# Why does it say "guest" under my username?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [June 12, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515 "2009-06-12T02:00:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/1 "2009-06-12T02:00:18Z")

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😕 I’ve been a member for years, and I haven’t gotten any e-mails telling me to renew. (No, not even in my spam folder.)

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**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/2 "2009-06-12T02:26:27Z")

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I’d check the link “Paid Subscriptions” in your User CP. It should tell you when your membership is/was up. Most were due near the end of May, and there’s been stickys in all the forums to remind us. I also got an email to remind me, and there were numerous threads and posts about suscribing, and helping others to subscribe. If you’ve been gone for a\*\* _long_ \*\*time that may explain why you’ve not seen any of this.

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**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/3 "2009-06-12T02:39:36Z")

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I’m sorry you missed the expiration date, which in your case was 5-27-2009.

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**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/4 "2009-06-12T06:16:58Z")

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Looks like I missed it too; I’ve hardly beeen around here at all lately. Oops.

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**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/5 "2009-06-12T13:02:25Z")

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::: sigh :::

I feel bad for all the people who missed resubscribing, however it happened.

I feel worse because there’s nothing I can do to fix the situation.

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/6 "2009-06-12T17:33:49Z")

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How can a non-Charter Member tell when they need to subscribe by to prevent becoming a Guest? I follow the CP \> Paid Subscription \> but see no date listed, No Active Subscription, just Available Subscription and the $ amount. No late May emails either.

Sorry, I bet this is spelled out somewhere really obvious.

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**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/7 "2009-06-12T17:55:42Z")

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If you were once a Charter Member and that has now expired, it cannot be renewed. This is why the system will not show it to you.

To resubscribe click on the drop-down box where it says “Cost.” Then click on the Order button to start the process.

The system displays in this fashion because it’s two different databases of membership – Charter Member and Member.

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/8 "2009-06-12T17:58:39Z")

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Yes, I’m fine with not being Charter but how do I see the date by which I need to resubscribe to prevent losing Member?

I’d not be surprised if I hadn’t paid ahead a couple of years but really can’t remember if I did or not. It’s been awhile.

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**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/9 "2009-06-12T18:37:42Z")

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Hey, I get the notice and made decision that the “advantages” of membership were not worth it, but … it does seem that the powers that be have this set up to eliminate the paid membership model as much as possible and the expressions of sigh and “I feel bad” and “there’s nothing I can do” seem more than a bit contrived.

In short, give us a break. None of us like being bullshitted.

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**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/10 "2009-06-12T18:59:37Z")

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> [@lieu](#):
>
> how do I see the date by which I need to resubscribe to prevent losing Member? .

1. click on “User CP” up in the top left corner of the page.

2. The list on the left hand side of you control panel has a link “paid subscriptions” just click on that, you will see your current expiry date.

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/11 "2009-06-12T19:08:45Z")

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**Peter** , thanks but it doesn’t. I did that (post #6) but there’s no date given anywhere. I presume the reason you see it and I don’t is because you’ve still got “Charter.” I don’t. No biggie but I don’t want to also lose “Member”, yet I can’t see by when I need to subscribe.

There’s a good possibility I’ve paid ahead a couple of years and I suppose a chance all posting might be free by then so it’d be nice to know.

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**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/12 "2009-06-12T19:11:14Z")

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Ah, sorry. Didn’t see #6.

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/13 "2009-06-12T19:24:28Z")

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I can’t see what you’re seeing either, but it’s likely because of my CM status as well.

I agree that it’s nice to be able to check ahead of time or get an email, but I don’t think there are any consequences of a lapsed membership, are there? You just resubscribe when you notice it being expired and you go back to being a member just as if you resubscribed before the deadline. Is there any downside to re-upping after it has lapsed?

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**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/14 "2009-06-12T19:43:13Z")

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AFAIK, whenever a Guest pays, they become a Member - the same as if a Member keeps paying to keep that title, so there is nothing to "lose’ by missing a renewal date. It’s only Charter Members that have something to lose, so they have to renew by May 27th or so (it’s the same date for everyone, originally it was April 28th, but over the years it’s been extended due to server outages and whatnot). I just remember to pay around my birthday (May Day!) and I’m set.

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/15 "2009-06-12T19:50:28Z")

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I see. That’s easy. Thank you very much.

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**Author:** ![TheMadHun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@TheMadHun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMadHun)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/16 "2009-06-12T19:50:33Z")

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> [@DSeid](#):
>
> Hey, I get the notice and made decision that the “advantages” of membership were not worth it, but … it does seem that the powers that be have this set up to eliminate the paid membership model as much as possible and the expressions of sigh and “I feel bad” and “there’s nothing I can do” seem more than a bit contrived.
> 
> In short, give us a break. None of us like being bullshitted.

They sometimes (rarely) put special titles under names, “Perfect Master”, “Winner of the X award” etc. so they certainly could do that if they wanted. I assume they just don’t want to. I think “nothing I can do” means “more trouble than it’s worth to keep track of so many changes”. I’d let it go at that. Your old Join Date is there on every post.

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**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/17 "2009-06-12T21:43:02Z")

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> [@lieu](#):
>
> Yes, I’m fine with not being Charter but how do I see the date by which I need to resubscribe to prevent losing Member?
> 
> I’d not be surprised if I hadn’t paid ahead a couple of years but really can’t remember if I did or not. It’s been awhile.

If you are a current Charter Member your subscription will show up in the “Paid Subscriptions” area of the User Control Panel.

If your Charter Member subscription has expired it will not be visible, as it is no longer a valid paid subscription.

If you are a current Member subscriber that subscription will likewise show in the “Paid Subscriptions” area of the User Control Panel. Since an expired Member subscription can still be renewed (unlike Charter Member subscriptions, which once expired are gone) it may well display differently.

In any event, to resubscribe to the Board go to the User Control Panel, click on “Paid Subscriptions,” click on the drop-down menu box to order, and click the “Order” button to start the process.

And lieu? I show you as being Straight Dope Science Advisory, so you are automatically covered and have no subscription worries.

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**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/18 "2009-06-12T21:47:01Z")

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> [@DSeid](#):
>
> Hey, I get the notice and made decision that the “advantages” of membership were not worth it, but … it does seem that the powers that be have this set up to eliminate the paid membership model as much as possible and the expressions of sigh and “I feel bad” and “there’s nothing I can do” seem more than a bit contrived.
> 
> In short, give us a break. None of us like being bullshitted.

Actually, no. It’s not the same physical system that was used in years past – previously subscriptions were paid through the Chicago Reader classified ad system.

Now the subscriptions run directly through vB – what you see is how vB does it.

And no, Ed Zotti has said publicly on more than one occasion that we need and appreciate subscription revenue. We also need ad revenue as well. Heck, we need everything.

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**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/19 "2009-06-12T22:06:12Z")

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So I’m betting that in 31 days or less, we’ll have another thread started by someone asking where their charter member status went.

Any takers?

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**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-say-guest-under-my-username/499515/20 "2009-06-13T07:50:56Z")

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> [@lieu](#):
>
> **Peter** , thanks but it doesn’t. I did that (post #6) but there’s no date given anywhere. I presume the reason you see it and I don’t is because you’ve still got “Charter.”

This isn’t true across the piece.

I see a subscription expiry date when I take the _CP \> Paid Subscription_ route.

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