# Who's not renewing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 8, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522 "2008-05-08T03:05:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/101 "2008-05-10T04:40:12Z")
[Quote=Miss Purl McKnittington] I’m not renewing and have, in fact, decided to leave the Dope. [/quote] Well, the “post your pix” threads are going to suffer. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/102 "2008-05-10T06:29:23Z")
[QUOTE=John Carter of Mars] Please say it ain’t so! There are only about a half-dozen of us farm folk here as it is. I’d hate to see you go. If feeding all those calves is getting you down, maybe I could arrange some help or something… [/QUOTE] Sorry, John! I will miss you. It’s always nice to hear from a beef guy, since not too many folks around here raise beef cattle, and it’s a different approach than dairying. Ah, nuts. Now I’m feeling bad. > [@tomndebb](#): > > Well, the “post your pix” threads are going to suffer. Ah, Tom, you’ll make me blush. Just look at [this picture](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:ZZTop_SharpDressedMan_Single_1983.jpg) whenever one rolls around and know that I am there in spirit. (I’m the short one on the left.) ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/103 "2008-05-10T11:51:35Z")
[QUOTE=SiouxChief] Wow, you’re from Cincinnati? All this time, and I had no idea (guess I don’t really pay attention to such things). I’m from West Chester. Howdy Neighbor! [/QUOTE] I’m from West Chester, too. I had no idea I lived near a SiouxChief. Hellllooooooooooo! ---
**Author:** ![DaveLister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f0a364/32.png) [@DaveLister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveLister)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/104 "2008-05-10T12:13:34Z")
Pssst - here’s a secret that many seem to have missed. There are NO ads when using Firefox with Adblock plus installed. None. Nada. Not on The Dope or _any other_ web pages for that matter… ---
**Author:** ![chicken\_wire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@chicken\_wire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicken_wire)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/105 "2008-05-10T12:58:56Z")
[QUOTE=DaveLister] There are NO ads when using Firefox with Adblock plus installed. None. Nada. [/QUOTE] I know, I’ve been using that combination for ages. That didn’t discourage me from signing up and forking out the $15 just recently though. Won’t stop me from paying out for the premium service in 11 months time. Aren’t I nice? You could do the same, you know? Just saying. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/106 "2008-05-10T14:14:28Z")
[QUOTE=DaveLister] Pssst - here’s a secret that many seem to have missed. There are NO ads when using Firefox with Adblock plus installed. None. Nada. Not on The Dope or _any other_ web pages for that matter… [/QUOTE] Yup. I tried to be a little more discreet in the comments I made in a couple of messages (in case TPTB decided not to take kindly to explicit discussion about circumventing their revenue stream), but you’re right. You could probably also just twiddle your hosts file appropriately if you didn’t want to use Adblock. As I said before, I did renew, so the rest of this message doesn’t (currently) apply to me. Ad blockers bring up an interesting ethical issue here. Many people would need to explicitly **permit** SDMB to show ads, since many people are currently blocking ads. It’s trivial to add SDMB as an exception if you are using Adblock, not so trivial if you are using a brute-force method like twiddling your hosts file. So, for those people, the three choices are to pay $7.50 or $15 to not see ads, pay nothing and do nothing to not see ads, or pay nothing and do something (maybe easy, maybe not) to see ads. I somehow doubt that many people who are currently blocking ads will take the third option. ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/107 "2008-05-10T14:34:33Z")
I renewed a few days ago. I’m just not going to worry about whether I spend $7.50. Whether I continue to post, however, is another matter. [QUOTE=Miss Purl McKnittington] I’m not renewing and have, in fact, decided to leave the Dope. The administration is the main reason, but I also am turned off by some trends I’ve noticed among the membership. So Saturday will be my last day here. [/QUOTE] I truly apologize for singling you out, but your post seems to have taken a number of people by surprise (myself included). We’ve never interacted to the best of my knowlege, and you seem to stay above the fray in the ATMB/Pit threads with respect to SDMB policies. And yet the continuing trend here has been enough to convince you to leave. I am seeing this more and more with other posters; whether it is a groundswell of dissatisfaction or just normal turnover remains to be seen. As I’ve posted in other threads, the lost content from valued posters leaving the fold should be far more important to the SDMB than the rather insignificant revenue from posters renewing. If this trend continues, I see the SDMB ending not with a bang, but with a whimper. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/108 "2008-05-10T16:17:32Z")
