# 25 years on the SDMB, and I still don't know the secret handshake **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 19, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-years-on-the-sdmb-and-i-still-dont-know-the-secret-handshake/1021088 "2025-07-19T20:35:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-years-on-the-sdmb-and-i-still-dont-know-the-secret-handshake/1021088/61 "2025-07-21T16:59:03Z")
Or, “Have you let Cecil into your heart?” ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-years-on-the-sdmb-and-i-still-dont-know-the-secret-handshake/1021088/62 "2025-07-21T17:58:50Z")
“Only when the fat man does his laundry”. I would recommend you simply produce your 1920s style death ray, which obviously many people generally carry to airports and such. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-years-on-the-sdmb-and-i-still-dont-know-the-secret-handshake/1021088/63 "2025-07-21T19:43:54Z")
I feel like I’ma relative newcomer here. And really I am. Only 13 years. But my guess for the secret code words would be, I’m bringing cookies. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-years-on-the-sdmb-and-i-still-dont-know-the-secret-handshake/1021088/64 "2025-07-23T10:55:12Z")
Wait! Maybe the secret handshake is “No! Pressuring someone to shake your hand is evil!” ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-years-on-the-sdmb-and-i-still-dont-know-the-secret-handshake/1021088/65 "2025-07-23T12:03:14Z")
These are the 6 official steps of the SDMB Secret Handshake™. You must also bleat like a goat—enthusiastically—or it doesn’t count. This ritual is secret, sacred, and slightly stupid. Do not share it… unless bribed with pie. [![](https://i.imgur.com/dx2Qf0L.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/dx2Qf0L.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-years-on-the-sdmb-and-i-still-dont-know-the-secret-handshake/1021088/66 "2025-07-23T12:07:09Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > This ritual is secret, sacred, and slightly stupid. Do not share it… unless bribed with pie. Mmmm… Sacrilicious ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-years-on-the-sdmb-and-i-still-dont-know-the-secret-handshake/1021088/67 "2025-07-23T15:01:21Z")
Now I’m confused . . . is it a multi-layered comment such as: “_Pardon me Sir/Madam, but Cecil burning your dog hello Opal!_” while extending an unsocked hand? Tripler Cat hair/dog hair doesn’t matter. Socks belong on feet. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-years-on-the-sdmb-and-i-still-dont-know-the-secret-handshake/1021088/68 "2025-07-23T15:03:29Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > “_Pardon me Sir/Madam, but Cecil burning your dog hello Opal!_” while extending an unsocked hand? Then you take the offered hand and say “Gotcha ya!” ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-years-on-the-sdmb-and-i-still-dont-know-the-secret-handshake/1021088/69 "2025-07-25T05:48:50Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > “Cite?” I thought just uttering the above codeword would be enough. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-years-on-the-sdmb-and-i-still-dont-know-the-secret-handshake/1021088/70 "2025-07-25T05:55:50Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Then you take the offered hand and say “Gotcha ya!” I thought the correct response was, “‘Rio’ by Duran Duran. Gotcha ya!” Did I miss a memo? ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-years-on-the-sdmb-and-i-still-dont-know-the-secret-handshake/1021088/71 "2025-07-25T13:07:09Z")
That was valid only once, in the 1990s, for 30 minutes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-years-on-the-sdmb-and-i-still-dont-know-the-secret-handshake/1021088.md?page=3)