# What are the tags on certain people's profiles (Member, Charter Member, etc.), and what is the criteria for getting these (if there is any)? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 15, 2021, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927 "2021-02-15T04:45:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CorpusNeptune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corpusneptune/32/17561_2.png) [@CorpusNeptune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorpusNeptune)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/1 "2021-02-15T04:45:54Z")
I see on a ton of people’s profiles here they have “Member” or something like that next to their name. Are there certain criteria you have to meet in order to get these? What about custom tags? How do you get those? Help would be appreciated on this. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/2 "2021-02-15T05:09:30Z")
Member means you have to pay a subscription–unlike those of us who are Guest who don’t. Charter member means you became a member in the early days of the Straight Dope Message Board. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/3 "2021-02-15T05:19:10Z")
Custom titles, like paid memberships, are (or at least, were) something that one could get by paying money towards the board’s operating expenses. When we made the transition to the Discourse boards, I believe that the plan was to re-institute things like subscriptions and custom titles, but my recollection is that that system wasn’t yet set up before TubaDiva passed away, just after the transition. I’m not sure if there’s yet a timeline for when those will be available again. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/4 "2021-02-15T07:05:25Z")
In the dim distant past it looked like the boards would go under altogether and funds were needed. An offer was made for people to pay an amount that would entitled them to use the term Charter Member and which would entitle them to discounted membership fees forevermore as long as we kept our subscriptions up. I haven’t been posting in recent years but have started again a little. I keep my subscription going though so that I can lord it over you mere mortals! Mwahaha! ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/5 "2021-02-15T17:38:23Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I’m not sure if there’s yet a timeline for when those will be available again. The subscription system is definitely on the list of things that needs to be fixed around here. At the moderation level, no one has given us any kind of timeline for when it will be addressed. All that I can tell you at this point is that the folks in charge are aware of the issue. I don’t know if custom titles will be included in whatever system we end up using. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/6 "2021-02-15T18:23:04Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > The subscription system is definitely on the list of things that needs to be fixed around here. Thank you for the update! ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/7 "2021-02-15T19:47:47Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > The subscription system is definitely on the list of things that needs to be fixed around here Are there a lot of things that _need_ fixing on the list? I’m pretty happy with everything, although I know others are having problems adjusting and we seem to have lost quite a few posters with the changeover. It’s kind of sad how many posters have a last posting date of June 2020. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/8 "2021-02-15T19:56:20Z")
IIRC the Charter Member status was for anyone who joined before a specific date (which I can’t remember) who also never let their paid subscription lapse. I let mine lapse so I never got to be a Charter Member in the old fashioned way, however the title was bestowed upon me for my brief service as a moderator. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/9 "2021-02-15T22:30:33Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > The subscription system is definitely on the list of things that needs to be fixed around here. At the moderation level, no one has given us any kind of timeline for when it will be addressed. All that I can tell you at this point is that the folks in charge are aware of the issue. Is there any info on whether or when they might appoint an (or more) more active admins? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/10 "2021-02-15T22:40:11Z")
That’s another point that is definitely on the to-do list of the Powers that Be. Beyond that, we don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2021, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/11 "2021-02-16T04:18:36Z")
Well, at least it’s on the list! Thanks, Chronos. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2021, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/12 "2021-02-16T04:28:29Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > IIRC the Charter Member status was for anyone who joined before a specific date (which I can’t remember) who also never let their paid subscription lapse. If memory serves, that date was April 30, 2004. That was when the board went to paid memberships–if you had joined before then, you’d be a Charter Member, as long as you paid the subscription fee before that date. People who joined after that date and paid the fee, were Members. Today’s Charter Members are those who have kept their paid memberships up since then. How many of us Charter Members are there still? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2021, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/13 "2021-02-16T04:30:53Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > How many of us Charter Members are there still? When I click on the “Charter Member” title by your name, it shows ten avatars, and “+371 more.” So, 381 of you, at least according to Discourse. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2021, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/14 "2021-02-16T04:33:12Z")
Thanks, **kenobi\_65**! Never thought of doing that, but now I do, and you answered the question as well. Again, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/15 "2021-02-17T17:44:42Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > When I click on the “Charter Member” title by your name, it shows ten avatars, and “+371 more.” So, 381 of you, at least according to Discourse. This is going to be one long tontine. But all worth it for the ACCESS DENIED at the end. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/16 "2021-02-19T00:35:47Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > don’t know if custom titles will be included in whatever system we end up using. It seems like some posters have figured out a way to customize their tags. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/17 "2021-02-19T03:11:53Z")
Discourse has what it calls “trust levels” where basically members who have been around longer and have done things that make them more “trusted” have permissions to do things that regular members can’t do. We don’t use trust levels and had attempted to pretty much disable them, but our initial settings for that were not correct and some people ended up being promoted to higher trust levels where they could edit titles and could do a few other things that we intended to be done only by moderators. We have since fixed the trust level settings. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/18 "2021-02-19T05:08:15Z")
Yes, I remember that. I was one of the chosen few, for a short time. It seems to me that a couple of crafty IT posters continued after the change. But, I may have the timeline wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/19 "2021-03-23T09:02:36Z")
Now here’s a question - who is the youngest Charter Member? I don’t suppose they are likely to be younger than about mid thirties. ---
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/codinghorror/32/4242_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927/20 "2021-03-24T02:20:38Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > The subscription system is definitely on the list of things that needs to be fixed around here. At the moderation level, no one has given us any kind of timeline for when it will be addressed. All that I can tell you at this point is that the folks in charge are aware of the issue. We at Discourse are happy to help. There is [a groups page](https://boards.straightdope.com/groups/), but those groups ( **Member** , **Charter Member** ) aren’t visible – I assure you they do exist though! It’s as simple as adding a user to the group, then the title can be activated. However, I’m not sure where the billing page is, where you sign up to be a member? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tags-on-certain-peoples-profiles-member-charter-member-etc-and-what-is-the-criteria-for-getting-these-if-there-is-any/932927.md?page=2)