# So, what's it cost to run this board? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 23, 2001, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-it-cost-to-run-this-board/94854 "2001-11-23T03:49:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-it-cost-to-run-this-board/94854/1 "2001-11-23T03:49:07Z")
Well? I’ll probably subscribe if it’s reasonable, but I’d like to know where my money is going. Mods? If it’s possible, could you give a financial breakdown? ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-it-cost-to-run-this-board/94854/2 "2001-11-23T04:06:34Z")
Sure they will open the books for those with a need to know. However, deciding whether you are going to pay the fee of up to $50, probably doesn’t qualify as **need to know**. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2001, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-it-cost-to-run-this-board/94854/3 "2001-11-23T04:46:03Z")
Well, let’s see here now . . . it’s hardware and software and employee costs and etc., like you would get for any business. I’m not sure if I can put a dollar amount on this stuff, I don’t see the bills. But I’m sure someone in the trade can enlighten us. But the costs include: Whatever it took for the Reader to set up the hardware, the server and etc. The telephone lines in use by the board (and nothing else at the Reader). The cost of the bulletin board software and any attendant upgrades. The cost to service the board, including charges by employees of the Reader and any outside guys brought in. I’m sure there’s other things that cost bux and are necessary to keep the board running but they’re not coming to my tiny little brain right now. When you put all that on one side of the ledger and look at what the Reader gets for all of this, which is mostly goodwill (we’ve had a limited amount of advertising but no other income), you see why going to a subscription basis is necessary. Lots of outgo but very little income to show for it. I promise you any subscription fees charged will not go to, say, big parties for the staff. your humble TubaDiva Administrator though I could use a big party, or even a little one, right about now. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-it-cost-to-run-this-board/94854/4 "2001-11-23T06:44:34Z")
ISTR Ed saying in one of the discussion threads that it was about $45,000 a year. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-it-cost-to-run-this-board/94854/5 "2001-11-23T07:22:50Z")
Does anyone know any rich dopers? Sadly I’m serious… ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2001, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-it-cost-to-run-this-board/94854/6 "2001-11-24T04:34:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TubaDiva \* > \*\*I promise you any subscription fees charged will not go to, say, big parties for the staff. > > your humble TubaDiva > Administrator > though I could use a big party, or even a little one, right about now. \*\* An email is heading your way, Tuba. ---
**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:** [November 24, 2001, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-it-cost-to-run-this-board/94854/7 "2001-11-24T05:02:10Z")
I’m . . . stunned. That’s all I can say, except that I will never see clowns the same way ever again. your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2001, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-it-cost-to-run-this-board/94854/8 "2001-11-24T17:49:58Z")
I input your question Mr Sky, into a powerful search engine ([http://www.google.com/](http://www.google.com/)) & got this URL as a reply: [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mradiomileage.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mradiomileage.html) Maybe there is some hidden code on that page that answers it? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2001, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-it-cost-to-run-this-board/94854/9 "2001-11-24T18:21:48Z")
Ed, I’ve seen a lot of discussion about “what this costs the Chicago Reader” vs. “the audience for the SDMB is international in scope.” May I point out that the Straight Dope is, as you well know, a _syndicated_ column with readership in alternative newspapers nationwide (and for all I know worldwide)? To the extent that anything worthwhile accrues to the Reader from this board, why not share costs to the extent possible with the _Spectator_ here in Raleigh, the Baltimore _City Paper_, and all the other worthy journals who have the wisdom to carry the Straight Dope? And, as a person who has never been in Chicago and never seen the Reader, may I take this opportunity to thank the publishers and staff for starting this thing and carrying it on for over a quarter century?