# Should I join the SDMB? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 31, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946 "2004-05-31T18:48:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wasabee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f05b48/32.png) [@Wasabee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wasabee)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/1 "2004-05-31T18:48:37Z")
My guest membership is coming up in a few days… I’m debating joining. It’s paying for a message board though… there are tons of free MB around… but this one is so good. It’s not that much money… but it is money… What do you guys think? Should I stay or should I go now? ---
**Author:** ![luluBahrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e5b9ba/32.png) [@luluBahrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luluBahrain)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/2 "2004-05-31T18:50:34Z")
I say stay. But then again I am biased. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/3 "2004-05-31T18:51:26Z")
Well, you’ll probably get a lot of one-sided arguments here since you’re pretty much asking the opinions of people who decided that it is worth paying for. I’m no different - I say stay. I spend hours and hours here every week, so when I add that up over a year’s time, the subscription fee is nothing compared to the entertainment I get out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/4 "2004-05-31T18:54:26Z")
I’ve noticed that since SDMB has gone to subscriptions, the number of interesting threads has gone down. Of course, that’s subjective; but I liked it when new people would pop in and ask stuff. Now, someone might be a guest and have some great input; but then they go away, never to be heard from again. So out of selfishness, I think that more people should join; just so that I have more stuff to read and respond to. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/5 "2004-05-31T18:55:01Z")
This is arguably one of the best message boards anywhere on teh entire internet. I don’t think you’ll find as diverse, intelligent and interesting a group anywhere, at any price. I, too, say stay. $15 a year is definitely not too much to pay for _this_ message board. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/6 "2004-05-31T18:56:00Z")
BTW: If you _were_ a bee, what are you now? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/7 "2004-05-31T18:57:14Z")
If you are a student on a budget: Stay. The fee is worth it for the source of wisdom alone. If you are employed: Definately stay. For a person with a wage the board is _virtually_ free. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/8 "2004-05-31T19:01:52Z")
What’s so wrong about paying for a message board? TANSTAAFL This is still the cheapest accumulation of esoteric knowledge on the planet. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/9 "2004-05-31T19:05:25Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > TANSTAAFL I give up. What does that mean? ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/10 "2004-05-31T19:07:07Z")
There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/11 "2004-05-31T19:08:31Z")
I agree. Where else can you see and instantly find out the meaning of huge, ungainly acronyms such as “TANSTAAFL?” And even better that **Lobsang** always seems to beat me to the point of my post? ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/12 "2004-05-31T19:13:38Z")
Look at it this way - it’s only roughly .00284 cents per minute. Try getting that rate with a 900 number. Don’t pull a **PorkChop** on us - stay! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/13 "2004-05-31T19:13:58Z")
Why the hell not? C’mon in and keep enjoying the fun. Haj ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/14 "2004-05-31T19:18:39Z")
You can continue to read the boards after your 30 days have run out – you just can’t post or search. Why not lurk a bit until you know for sure whether or not this is the place for you? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/15 "2004-05-31T19:23:02Z")
\*Stay, ahhhh Just a little bit longer Please please please please please Tell me that you’re gonna Now your server don’t mind, And your PC don’t mind, If we have another thread, dear, Just one more time. Stay, come on come on come on, stay Stay, come on come on come on, stay\* ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/16 "2004-05-31T19:25:32Z")
Well, since the OP really _wants_ to stay and seems to be likable and such, I don’t really think that counts as “Pulling a PorkChop.” That’s more of a self-destructive Troll move. And as we all know, this board does not suffer PorkChops lightly. ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/17 "2004-05-31T19:34:52Z")
> [@Gorgon Heap](#): > > Well, since the OP really _wants_ to stay and seems to be likable and such, I don’t really think that counts as “Pulling a PorkChop.” > > That’s more of a self-destructive Troll move. > > And as we all know, this board does not suffer PorkChops lightly. Okay, I confess - I just wanted to get a **PorkChop** reference in. I wasn’t seriously comparing **Wasabee** to him. 😃 And **Wasabee** , there are probably still Dopers who are willing to sponsor new members, if money is an issue. If not - if you’re just hesitant to pay for a message board - well, it’s your choice, but I personally can’t think of a better way to spend fifteen bucks. Hoping you decide to stay… 🙂 ---
**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:** [May 31, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/18 "2004-05-31T19:38:24Z")
See **Make your “pay my subscription fee” request here!** in ATMB. I ran out of sponsorship money (I’m a student on a budget) but there were plenty of other offers in the thread that were never taken up. If you can’t find one, e-mail me. There are a few people who asked me to sponsor somebody with their money so they could remain anonymous, who I didn’t find sponsorees for. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/19 "2004-05-31T20:09:56Z")
_ **silenus** _ **"Stay"** Song originally recorded by **Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs** later covered by Franky Valli then Jackson Browne See that Wasabee? Where elese could you learn the saga of that song? Plus, the fee is cheap for the info you’ll gain here. Google charges for _each_ request. ---
**Author:** ![Ashkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Ashkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashkicker)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946/20 "2004-05-31T22:34:01Z")
I say stay. This is a great group of people here. You have endless knowledge with many varied views on life. STAY [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-the-sdmb/247946.md?page=2)