That’s right, folks - we launched the Web version of the Straight Dope Message Board in 1999. After five years of raucous debates, scintillating repartee, and general good times, we figure we’ve got you pretty well hooked. It’s time to put the arm on you. The SDMB is switching to paid subscriptions.
Questions? Here are some answers.
Why subscriptions? Why now?
Let’s put it this way. When we began this little experiment, we hoped to answer two questions:
(1) Will the SDMB draw a smart, lively crowd who will dedicate themselves to the struggle against ignorance and be a credit to The Master? ANSWER: With one or two exceptions, yes.
(2) Can we make any money at this, or at least cover our expenses? ANSWER: For years 1 through 5, no. For years 6 and beyond, we’ll see.
It’s been five years, folks. We’ve had a blast, and our guess is you have too. We want to keep this thing going. But we gotta pay the rent.
How much?
A one-year subscription costs US $14.95.
How do I subscribe?
Click on “subscribe” in the menu bar at the top of any SDMB page. You’ll be shown a screen listing your subscription status and payment options. Just follow the directions. We accept payment by major credit card or PayPal.
What does a subscription get me?
[ul]
[li]Posting privileges for one year.[/li][li]The title under your name says “charter member.”[/li][li]Post count (i.e., number of messages you’ve posted to date appears with your username)[/li][li]Ability to search the massive SDMB message database[/li][li]Ability to view member profiles[/li][li]Biographical info included with each post (optional)[/li][li]Other cool stuff that we throw in later, possibly including private messaging, SDMB calendar, custom signatures, and “who’s online” feature. *(This list edited by EZ 3/19/04.) * [/ul][/li]What if I don’t subscribe?
You can register as a guest. Guests get:
[ul]
[li]Posting privileges for 30 days.[/li][li]The title “guest” under their usernames.[/li][li]No post count, and for that matter pretty much no anything.[/li][li]A nag screen every time they post asking them to subscribe.[/ul][/li]What happens when the 30 days are up?
The next time you try to log on or post, you’ll get a notice saying your guest membership has expired and that if you want to continue posting you need to become a paid subscriber. You’ll still be able to read the boards, though.
Do subscriptions mean the board will run faster?
We make no promises, but we’re hopeful. The board ran reasonably well after our server upgrade in November 2002, when we had 3,500 current members - that is, people who had posted within the last 30 days. Shortly before switching to subscriptions we had 7,000 current members and the board ran slowly - OK, it crawled - during peak times. The practical capacity of the board, i.e., the largest number to whom we can provide decent service, is somewhere between those two figures. Our initial subscription drive attracted 3,800 users, more than we expected, and traffic hasn’t declined noticeably. We’ll see how things shake out. For now we’ll just say this: If board performance improves, we won’t be surprised.
Will I be getting anything else for my money?
Well, you don’t get a tote bag, if that’s what you were hoping for. On the other hand, you’ll be helping to put the SDMB on a sound financial footing, thereby ensuring its continued existence and making this a better world.
What happens to my posts when my guest membership expires?
Nothing, except that the title under your username will change from “guest” to “inactive.”
Why do you have to charge? How much can it cost to run a message board?
Plenty. Jerry and his fellow tech geniuses get paid. Little Ed gets paid, believe it or not. Periodic server upgrades, the monthly data line fees, 3-in-1 oil for the hamster wheel - it all adds up.
I can’t afford $14.95!
Come now - it’s comparable to what you’d pay for a magazine subscription. An annual payment of $14.95 works out to about four cents per day. You can raise that kind of money checking behind the couch cushions.
Wouldn’t it be better to solicit donations, get more advertising, or [insert your moneymaking suggestion here]?
We’ve considered and in many cases tried the obvious ideas. None provides a steady revenue stream. We’re not sure subscriptions will either, but they have the advantage of tying income to traffic.
If I subscribe, does that mean I can’t get banned?
No. All rules remain in effect. If you misbehave so badly that you get banned, you forfeit your subscription money. We like that part.
In the event of a board outage, will my subscription be extended?
Yes. If the board goes down for an appreciable length of time, we’ll extend everyone’s subscription by a corresponding amount.
What if not enough people subscribe? Won’t the board go into a death spiral?
At the moment we’re not too worried - 3,800 paid subscribers is a pretty healthy showing. We’ll be monitoring progress closely over the next few months and will make adjustments if need be.
All that having been said, let’s face it - this is the moment of truth. We think the SDMB is one of the best boards on the 'net. We’re charging what we think is a modest amount of money. The old system of no fees and lousy service wasn’t cutting it. We think it’s time to give the mighty power of capitalism a try.
And if I don’t have a credit card,do I just stick the notes in a brown bag and hide them under the stone by the door?