As the first person to respond to this thread, I’d like to point out my waffle before it is noticed. Now that I’ve actually been forced to pay attention to how often I come here for information & entertainment (even though I don’t post often), I’ve decided to give myself a year long trial. If I don’t post more and start using less, I won’t come back next year. I’ve wasted more money on ATM fees. So, I hereby recind my previous post.
I’ll leave after the Guest period ends because:
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I don’t have a credit card and don’t want one.
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I also do agree that with subscription fees it might become as bit much of a “we are all so great and love each other” kind of do.
2a. The taking away of the nr of posts feature is a bit childish, I think. Like I would pay to prove that I’m cool and not a newbie since I haven’t notched up ten million posts. I think that’s the kind of attitude that I’m referring to in 2.
- I sneak in posts during work time. Wasting a few minutes during work is one thing, actually paying to waste my time during office hours seems to somehow go to much against my almost imperceptable “work ethic”.
self pity alert
- I sincerely doubt anyone would really notice my absence. Yes, there might be one or two posters thinking “hmmm, wonder where Pookay is” for a brief moment three weeks after I’ve gone, but basically the board will be fine without me.
Disclaimer: I don’t mean to be all bitter and twisted and I do like this Board. I’m sure we’ll have long “goodbye” threads nearer the cut-off date where we will all cry and virtually hug. 
I too am a lurker here. Being able to search was worth registering for, but I’m not so sure about paying. That, and it would be too much of a hassle 
Oh, and that post about being charged for making the place what it is was an eye opener, I never thought about it that way.
As much as I used to like it here, I’ve kinda drifted away from the board. I don’t have any objections for paying for a message board, but I just don’t come here enough anymore.
I am sad, because I love this MB.
But I will not pay for a MB. The exchange of ideas and information on the internet has to be, to me by priniciple, a free thing.
I’m not upset at the Reader for instituting a charge-- it’s their MB and they can do whatever they want.
I just don’t agree with it. So, I’ll be sadly moving on.
I do think the lack of free input from anyone will make an impact on the SDMB. Maybe not a great impact, but an impact nonetheless. (A downsizing of teeming millions, if you will.)
And nonetheless, I’ll still be a lurker and read up on all the ideas from the great minds staying here.
It’s an enjoyable place.
I’m not subscribing for sure… cya guys around.
Does this mean all threads started by non-subscribing past members will be removed from these forums?
Buckleberry Ferry - Would you consider letting me sponser you? I wouldn’t expect any repayment, and you culd change your pasword as soon as it was done. I, for one, would really miss your posts.
Dinsdale - The same goes for you. I like hearing about your kids, I like your posts.
You are part of this community and it would be the poorer without you both.
StG
Nope. Mr. Visible was referring to the fact that non-suscribers can’t do searches to easily find what they had previously written.
While I appreciate the sentiment, not only would it be costing you nearly $15USD (is that right, at this date?), but it would not be $15USD well spent. I’m starting to find myself less and less likely to hang around here; the times, they are a-changing, I suppose, and there are fewer and fewer threads and topics that catch my interest. Perhaps I shall return someday, but I’m not sure. I’d like this to be less goodbye than “Maybe I’ll see you around.”
Thank you deeply for the offer however; you flatter me. 
No, until April 22nd it would only cost him (or me–I make the same offer) US$4.95. Even if it were $15, it’s not all that much, really. I blow more than that each week on movie rentals And you’re more entertaining to have around.
Now email one of us, dammit!
Again, thank you, but no thank you. It’s not just the money or the fact that the boards seem to be dull to me right now. I have other things going on that I think with go on better without the distraction of this message board. It’s not to say I don’t love each and every one of you; it’s simply that if I’m not allowed to post here after this month, I won’t, whereas if I am, I will, and right now, there are certain things that need my attention more pressingly.
So thank you, but after this month, I shall be a lurker. ::bows:: As I’ve said, perhaps later I will rejoin.
No, Gone4Subs, their threads and past participation will remain part of the Dope. However…
The major changes will be the ability 1. keep posting and 2. tap the seach engine for past material. Anybody can still read the current boards, they just can’t add their own thoughts or look up previous threads.
Check out Ed’s stickied posts at the top of each forum and the discussions in ATMB for the straight dope (snerk, snerk).
Basically the Dope’s exploding popularity finally reached breaking point in relation to its resources. The compromise was to maintain core access for all, but ask $5 to help offset costs to jump into the pool from now on. It gives users a choice about their level of involvement.
For those of you who want to continue to post and do searches but don’t have a credit card, Paypal also accepts debit cards (check cards) which are usually available at no cost through a checking account at the bank.
