscription get me?** [ul] [li]Ability to search the massive SDMB message database [/ul][/li][/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/302 "2004-03-21T22:36:57Z")
> [@MrVisible](#): > > And with that display of the insular and viciously defensive future of the boards out of the way, I’m going to say my goodbyes, and leave. Well, honestly, you should know you can’t voice dissention amongst the stepford dopers. I’ll see you out in the ether. ---
**Author:** ![Estilicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Estilicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Estilicon)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/303 "2004-03-22T00:54:04Z")
I won’t pay.- First of all, U$S. 5 aren’t what they used to be… at least in Argentina :), 5 american dolars are now 15 argentinians pesos. In fact this was intended as a joke of our current economical situation, (two years ago five dolars _where_ five pesos). 15 pesos isn’t a lot of money, at least for me. In fact my biggest issue is: who is going to accept a credit card from me?, come on guys we owe billions of dolars and it isn’t as if we regret it :).- Seriously now, the reason I won’t pay is simply the fact that I can use 15 pesos in a better way. I am not a regular poster mostly because I work a lot, and in the second place because i have a dial-up connection and it is really difficult for me to log in at home (I am too lazy to use the net in a library or a similar place). The irony is that I suscribed to broadband, (it will be installed next thursday).- Call me cheap but I will be paying $125 pesos a month for internet and I refuse to pay even 1 peso more. Why? because I have been here almost 3 years and I have less than 700 post (most of them pretty lame, although I will always remember my U.S.S. Exterminator thread, it was really good).- If I were a regular poster I would pay. So, instead, it will be a goodbye from the far south, my only regret is that I won’t be missed (that’s the penalty for having such a low and lame post count).- ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/304 "2004-03-22T02:37:15Z")
> [@Estilicon](#): > > …my only regret is that I won’t be missed I just wanted to post to tell you that that’s not true. In fact, I’m kindof bummed to hear that you won’t be around anymore. It’s always nice to get the perspective of people from outside the U.S. I hope you’ll reconsider, but if not, I wish you well. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/305 "2004-03-22T05:52:36Z")
Damn the SDMB is like a drug because people are so hooked they can’t even see that they are being asked to pay for content that they themselves create. The people that partcipate in this forum made it what it is today and the Chicago Reader, believe or not, benefits from that. Don’t believe me? Read the [Online Rate Sheet](http://www.chicagoreader.com/readerinc/Onlinerate.html). Where do you think all of the numbers come from that they woo the advertisers with? Also once they’ve got you on the paid subscription deal, the ads that are elsewhere on the site will start appearing as well. The rationale will be that the subscription plan didn’t work out as well as they thought and they need more money because they’re still operating in the red. Which of course begs the question of what operating in the black means. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/306 "2004-03-22T07:17:30Z")
> [@EasyPhil](#): > > Damn the SDMB is like a drug because people are so hooked they can’t even see that they are being asked to pay for content that they themselves create. The people that partcipate in this forum made it what it is today and the Chicago Reader, believe or not, benefits from that. Why is it that people like you and **MrVisible** have so much trouble with this? _Nobody_ is here for content that they create; we’re here for the content that everyone _else_ creates. If you’re really here to read your own shit then you don’t need a message board anyway; you need a pen and a sheet of paper. Unless you’re on the NYT best-seller list, get over yourself. If “your content” is so valuable to you, make your own website. But don’t bitch about the CR making you pay to host it here. ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/307 "2004-03-22T14:07:35Z")
> [@Really Not All That Bright](#): > > Why is it that people like you and MrVisible have so much trouble with this? Nobody is here for content that they create; we’re here for the content that everyone else creates. I think you’re missing the point of their argument, though (well… I guess I can’t speak for them, but I am interpreting their arguments a little differently from you). The fact is: every poster\*on the SDMB plays an important role for the message board. Yeah, it seems a bit egotistical to point out the importance of your own posts, but…without them, the SDMB is a bit different (it’s basically a “Butterfly Effect”). And there are quite a few posters on the SDMB (surprisingly, to me at least) who are flatly ignoring the fact that posters are leaving. LilShieste \*- Well, not **The Grapist**. I’m not convinced he/she/it played a particularly important role. (But… thinking of the Butterfly Effect some more…) ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/308 "2004-03-22T14:18:34Z")
