One of the perks of buying a membership.
I didn’t buy a membership. I don’t know why it says that. 
Somebody, the kind soul, bought it for you.
It’s not common, fortunately.
Because you were banned and unbanned. I believe that changed your user group. I don’t think anyone bought you a subscription (you’d know). In any case, sorry for the trouble and thank you for your patience and positive attitude while we worked this out.
Such a mysterious adventure this has been. When does all the excitement die down?
After the goat, or is it squid this month?
You guys have goats?? I get a goat?? OH BOY!!!
I can’t believe I found this place!
You’ll be less excited after you meet Marissa.
I prefer a boy goat. :dubious:
So would Marissa.
-D/a
Except for everybody, that one time…
You know, just after you got your grubby, evil hands on the ‘Administrator’ controls. 
[QUOTE=Marley23, who continues with:]
Because you were banned and unbanned. I believe that changed your user group. I don’t think anyone bought you a subscription (you’d know). In any case, sorry for the trouble and thank you for your patience and positive attitude while we worked this out.
[/QUOTE]
Which brings up the question: “Why aren’t we all now ‘members’, then, since we were all resurrected from your board-wide ban?”
[sup]squared[/sup]
Bumping this thread beacuse it was just mentioned and linked (for no obvious reason I can tell) in another nearby ATMB thread today (10/11/2012).
Now, upon re-reading this thread, I caught a subtle nuance I missed earlier:
You can surreptitiously (sort-of) become a real MEMBER of SDMB simply by getting banned and then unbanned? Now that’s a cool perk!
Now it’s clear why some users deliberately sass the mods and get themselves banned (commonly called “suicide by mod”)! It’s a strategy to become a paid member for free! They’re gambling on being able to sweet-talk the mods into letting them back!
Has anyone gathered any statistics on this? What are the odds of success?
ETA: Besides, there seems to be a fashionable trend of bumping old ATMB threads going on just lately.
Anyone can become a Member (you too) by paying the yearly subscription fee of $15.