# The SDMB is switching to paid subscriptions **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 18, 2004, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724 "2004-03-18T18:26:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/141 "2004-03-18T23:41:17Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > Well, I for one will NOT be subscribing. Not because I am too cheap, or because I think information should be free, or because I’m going away mad. No, I will not be subscribing because I have been spending WAY too much time on the SMDB, and this will give me a much-needed excuse to take a break. You say that NOW, but you’ll be back for your fix, oh yes, you will! ::evil cackle:: ::rubbing hands:: > [@Gaudere](#): > > Special bennies: we may at some point institute a “higher” level of member (for a nominal charge, or course) that might get goodies like a custom title, avatar, french kisses from Ed, etc. And if that doesn’t work, we might implement a plan where the “higher” level of membership DOESN’T include french kisses from Ed. ---
**Author:** ![legion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@legion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/142 "2004-03-18T23:49:38Z")
I’m in. I’m also betting that Fathom will benefit, membership wise, from this. (Currently 2127) ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/143 "2004-03-18T23:49:51Z")
Count me in! However, I do have a slight complaint: > [@](#): > > Your custom signature automatically appended to your posts I’m thinking this could end up being a problem…I mean, right now we kind of have an unofficial rule that a person can’t put their sig several times in a post…now, they don’t have a choice? ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/144 "2004-03-18T23:53:17Z")
> [@j66](#): > > Does any one need a chemist? When you find someone who does, ask 'em if they need a chem tech, too. ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/145 "2004-03-18T23:56:21Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > You say that NOW, but you’ll be back for your fix, oh yes, you will! ::evil cackle:: ::rubbing hands:: > > And if that doesn’t work, we might implement a plan where the “higher” level of membership DOESN’T include french kisses from Ed. Sign me up for that level now. Actually, you could make some _real_ money auctioning French kisses from the mod/administrator of your choice, bachelor auctions at Dopefests… ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/146 "2004-03-19T00:05:10Z")
Sorry, forgot to say that, like most people posting here, I’m in. $5 for a year of the SDMB? Sheesh. No brainer. The problem is that I, like Musicat, don’t have a credit card. I can scrounge the money - just need to send it to someone with working plastic. Anyone who’s willing to make the this transaction - feel free to email. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/147 "2004-03-19T00:05:55Z")
People have mentioned the likelihood of repeat topics due to the loss of the search function for guests. Likely this will just take the form of many new threads that consist of two posts, one on the old topic and second from a member linking to the right thread. In effect, guests will be forced to use members as their search engines rather than searching themselves. Thus, I do not think the search engine should be restricted to members only. If you can post, you should be able to search. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/148 "2004-03-19T00:08:37Z")
Oh, and somebody mentioned their posts/day ratio. I have to be near the bottom with around 0.15, especially considering how long I lurked before joining. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/149 "2004-03-19T00:10:54Z")
I have to pay for a service that I find enjoyable? This is outrageous! What are you, a bunch of communists?!? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/150 "2004-03-19T00:16:36Z")
I may not post much, but I read the SDMB every day. Lately, it’s been as slow as molasses (at least, for me), and if by going to a paid subscription, there’s a chance I’ll see a performance improvement, then I’m in. And even if not, it’s only US$4.95, so it won’t break me. As long as the credit card service is secure, I plan to still be here. ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/151 "2004-03-19T00:19:49Z")
> [@monica](#): > > I’m thinking this could end up being a problem…I mean, right now we kind of have an unofficial rule that a person can’t put their sig several times in a post…now, they don’t have a choice? I _think_ this means that only subscribers will be able to use vBulletin’s sig function. Guests won’t be able to use it at all. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/152 "2004-03-19T00:29:23Z")
Sounds good–I’ll be signing up. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/153 "2004-03-19T00:30:23Z")
It’s about damn time! I don’t read the Boards that much any more, and post even less, but I’ll be paying for at least the first year as a show of support and a “thank you” for the last few years when I _did_ read and post a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Quint\_Essence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/54ee81/32.png) [@Quint\_Essence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint_Essence)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/154 "2004-03-19T00:32:30Z")
I can only reply “BITE ME” :rolleyes: another fleecing of the “tards”… ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/155 "2004-03-19T00:33:55Z")
Should we pay by credit card, what will the statement say? “Chicago reader”? “SDMB Membership”? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/156 "2004-03-19T00:34:04Z")
> [@monica](#): > > Count me in! However, I do have a slight complaint: > I’m thinking this could end up being a problem…I mean, right now we kind of have an unofficial rule that a person can’t put their sig several times in a post…now, they don’t have a choice? I’m sure you will still be able to un-check it in your user cp. ---
**Author:** ![Quint\_Essence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/54ee81/32.png) [@Quint\_Essence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint_Essence)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/157 "2004-03-19T00:35:46Z")
Seems to me that FIRST you should learn how to actually operate this software in a manner that works most of the time. Get enough bandwidth for your users and THEN possibly talk about paying for this. As it is this is easily one of the slowest most unreliable sites on the net. ANd you want payment for that? Please. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/158 "2004-03-19T00:42:46Z")
Vote with your wallet and your feet then **Quint Essence**. We get your point, you don’t like the idea and you don’t like how the Board is run. Somehow, however, you’ve liked it enough to post over 250 times in a very short time span. It must be really awful for you. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/159 "2004-03-19T00:56:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Get enough bandwidth for your users and THEN possibly talk about paying for this. As it is this is easily one of the slowest most unreliable sites on the net. ANd you want payment for that? Are you _trying_ to get a Whoosh Award? Won’t be sorry to see ya go, buddy, if this is what yer 'tude is like. (“Tards”?) ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/160 "2004-03-19T01:01:08Z")
Pipe me aboard the new SS SDMB. I too thought the annual fee would be high, around $50.00. Anyone should be able to afford the new rates. We budget for other things in our lives, just add it to the list. Several posters have asked about paying with money orders, I’d like that option also. Would you accept a check? That’d be easiest for me. Thanks, and have you informed the hamsters? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724.md?page=9)