> [@MikeG](#): > > OK, here’s my unscientific study results: **Breaker?** -Joe ---
**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:** [March 22, 2004, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/309 "2004-03-22T14:46:45Z")
> [@LilShieste](#): > > The fact is: every poster\*on the SDMB plays an important role for the message board. Yeah, it seems a bit egotistical to point out the importance of your own posts, but…without them, the SDMB is a bit different (it’s basically a “Butterfly Effect”). And there are quite a few posters on the SDMB (surprisingly, to me at least) who are flatly ignoring the fact that posters are leaving. Yes, everyone plays an important role, but not an irreplaceable one, by any means. I wasn’t a member of this board back in the AOL days, but I was an active “poster” to AFC-A and I remember reading comments by people that did frequent the AOL board also and they were sure that going “public” would be the death of the boards. That it would change too much. From what I remember having only seen a bit from the outside, it was pretty equal to the kind of uproar that’s going on now. That was, what? Around _four_ years ago. I’m not ignoring the fact that posters are leaving. I’m not even ignoring the fact that some of those are prolific posters. I’m just not ready to claim that because posters X, Y, & Z are leaving that it’s going to “ruin” the board to the point I won’t like it anymore. I was talking about this this morning and mentioned the fact that I don’t still know and speak to everyone that I was close to in my life. People go away - it’s a fact of life. And yes, you can miss them, and their input, but that doesn’t mean my life is over, or even diminised, because they aren’t there anymore. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/310 "2004-03-22T14:49:30Z")
> [@LilShieste](#): > > The fact is: every poster\*on the SDMB plays an important role for the message board. Yeah, it seems a bit egotistical to point out the importance of your own posts, but…without them, the SDMB is a bit different (it’s basically a “Butterfly Effect”). And there are quite a few posters on the SDMB (surprisingly, to me at least) who are flatly ignoring the fact that posters are leaving. Exactly. People who are leaving or leaning toward leaving that I will definitely miss are Jabba, MrVisible, Tars Tarkas, kabbes, Estilicon, and gex gex. I’m assuming I’ll never see Spiritus Mundi again, one of the big five posters I credit the most with making this a place I wanted to stay. There are probably quite a few GQers that will also leave that I haven’t noticed mention their intent yet (obviously the above isn’t exhaustive and I haven’t read every thread about this topic in every forum), and though I don’t necessarily _like_ or _agree_ with the people above (or those who take pains to express opinion) I definitely think the boards will be poorer without their input. Those who I would wish would reconsider staying are those keen to have the door hit these people on the way out. Good people are leaving over this. White nationalists who know they’ll be banned in a few days will still come around. It’s a fucking stupid solution for a first effort. I hope it doesn’t change the boards significantly, and I’m willing to stick around to find out. But I understand those who aren’t, and chances are pretty good that someone here _will_ miss your input. Just because you don’t get a lot of replies doesn’t mean people don’t notice you. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/311 "2004-03-22T14:52:40Z")
> [@Mauvaise](#): > > I’m not ignoring the fact that posters are leaving. I’m not even ignoring the fact that some of those are prolific posters. I’m just not ready to claim that because posters X, Y, & Z are leaving that it’s going to “ruin” the board to the point I won’t like it anymore. But you said yourself you hardly read or post anymore. So I would expect you to be pretty indifferent to this change. > [@](#): > > And yes, you can miss them, and their input, but that doesn’t mean my life is over, or even diminised, because they aren’t there anymore. But your life _changes_. No one (I think) doubts that the SDMB will still be around in five years. But it will probably change. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/312 "2004-03-22T15:00:34Z")
