# Why I renewed. Why you should too. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 1, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163 "2005-04-01T02:13:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163/41 "2005-04-02T04:57:08Z")
Okay, I just re-upped. I think everyone else should renew, too, because it makes it more interesting for me when interesting people stick around. And, let’s face it, this really is a community. I’ve been guilty in the past of being one of the “it’s just a messageboard” crowd, but I’ve been reconsidering that lately. This message board is an invaluable tool for someone like myself (ie old) to interface with the overwhelming world of technology, and sort the gold from the dross. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163/42 "2005-04-02T05:04:00Z")
My two cents worth. Two cents is how much it costs for an hour, if you average one hour a day, on the board. I am sure I do. I will, although I haven’t yet. I won’t pay enough to become a Grand Wizard, though. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163/43 "2005-04-02T06:00:40Z")
Ooh, I want to be a Grand Wizard. Or maybe a Grand Poobah. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163/44 "2005-04-02T15:56:01Z")
I renewed becuase I _love_ being uncivil and suggesting OPs be banned in paranormal threads. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163/45 "2005-04-02T16:01:26Z")
Is it ok if I imply that the only reason the OP started this thread is because he’s an attention whore? Everyone else who has started a thread on nOT re-upping has been branded by the insult… ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163/46 "2005-04-02T16:28:24Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > I probably ask, on average, at least one question a month in GQ that saves me $10.00 or more in time and frustration; some are worth much more than that. See, I’ve been realizing that just hasn’t happened for me. Most OPs I’ve posted in GQ have resulted in very disappointing answers - or non-answers. Maybe you’re better at asking questions, or think of more interesting questions than I do; I don’t know. Great Debates never seem to get substantive. Give me the name of the poster in a given GD thread and I can tell you their position without reading it. I can’t think of a GD thread in which anybody’s mind was opened, much less changed. Cafe Society, IMHO, MPSIMS and the BBQ pit are bad habits I need to break to be a more productive member of society. I don’t give a damn about all the soap-opera lives being lived in these pages; I don’t follow them. They’re not influencing my decision in the least. If I ever have a question I need answered where I hit a dead end with google or my library, maybe I’ll consider buying a new membership then. And then I’ll probably be frustrated with the answers that are clearly no more factually based than what I could make up at a cocktail party. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163/47 "2005-04-02T16:58:28Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > \ > > Hence, the decision to renew was anacephalic. The ability to read and participate in GD, the Pit, Cafe, IMHO, etc., is just gravy to that roast. > \ I’m renewing because this Board increases my vocabulary with new words lsuch as “anacephalic” but I don’t think the OP used it correctly. The word refers to a medical a child born without a brain. “Anacephalic” describes a person’s specific medical condition and is not a $10 replacement for the slang phrase “the decision was a no-brainer.” ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163/48 "2005-04-02T17:55:19Z")
Thanks, **Norinew.** I’m renewing because I get so much enjoyment and entertainment from this place. News I would have missed, TMI threads that give me the giggles, wonderful stories of people’s lives. And almost everyone can spell! There is no other place on Earth like the SDMB. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163/49 "2005-04-02T18:11:58Z")
I renewed a week or so ago. I think when some form is asking me what my race is, instead of putting down the usual, I will jot down for race: Doper. Religion: Anti-ignorance. It will be slightly more interesting than my usual " Hasidic Jew Fiji Islander" that I put on the 2000 census. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163/50 "2005-04-03T19:49:11Z")
I’m an attention whore! Renew! ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163/51 "2005-04-03T19:58:11Z")
> [@](#): > > _Delores Reborn said:_ > There is no other place on Earth like the SDMB. Gotta disagree. My local Mason’s lodge is EXACTLY the same as the SDMB. Right down to the font styles and new “candystore” buttons everywhere. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163/52 "2005-04-03T23:00:19Z")
Well, I renewed, not to Make A Statement but because it’s cheap and it’s worth it to be able to do searches for certain posters. > [@bup](#): > > I don’t give a damn about all the soap-opera lives being lived in these pages; I don’t follow them. They’re not influencing my decision in the least. Then you’re a better man-and/or-woman than I am. A big part of what was turning me off the place was the feeling that I just couldn’t trust the people on the board anymore, after seeing all the gossip, and back-biting, and popularity contests, and personal grudges, and axe-grinding, and attacking posters’ personalities instead of what they’re saying. But I figure, ah well, the place isn’t as mature and perfect as I’d originally perceived it, but there’s still a higher hit-to-miss ratio on here as any other message board I’ve ever seen. Only way to avoid that is not to do it yourself. I’m not going to be as “open” on here as I have in the past, and that’s probably best for me and everyone else. > [@bup](#): > > If I ever have a question I need answered where I hit a dead end with google or my library, maybe I’ll consider buying a new membership then. And then I’ll probably be frustrated with the answers that are clearly no more factually based than what I could make up at a cocktail party. Strictly IMO, but I think that’s kind of the whole point of this board. It’s probably blasphemous to say this, but you know Cecil Adams doesn’t _really_ know everything – he’s very good at research, and presents the findings in a very entertaining way. The column and the boards have an obligation to be entertaining (or enlightening) first, factually correct second. That’s why there are disclaimers all over the place not to take the word of someone on here over a trained medical/legal/whatever professional. That’s why the tone of the boards is one of skepticism, to question everything you read and get cites instead of taking any individual’s word as the gospel. Everyone has the same access to google and libraries; what you get here is people who can take that same information and present it in a better way – funnier, more profound, more insightful, or just more accessible. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163/53 "2005-04-03T23:24:56Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > The column and the boards have an obligation to be entertaining (or enlightening) first, factually correct second. Let me disagree with your order. The column and the reports offered by staff members are supposed to be **first** factually correct, and **second** entertaining. While this doesn’t always happen, it’s the intent of the writers to be factually correct. When they’ve failed, it’s usually because they did their best but didn’t have access to data that would cement their position. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163/54 "2005-04-03T23:26:46Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Gotta disagree. My local Mason’s lodge is EXACTLY the same as the SDMB. Right down to the font styles and new “candystore” buttons everywhere. > > 😉 So, they left the new smilies? The SD didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163/55 "2005-04-03T23:45:40Z")
> [@bup](#): > > I can’t think of a GD thread in which anybody’s mind was opened, much less changed. Would one example count? I have been changed, I have learned, I have seen other people’s point of views, I have gained new respect for other people’s positions and am definitely a better person because of this message board. There have been more than one issue, in which I had never had contact with the people involved, and suddenly there are people here willing to tell me their side of the story and that’s been invaluable for me. My opinion on Christianity, atheism, raising children, sexual identity and gender, political views, etc. have been cemented or changed because I was exposed to things that people either don’t address in real life or because I don’t personally know anybody that is “affected” by these issues. I have gotten a lot of laughter and entertainment here, but that’s not why I joined, paid and renewed; it is because when I have questions that I am too shy to ask in real life (like “how many years did you try before you finally got pregnant”) I got good answers. Not all my questions have been answered to my satisfaction, but I get few things in life to my satisfaction. I am not telling you to stay, just that just because you don’t hear a lot of “Hallelujah! I have seen the light!” here doesn’t mean that people are not privately changed by what they learn here. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163/56 "2005-04-04T15:15:14Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > I totally disagree with the way management dealt with the _Euphemistically named Event_ … I have no idea what anybody is referring to here. That makes me glad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-renewed-why-you-should-too/297163.md?page=2)