I still like the board well enough, but I am enough of a cheapskate that I’d feel dumb paying to renew if they end up going to free posting again soon, so I’m going to wait it out. Hopefully I’ll see you guys again soon! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/109 "2008-05-10T18:20:14Z")
Every year there is a thread like this and every year it’s the same. Most of the people who claim that they are leaving end up not really doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/110 "2008-05-10T18:24:14Z")
[QUOTE=hajario] Every year there is a thread like this and every year it’s the same. Most of the people who claim that they are leaving end up not really doing it. [/QUOTE] I think it’s a little different this year – if you don’t pay, there’s a chance you’ll still get to post in a short while. That hasn’t happened before. Maybe hope can upgrade the server! ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/111 "2008-05-10T19:02:10Z")
[QUOTE=hajario] Every year there is a thread like this and every year it’s the same. Most of the people who claim that they are leaving end up not really doing it. [/QUOTE] I’m not leaving, I’m just not paying anymore. However long it takes them to figure out how to turn on ads is however long I’ll be gone. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/112 "2008-05-10T19:12:23Z")
I haven’t decided yet, but I really need to soon seeing as how my subscription is up today. Although I don’t like the way the board is run and don’t really want to give them my money, I do spend a lot of time and most of my postings in Cafe Society and the Game Room. Easily the hardest decision of my life. By Far. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/113 "2008-05-10T23:19:57Z")
I did not want to read this thread, it makes me very sad to see so many who will not be returning. I know that I am not a heavy poster but I have been around for a long time and visit every day. Following the conversations and comments makes me feel like part of a community and it is heartbreaking for me to see long time members leave. ☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹ ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/114 "2008-05-10T23:24:41Z")
**Icerigger** So far, I can only think of one person who said they were leaving. Most of us said we’ll be back as soon as the board goes to free posting. Personally, I expect to be gone a month at most. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/115 "2008-05-10T23:35:05Z")
People come, people go. I’m always here wherever I’m at, though. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/116 "2008-05-11T01:05:26Z")
I renewed a couple of days ago. I didn’t want to put it off too long and miss the deadline. I guess the joke will be on me if they go free in the next couple of days, but oh, well. I’m with **FriarTed** , that CM designation is sometimes all I seem to have. Besides, I’d miss the place. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/117 "2008-05-11T15:22:13Z")
I’ll be back when it goes free. I don’t care about charter member status, but I do love this board for being able to answer nearly any question I have. I could never leave permanently, and I would probably pay if that was the only way I could post or read. But, I need to start cutting out unnecessary expenses, and I can’t see paying to post if it is going to be free soon. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/118 "2008-05-11T15:36:58Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] People come, people go. I’m always here wherever I’m at, though. [/QUOTE] Yep, me too. I renewed a couple days ago, so I wouldn’t have a gap between next week (when my membership expires) and whenever we go to free posting. I probably won’t pay next year, though – ads don’t bother me enough to pay to avoid them. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/119 "2008-05-11T23:32:59Z")
Wow, I’m seeing a lot of Guests all of a sudden. Good thing I’m just a lowly “member” and all paid up and stuff. I get to wait a few months and see what happens and the worst that can happen is - I’m a member! ---
**Author:** ![Dusty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@Dusty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dusty)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522/120 "2008-05-12T01:45:15Z")
I’m not sure what timezone this board is running on, but I’ve probably only got a few hours to go. I only very hesitantly paid last time, and after a year of the same old promises, the same old excuses, the same and even worsening problems, and finally this laughably transparent money grab only weeks before the pay-to-post experiment comes to a close, there is no chance I will ever give the Straight Dope any more money. I don’t care if it is only $7.48. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-not-renewing/448522.md?page=7)