> [@erislover](#): > > But you said yourself you hardly read or post anymore. So I would expect you to be pretty indifferent to this change.But your life _changes_. No one (I think) doubts that the SDMB will still be around in five years. But it will probably change. It probably will change, but that doesn’t mean the change will be bad. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/313 "2004-03-22T15:02:49Z")
> [@Diane](#): > > It probably will change, but that doesn’t mean the change will be bad. Absolutely, which is why I’m putting five bucks down whenever I find the link or they put it up. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/314 "2004-03-22T19:26:32Z")
> [@Really Not All That Bright](#): > > Why is it that people like you and **MrVisible** have so much trouble with this? _Nobody_ is here for content that they create; we’re here for the content that everyone _else_ creates. **Really** was a little hard on you, **Easy Phil** , but her/his point is valid. The value of this site is in the ability to introduce specific, focused dialogue – not merely in the ability to post. I have a post a page or two back in which I better explain my take on the value of the SDMB. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2004, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/315 "2004-03-22T19:32:28Z")
> [@erislover](#): > > But you said yourself you hardly read or post anymore. So I would expect you to be pretty indifferent to this change. Why would you think that? One of the reasons I don’t read or post much anymore is because I disliked how the Board evolved the last year or so. The fact that it’s going through (what may be) a dramatic change makes me anything but indifferent. > [@](#): > > But your life _changes_. No one (I think) doubts that the SDMB will still be around in five years. But it will probably change. I am counting (and betting $5) on it! 🙂 I am also hoping that change will result in a renewed interest on my part in the SDMB. It’s worth the fee to me (and I see from your next post, to you as well) to find out. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/316 "2004-03-22T20:47:02Z")
Now that I’m a paying member, do I have the right to complain? I have a problem with a couple of the features you get when you pay: **Post count Biographical info included with each post** These are far more beneficial to the people reading the boards than to the people posting…particularly knowing someone’s location. As a paid member, I want to see this info. Knowing that people can see my post count & location isn’t a huge benefit to me while seeing this info on posts is. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/317 "2004-03-22T21:13:27Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > Now that I’m a paying member, do I have the right to complain? I have a problem with a couple of the features you get when you pay: > > **Post count > Biographical info included with each post** > > These are far more beneficial to the people reading the boards than to the people posting…particularly knowing someone’s location. As a paid member, I want to see this info. Knowing that people can see my post count & location isn’t a huge benefit to me while seeing this info on posts is. **Yookeroo** , I can see everyone’s location. Are you not able to? ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/318 "2004-03-23T02:07:46Z")
> [@Mauvaise](#): > > I am counting (and betting $5) on it! 🙂 Well, yes, obviously. 😛 I just mean I am skeptical that it will change for what I would say is _the better_. But you knew that, just as you know Angel and Buffy belong together. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/319 "2004-03-23T02:26:14Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > Meh, any time that the status quo is changed it is bound to get some folks concerned and upset. Personally, when I look at the hours of amusement that the threads here have provided, the way that my writing has improved in the time that I have been posting and the way in which my general deductive reasoning has improved as a direct result of being here I must conclude that it is worth $5 lousy bucks. Naturally, I will use these newfound powers each year to determine if the boards are still doing their job, but for now I should think that I will pay gladly. I totally agree. I didn’t even think twice about it. I mean $4.95??? Sheesh that’s 2 bucks less than most paperbacks, and those are only good for a few hours of entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100/320 "2004-03-23T02:27:17Z")
Yes, I would like to register a complaint. All the graphics have gone missing, and the posts have turned an extremely hard-to-read dark blue. If this was intentional, I’m glad I haven’t ponied up my $9 yet (it’s only $5 for Americans. Us Canadians are going to have to pay about 40% more.) I hope this is just accidental due to the work in progress, and the graphics and colours will return to normal soon. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-place-all-sdmb-subscription-complaints-in-this-thread-you-cheapskates/235100.md?page=17)