# How many Charter Members are there? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 18, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465 "2009-07-18T19:54:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/141 "2009-07-29T03:36:25Z")
> [@bonitahi](#): > > Shit! I thought I had that honor. My hat tips to you. Then you missed the post from **Elko** who has a mere 13 posts. 'Nother CM mustering in. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/142 "2009-07-29T03:39:23Z")
I’m here. If we all have enough whisky and wine and beer, will we turn into Chortle members? ---
**Author:** ![jainsafel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@jainsafel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jainsafel)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/143 "2009-07-29T04:05:59Z")
> [@Phantoms](#): > > Checking in. I think I currently hold the record for a charter member with the least number of posts. > [@Elko](#): > > Could be. 🙂 Then again, maybe not… ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/144 "2009-07-29T21:31:05Z")
:salute: ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/145 "2009-07-30T01:53:54Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Of course that may not tell you of the CMs who are still active, but you could search for last post and that would give you an approximate idea. I think you have to assume that anyone who has the Charter Member title is still active, at least once a year no matter how few posts. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/146 "2009-07-30T14:20:14Z")
Wow, I feel special, not only did I get a tote bag, but I also got a mug and the goat head. I did however also get a squid. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/147 "2009-07-30T14:40:17Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > …goat head. I did however also get a squid. Check out _Cafe Society_ for recipes. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/148 "2009-07-30T14:54:52Z")
> [@jainsafel](#): > > Then again, maybe not… Daaamn…now _that’s_ some serious lurking. Ok, now I wanna see a Charter Member who makes their debut post in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/149 "2009-07-30T22:16:06Z")
I’m still a Charter Member, for what that’s worth. I suspect I’ve made too few posts to make much of a difference here but too many posts to impress **Hal Briston**. Story of my life. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/150 "2009-07-31T00:36:13Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Daaamn…now _that’s_ some serious lurking. Yeah, but he’s going wild now. 2003: 0 posts 2004: 0 posts 2005: 1 post 2006: 1 post 2007: 1 post 2008: 2 posts 2009: 4 posts already. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/151 "2009-07-31T13:25:39Z")
So did **Ed** say yea or nay? Can you let us know how many Charter Members there are? ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/152 "2009-08-01T20:26:26Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Yeah, but he’s going wild now. > > 2003: 0 posts > 2004: 0 posts > 2005: 1 post > 2006: 1 post > 2007: 1 post > 2008: 2 posts > 2009: 4 posts already. So by the geometrical progression, by 2025 he’ll be spending 24/7 posting to the boards, just like the rest of us. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/153 "2009-08-02T21:18:00Z")
Hello! ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/154 "2009-08-03T01:29:41Z")
Just checking in - for count accuracy only, y’see. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/155 "2009-08-03T21:01:41Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > So did **Ed** say yea or nay? Can you let us know how many Charter Members there are? I’m curious, too. I also have a related question–how many active posters are there currently? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/156 "2009-08-03T21:20:03Z")
> [@robby](#): > > I also have a related question–how many active posters are there currently? How do you define active? I’m not being snarky here but that’s not a possible question to answer without defining the parameters. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/157 "2009-08-03T22:06:11Z")
I’m here! I’m here! I know it’s too good to be true, but…_I’m…here!!!_🆒 😉 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/158 "2009-08-04T01:18:12Z")
I’m still here. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/159 "2009-08-04T15:01:11Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > How do you define active? I’m not being snarky here but that’s not a possible question to answer without defining the parameters. Those providing the information could use any parameters they feel are appropriate, depending on search capabilities and the amount of effort they are willing to make. Some suggestions: [ul][li]How many posters have made at least ten posts within the last year?[/li][\*]How many posters have made at least ten posts within the last month?[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465/160 "2009-08-04T17:18:44Z")
[QUOTE=hajario;] How do you define active? I’m not being snarky here but that’s not a possible question to answer without defining the parameters. [/QUOTE] As \*\*Frank \*\*said a page ago, you have to be at least active enough to re-subscribe once a year, so the baseline minimum to be “active” is to log in at least once a year. It would be entirely possible to not post at all, yet remain active. Beyond that, we’d need to make our own semi-arbitrary definition of what it means to be active based on post counts or last-visit date. If you want to go by last visit, that’s displayed in everyone’s profile, so the SQL-heads can dink up a query to collect and filter based on that. I don’t know if the date/time of last post is readily available without torturing the system. It would depend on whether “Last post date” is a record kept for all users in their profile or if you’d have to dive into the message database and sort through that. Speaking as a system administrator, I’d be content with defining “active” as caring enough to log in once a year to maintain the “Charter Member” subscription. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-charter-members-are-there/503465.md?page=9)