Yet another thread about the changes for membership in DU3 (trust me, this is the best one)...

[Rabblevox]

Kidding about that last.

(no I wasn't)((OK, time to go back on the meds)) (((NO IT'S NOT!))) ((((i want puppies))))

Back to reality.

Nothing has changed yet.

Skinner, EarlG, and Elad are NOT the DLC, they are NOT a corporation, they are NOT the enemy.

They might very possibly be screwing the pooch with the new membership pricing. My initial reaction to it is negative, but DU and it's owners have earned the benefit of the doubt. Only time will tell, and time will not say shit until it actually goes into effect.

I never minded the quarterly fundraising. It's fun watching Grovelbot inch across the screen, and seeing him (is it a him?) riding into the sunset makes me a bit sad. I've kicked in $5-10 when I could, not worried about it when I couldn't. Buh-bye, Grovelbot!

I'm going to miss the feeling when someone anonymously bought me my first star. I'm going to miss the feeling of being able to anonymously buy a star for others. It felt good, and was affordable. At $42/year, not.

The smart thing to do is pony up now during this fund drive, and have your membership grandfathered to DU3 and check it out. Will I renew next November? Who knows? It gives me plenty of time to think and evaluate the new board. I do know that for years this has been the site I've spent the most time on, day in and day out, and I don't mind paying to support the unique, active, and inspiring community here.

I believe fully that all members, paid or not, must have access to reading, posting and PM'ing. As long as that is maintained, the rest is fluff and details.

I also believe, that despite being a Monday morning, that I have had a very long weekend at Occupy Portland, and it's time to bong-up.

That is all.

[leftstreet]

1. Will paying subscribers get their posts deleted? Can they be Tombstoned?

[Rabblevox]

2. Paying members have always had their posts deleted, threads locked, and risked tombstoning...

I don't see anything changing there at all. Believe me, I've had plenty of posts deleted and threads locked over the years as a paid member.

[leftstreet]

3. ....for as little as 5 or 10 bucks though, right?

Americans are bizarre capitalists. Once you give them a mandatory payment amount they expect something in return.

[sharp_stick]

4. If you do it at $3.50/month

all you'd need to do is cancel the payment after you've been tombstoned.

That is of course assuming they make it easier to quit DU than it ever was to quit AOL back in the 90s? I remember the fight I had with them when I tried to can Mom's AOL after she switched to broadband and yet continued to pay the "You've got mail" assholes for almost a year.

[leftstreet]

5. There will be gnashing of teeth and keyboards over this. God will slay many kittens

...before things calm down anyway

[Lochloosa]

7. But will they get a refund?

:evilgrin:

[jtrockville]

6. I'm pretty sure Grovelbot is either male or lesbian

Seeing as how (s)he had a crush on the ROV back during the Deepwater Oil Rig Disaster:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8444171

(assuming the ROV is female)

* waves "bye" with a white hanky to Grovelbot, then cries *

[Kali]

8. k and r

and your post is better, but my subject line is more informative

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2306045


otherwise I would have kicked this sooner:P