What's the dope on Social Registers?

[Carnac the Magnificent!]

A drunken and distant friend recently boasted to another person at a party that he was listed on the Social Register up in Washington, D.C. His comment provoked a mixture of blank looks and feigned yawns.

Then as now, I really don't know much about Social Registers. How many cities have them? Only larger ones? How does one get listed--what are the general criteria? What purpose do they serve, other than snob appeal?

Discuss.

[Padeye]

Wikpedia.org is your friend. IMHO they appear to be self-delcared groups of snobs.

[Lagged2Death]

Our Fearless Leader has also held forth on this subject.

[spingears]

AKA a Mutual Admiration Society