# Post here if you have been lurking for the duration of the paid memberships **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 2, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753 "2008-09-02T21:37:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/161 "2008-09-04T19:18:06Z")
Just let my charter member status lapse last April. I wasn’t here much after having another baby, and I was getting tired of what seemed to be same-old, same-old around here. I checked back every once in a while and now I see lots of people coming back, and it looks like it is going to be fun around here again, so that is great! I thought I would be a regular ‘member’ now, will we always be guests? (I know, I should be checking ATMB threads or whatever. But that forum is so _boring_. ) If I am a guest here, I expect to be treated more politely 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bassoonatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bassoonatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bassoonatic)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/162 "2008-09-04T19:21:57Z")
I’ve been lurking for years- it feels so good to have a name and be able to post! Hi all! ---
**Author:** ![DocHopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DocHopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocHopper)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/163 "2008-09-04T19:28:34Z")
Holy cow! My login still works…it’s been a long time… ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/164 "2008-09-04T19:38:02Z")
> [@Velma](#): > > Just let my charter member status lapse last April. I wasn’t here much after having another baby, and I was getting tired of what seemed to be same-old, same-old around here. I checked back every once in a while and now I see lots of people coming back, and it looks like it is going to be fun around here again, so that is great! > I thought I would be a regular ‘member’ now, will we always be guests? (I know, I should be checking ATMB threads or whatever. But that forum is so _boring_. ) > > If I am a guest here, I expect to be treated more politely 🙂 You will eventually have a member status of some sort and a post count. At the time the members become Subscribers or something like that and the Charter Members will stay the same. I found it here: [http://209.104.5.198/sdmb/showthread.php?t=481092](http://209.104.5.198/sdmb/showthread.php?t=481092) > [@](#): > > A) Current Guest users will have their membership level renamed to Member and we will remove the restriction of only being able to post for 30 days. Search capability will be enabled. Users at this level will be shown banner ads, Google Adwords, etc. Users at this level are asked not to thwart our attempts to display advertising to you. In return for viewing that advertising capabilities that were restricted to paid subscribers in the past will now be available. > > B) Current Member users will have their membership level renamed to Subscriber. Yearly subscriptions will continue for those that don’t want to see advertising or want to support the message board financially. We’ll also be turning off the Google Adwords ads that currently are being displayed to all users. > > C) Current Charter Member users will not have their membership level renamed. Yearly subscriptions will also continue at half the current subscription price. We’ll also be turning off the Google Adwords ads for Charter Members. Welcome back, I always enjoyed your posts. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/165 "2008-09-04T19:52:06Z")
Holy crap, some names out of the past. Welcome back! ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/166 "2008-09-04T20:15:32Z")
thanks, **What Exit** I recognize a lot of the names here - I didn’t even realize how many people had left until they came back! ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/167 "2008-09-04T20:22:05Z")
Holy buckets. How the heck did you folks stand going for years and years reading without posting. I think I’d have exploded, and I’m not really that prolific of a poster. Welcome back all. (Mmmm. Fresh blood) ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/168 "2008-09-04T20:33:28Z")
> [@Lucretia](#): > > Hi there! Hot and dusty at the moment, thanks to currently being in Bagram, Afghanistan. It’s quite nifty to see all the MAD names I remember so fondly! I’ll take your hot and dusty and raise you … hot and dusty here in South Texas. (You know, you didn’t have to move halfway around the world to get your daughter away from my brother;)) ---
**Author:** ![Kismet68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/47e85d/32.png) [@Kismet68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kismet68)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/169 "2008-09-04T20:53:58Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > And the '99ers think that they’re something special. Here’s somebody who’s been around since 1485 or so! I look damned good for my age, too! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![JaneSaintClair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JaneSaintClair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneSaintClair)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/170 "2008-09-04T20:54:42Z")
Wow!!! It’s good to be here… I lurked for years and was frankly too intimidated by all of the AMAZING people on here to join. Then I worked up the courage to join as a guest last year, fully intending on paying for my membership when the free welcome expired. But then I heard that the board was going to be free, so I just held on and waited. But I feel like I know all of you already! ---
**Author:** ![Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/13edae/32.png) [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interconnected_Series_of_Tubes)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/171 "2008-09-04T20:58:10Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > Holy buckets. How the heck did you folks stand going for years and years reading without posting. I think I’d have exploded, and I’m not really that prolific of a poster. Well, you guys seemed to have a pretty good handle on things. ---
**Author:** ![Neeps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a183cd/32.png) [@Neeps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neeps)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/172 "2008-09-04T21:00:35Z")
I have nothing to add that hasn’t been said - been luking for a long time, and will probably continue to do so! Love you guys. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/173 "2008-09-04T21:04:06Z")
> [@Neeps](#): > > I have nothing to add that hasn’t been said - been luking for a long time, and will probably continue to do so! > > Love you guys. Still…going…to…lurk? That sequence of words really doesn’t mean anything to me. I dun get it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/174 "2008-09-04T21:09:30Z")
I joined in August 2000. I subscribed at first but didn’t reup because I had a lot of other stuff going on. At that time I had well over 3000 posts. I don’t really have the time to hang out on the dope but I’m POSTING BECAUSE I CAN. I may have missed the boards more than I thought I would ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/175 "2008-09-04T22:01:18Z")
This is by far my most successful thread. It is good to see so many familiar names from back in the day. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slip\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slip\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slip_1)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/176 "2008-09-04T22:10:30Z")
I had a paid membership … then let it lapse. Have been reading ever since, although I didn’t post much as a rule. ---
**Author:** ![\_Undecided\_Adrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/eada6e/32.png) [@\_Undecided\_Adrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Undecided_Adrian)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/177 "2008-09-04T22:23:52Z")
Hi all, I’ve lurked here as well for a year or two and used the board as my personal ProcrastinationMachine ™ I’m excited to see how that will go now I can post… Can I skip the squid and go straight to the pie? ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/178 "2008-09-04T22:29:26Z")
I joined up in 2000. Then my computer went and outdated, I ran into a bunch of financial problems and, when I got back online I noticed the site had gone pay-to-post as they’d been threatening. Even though I had the money, I wasn’t willing to pay for hamster-fueled timeouts and difficulties in posting and access. Now that it’s free again and appears to be running properly, or at least faster, I’m glad to be back. I’ve missed this place. ---
**Author:** ![darkgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@darkgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/darkgoddess)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/179 "2008-09-04T22:42:08Z")
This is my second post, always loved the Dope. I hope many of the 99’ return I’d love to know what they have been up to. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/180 "2008-09-04T22:50:55Z")
> [@'\[Undecided](#): > > Adrian;10153456’]Hi all, I’ve lurked here as well for a year or two and used the board as my personal ProcrastinationMachine ™ > I’m excited to see how that will go now I can post… > > Can I skip the squid and go straight to the pie? No. Now you get squidded and you get to shave the gorilla. To room 402 with you. NEXT! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753.md?page=10)