# So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 22, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009 "2010-01-22T17:29:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/41 "2010-01-25T20:41:30Z")
> [@srzss05](#): > > Reconsider what? He just said he is not going to pay to post anymore. He said, and you quoted, “ **If** I participate in the future”. This indicates that participation is something he may decide on, ergo he is not going to participate now. Which I asked him to reconsider. Geddit? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/42 "2010-01-26T03:06:36Z")
I have found myself posting less and less. I don’t see reupping at this time. I may just fade away. The death pool keeps me coming back for now. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/43 "2010-01-26T03:39:09Z")
Perhaps for the sake of the board, we do need to cull the herd. Get some new life, some fresh meat in here, and get rid of the old ti… Sorry, I’m just now getting some breaking news in my earpiece… I’m to report to HR… ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/44 "2010-01-27T09:34:29Z")
1. - **xash** Administrator ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/45 "2010-01-28T02:57:37Z")
And in case no one understood the reference in my previous post: A kind doper has anonymously paid for **Siam Sam** ’s continued membership, via the Gift Membership option. Hopefully, he will return to use it. Thank you, kind doper(s). - **xash** Administrator ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/46 "2010-01-28T09:34:07Z")
> [@xash](#): > > And in case no one understood the reference in my previous post: > > A kind doper has anonymously paid for **Siam Sam** ’s continued membership, via the Gift Membership option. Hopefully, he will return to use it. > > Thank you, kind doper(s). > > - **xash** > Administrator I still don’t get it. I know ‘42’ and ‘thanks for all the fish’ are Hitchhiker references, but what’s that got to do with a gift membership? ---
**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:** [January 28, 2010, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/47 "2010-01-28T09:47:54Z")
Because a gift membership the the SDMB is the Answer to Life, The Universe… Everything! ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/48 "2010-01-28T09:49:33Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > Because a gift membership the the SDMB is the Answer to Life, The Universe… Everything! Silly me! Of course it is. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/49 "2010-01-28T13:39:17Z")
> [@xash](#): > > And in case no one understood the reference in my previous post: > > A kind doper has anonymously paid for **Siam Sam** ’s continued membership, via the Gift Membership option. Hopefully, he will return to use it. > > Thank you, kind doper(s). > > - **xash** > Administrator Since he clearly stated he didn’t want it and that he was “voting with his wallet”, I would say that was a slightly obnoxious doper, not a kind doper. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/50 "2010-01-28T17:17:16Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Since he clearly stated he didn’t want it and that he was “voting with his wallet”, I would say that was a slightly obnoxious doper, not a kind doper. Which brings up an interesting question: What does one do if someone is “kind” and pays for someone else’s subscription when they don’t want it? Is there some way of “giving it back”? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/51 "2010-01-28T17:45:32Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:20, topic:526009”] This may be a foreign concept to you, but there are those of us who like to support businesses that we like. We shop in stores that have good service, even if the Wal-Mart is 50 cents cheaper. We volunteer to help out our local fire departments or hospitals even if they do (_gasp_) sometimes turn a profit. And when we find a message board that’s an enjoyable place to hang out, we volunteer to help out with some of the drudge work of moving threads, keeping things on topic, swatting spammers, and putting up with abuse from people who just don’t get it. [/QUOTE] I have to second this. I’m a mod on four other boards that I participate in; I know where **Gary** is coming from. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/52 "2010-01-28T19:02:01Z")
> [@srzss05](#): > > Which brings up an interesting question: > What does one do if someone is “kind” and pays for someone else’s subscription when they don’t want it? Is there some way of “giving it back”? Not really. I remember a while back when a bunch of people were pissed off about going to subscriptions or something and a few people suggested it would be funny to sponsor the memberships of those who were letting it lapse in protest. I can’t find the thread but at the time mods in the thread said that it wasn’t a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/53 "2010-01-28T21:54:01Z")
