I think a better idea would be like premium threads were people pay a one time payment to access these premium threads.

Eh... I wouldn't pay it.

short answer: no
long answer: hell the fuck no.

Just making the use of a legitmate email that you have to click a linky in will help with abusers and such.

A fee just to rant in here would have kept me out and now I could see how these forums would survive with out little superchunky sauce in the middle.

I'm all for there being TWO categories of members. Normal members can post as normal - but paid members (and it could even be an industry level thing, i.e. $50/yr) would get access to paid member accounts, additional information (and so on).

They would also get much deeper charts, and maybe the more hardcore charting options (etc) - basically for professional users.

Even 100 "professional" members would earn the site a cool $5k/yr, which should go a long way towards keeping it running (making it more professional).

(a bit like Xbox live - Silver vrs Gold)

Professional members might also get some limited modding tools (and if they abuse it, they get kicked out and lose their sign-up).

If we eliminated the under 18 crowd could we have a porn discussion forum?

A fee would likely stunt the growth of the site.

Sounds like a terrible idea. You could be like IGN and have a normal account where you can still post in forums and what not but also have a premium account for more detailed charts or something.

This site would be a wasteland in days-weeks if you started charging.

That would be stupid,Since were all going thru tough times you wanna start charging? I dont know if you know this but each time a fanboy argues it gets Brett $,Why get rid of the thing thats making him money?

You shouldn't have to pay for porn, as well as VGC.

I'd just go somewhere else. Why pay to post?