I’m going to miss some of you youngsters who don’t have access to cards. You’d be surprised how many times your earnestness and hope have kept a light on for me.
Love you,
~Z~ (Zorro complex survivor)
Hmmm.
Looks like BuckleberryFerry is about to make a break for the exit.
Battle Stations!
I’ve been here (in varous forms) for over five years, and this will be my final post.
Good bye, Straight Dope Message Board. I knew something this great couldn’t last forever, but I can’t help being sad anyway now that death is imminent. This board was a big part of my life, and I’ll miss it dearly.
I’m sad to say that I’ll not be returning to the SD either. I’ve been lurking here since way back (ah when I got here all this was open fields you know, had to walk twenty miles to school, barefoot, in the snow etc etc) and its been really really interesting. I’ve killed many a slow hour on the board, gone to DopeFests, even contributed when I thought I had something to say that hadn’t been said ten times before. I’ll miss it.
However, as many have already observed, opinions in threads have been getting polarised more and more quickly over the last two-three years, all the really interesting questions are gone and heck, I don’t agree with being asked to pay to provide the content I’m paying to read. I’ve bought all of Cecil’s books and that’s plenty of support.
Moonshine
I thought long and hard about whether to pony up the money to keep posting here. Decided to take a pass. I might still throw a post in here or there in advance of the April deadline, but if not… Fare thee well and A Dieu.
(Heh - my original plan was to post a retrospective of my “wisdom” of the past 4 years, but then I realized I can’t search to find the threads…)
That’s realy sweet, StG. Thanks a bunch.
Yeah, there is a strong urge to stick around. But the more I think about it, the better this looks as a kick in the pants.
I tend not to be the most motivated person in the world. So I have learned that when my hand is forced, I may be best going along with it and adapting to changed circumstances, as otherwise, inertia might prevent me from changing them myself.
I also have what I kind of consider an addictive personality (I’m sure I’m misusing this term - if indeed it has a generally agreed upon def.) In the past related to alcohol, martial arts, laziness… All too often I find myself scrolling through the forums, trying to find something to read or respond to. While my archaic set-up and the overworked hamsters result in my twiddling my thumbs before a loading screen too much of the time.
I’m not foolish nough to think that in the time I spend NOT cruising the boards I’m going to cure cancer, or even cure my slice, I won’t know what I will fill that time with until I free it up.
I spend so much time talking about my kids because my family is what I spend most of my efforts on. And because trying to learn every day how to be a decent husband and parent is so much harder than anything else I ever imagined. And the folk here have been a wonderful help, in allowing me to bounce ideas off them, reveal myself for the oft-mistaken (tho generally well-inended) ass that I am, remind me that my “unique” parenting issues are anything but, etc.
Thanks again.
I have wondered if I would be better off journalling these thoughts in another form,where they might be more accessible to me in the future and perhaps to my kids, instead of as posts effectively lost in the ether. I’m gonna give it a shot.
I’ll forego a final kid wrap-up other than to say all is going pretty well in casa-Dinsdale. I think all 3 kids might be getting straight A’s in the grading period that just ended. The youngest, who previously seemed to lack direction, seems to really be getting into her bassoon. Oldest kid is getting band and academic letters this year, and is being inducted into the French honor society (unusual for a soph.) Middle kid (8th grade) is looking for ways to earn $ to support his paintballing habit. His desire to spend is installing a decent work ethic in him. He continues DMing D&D, and joined a group of high school kids’ ongoing game. And he is getting really close to Eagle scout.
Had a bit of unpleasantness lately with the 2 older. They had to do audition tapes for HS band placement next year. And neither of them apparently worked hard enough on the required material such that their tapes were nowhere near their ability. Which brings up issues including how much we need to monitor their practicing and lessons, did their teachers drop the ball, what were the kids thinking, etc. No matter how old the kids get, how accomplished they are, and how hard you work, it never seems to let up.
Next week the eldest goes to Hawaii on a trip with her band. The remaining 4 of us are going skiing at Snowbird - where they are having avalanche warnings due to the warm weather!
Thanks again for the nice toughts.
(I would have sent this to StG via private e-mail, but my status as guest prevents me from reading profiles/addresses.)
It’s less of a break and more of a poignant amble. I’ll dawdle around the great mall that is the SDMB until my month runs out, but it’s with the doubts that there will be many impulse buys that are going to pique my interest and get me to hang around. So eventually, on the 22nd, I’ll pass through those automatic doors and revert to window shopping. After that, if there’s anything that I really, really want to buy, maybe I’ll dawdle back in.
Until then, I’ll be around…somewhere…and I just joined Fathom, so I can be found there. (O great mods, I do not advertise, merely mention).