Yeah, I have experience with how the pay system is set up. I actually was sponsored by a Charter Member, so the system charged them the Charter Member price. But this wasn’t enough to make me qualify as a member. Jerry had to go in and fix it manually, and even he was unable to do anything about the money. They just had to eat the cost. So what I’m saying is that not even the tech guy can do anything about money once it is already given. And I believe they aren’t legally allowed to accept donations, which would be the end result if Jerry were to manually make **Siam Sam** a Guest. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/54 "2010-01-29T00:19:08Z")
Jerry is the only person who has access to the financial info – he can look at charges and reverse overpayments – he’s done that before. There’s a fix in the works for our Charter Member buying regular subscription bug – though I did see recently where one enterprising Doper just kept buying Charter subscriptions, he bought his regular Member giftees two Charter Memberships each. Jerry had to go in and tweak things to make it come out right but it did equal up. I think there may be a better solution pending, but I don’t think it’s in place yet. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/55 "2010-01-29T16:39:53Z")
I would totally moderate this board for free, and not for selfish reasons; I love this board. I admin a vbulletin board and know how the back end works. But I doubt I’d get hired since I have been a rare poster, though I’ve lurked here over 10 years. Also I’m not sure how much time I’d need to spend. But we’re not all egotistical jerks who just like waving the ban hammer. ---
**Author:** ![Chimpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@Chimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimpy)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/56 "2010-01-29T20:53:18Z")
> [@srzss05](#): > > Which brings up an interesting question: > What does one do if someone is “kind” and pays for someone else’s subscription when they don’t want it? Is there some way of “giving it back”? Sock? ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/57 "2010-01-29T21:11:40Z")
> [@srzss05](#): > > Which brings up an interesting question: > What does one do if someone is “kind” and pays for someone else’s subscription when they don’t want it? Is there some way of “giving it back”? > [@Chimpy](#): > > Sock? Yeah, I actually thought that may be a good way to get rid of the “gift” myself. But if the poster still wants to post afterwards I don’t think it is an ideal solution if caught at it, unless the admins delete the old account and allow the new “sock” account. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/58 "2010-01-30T02:38:28Z")
Well, shoot. My attempt at an economic protest has been scuppered. Thank you, anonymous benefactor, but while I don’t wish to appear ungrateful, it should be noted that my decision not to re-up was not due to indigence. I would have felt better if that had gone to someone actually in need. So now I feel obligated to take out an anonymous subscription for someone to make up for it, which will defeat my economic protest even more. _Sigh_ This place is like the Mafia. You can’t get out of it easily. So where are these Gift Subscriptions anyway? First I’ve heard about them. > [@Marley23](#): > > The graphic novel about the Thai girl was also very interesting, although I can’t think of the title off the top of my head. I’ve always liked it when posters overseas share details about their cultures. And thanks for the pigeon advice. I hope we get some this summer. > [@Surly\_Chick](#): > > Won’t someone please think about the pigeons? The graphic novel is [Shake Girl](http://www.stanford.edu/group/cwstudents/shakegirl/index.html), which I never tire of promoting. About a Cambodian girl actually, the true story of a young Cambodian girl disfigured in a revenge acid attack. Acid attacks are widespread in Cambodia but nowhere else in the region. Dunno why they’re so widely perpetrated there. Will update the pigeon thread soon. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/59 "2010-01-30T20:33:36Z")
> [@xash](#): > > And in case no one understood the reference in my previous post: > > A kind doper has anonymously paid for **Siam Sam** ’s continued membership, via the Gift Membership option. Hopefully, he will return to use it. > > Thank you, kind doper(s). > > - **xash** > Administrator A kind doper paid my way also, for two years for crissake! Sam, you don’t get better people than the Straight Dope Community. Please stick around! ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/60 "2010-01-30T21:48:32Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > The Board was mostly something fun for me to fool around with while enjoying my morning coffee. If it’s no longer that, then I’m not going to waste time or money on it. Believe me, I have a full life over here, and there are other things I can be doing instead. It sounds like you could use a break from the board. Methinks that’s healthy now and then: enjoy! > [@](#): > > And I’ll probably pop in again, especially if I have any questions. …and I hope you feel free to do so. And PS: thanks for the link to Shake Girl: I look forward to reading it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009.md?page=4)