# Rules of Shotgun! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 22, 2001, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-of-shotgun/88785 "2001-10-22T02:16:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-of-shotgun/88785/1 "2001-10-22T02:16:34Z")
Of course, I am talking about calling the seat and the rules pertaining to it. 1. The first rule of shotgun is you do not talk about shotgun! 2. The second rule of shotgun is you do not talk about shotgun! 3. You can only call shotgun when you are on your way to the car and only when you are outside the main building you are in. You may call in garages. 4. You must honor a call for shotgun. 5. You must also honor all clauses. 6. After shotgun is called, “not-bitch” may be called. Clauses: (must be called by driver) Suvival of the fittest- first one inside the car sitting in shotgun gets it. Used primarily to resolve conflicts over who called it. Pretty Woman- At the driver’s discretion, one (1) pretty girl may be given shotgun instead of the caller. Bitch- If the Pretty Woman Clause has been called, and there remains at least one other pretty woman, the driver may nominate her to sit bitch in the back. So everyone is straight on the names for the seats, we will go clockwise from the driver. Driver- driver, duh. Front passenger- Shotgun Back right- Turret, or Bonnie Middle- Bitch Back left- Cargo, or Clyde Optional- front middle is front bitch Add clauses, rules or alternate names for the seats. Enjoy the new-found order in your life. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-of-shotgun/88785/2 "2001-10-22T02:17:44Z")
I’ve always played that you have to be able to see the car before you call shotgun. ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-of-shotgun/88785/3 "2001-10-22T02:24:07Z")
The driver will allow the person with the most similar musical tastes to ride shotgun so that he/she may operated the radio dial. Thus, a country music fan (wishing to ride shotgun in an otherwise rock-oriented car) who called “shotgun” first may be denied in favor of a fellow rocker. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-of-shotgun/88785/4 "2001-10-22T02:24:52Z")
I’ve always played under the stipulation that as long as everyone traveling in the car are together, it’s safe and valid to call shotgun at that point. The car doesn’t need to be in view, the driver doesn’t need to have his hands on his keys, and you don’t need to be outside, just ready to go. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-of-shotgun/88785/5 "2001-10-22T02:29:38Z")
I always played by the “you have to see the car.” Then the following sequence occured. 1.) shotgun 2.) BLITZ! This is called by a challenger. The two then take off in the direction of the car. Whomever hits the roof of the car first wins shotgun. 3.) Golden: This means the person is calling the return trip right then and there. My little sister and I always tried screaming “ShotgunNoBlitzGolden!” before each other in a desperate attempt to get shotgun. I once fell playing shotgun and scraped the hell out of a pair of Doc Martens. So becareful, kids. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-of-shotgun/88785/6 "2001-10-22T04:08:47Z")
Me and my buds play by the same rule as **El Elvis Rojo** , as long as everyone traveling in the car is there, and you are officially on your way to the car, shotgun can be called. We also require EVERY seat to be called. We call them by different names, though. The seat behind shotgun is shotgun-backdoor, the one behind the driver is 'shotgun-other-backdoor, and of course, bitch. If one was cruel, and quick enough, he could call all four spots and make everyone else walk. But, if he can’t make use of all the seats, the driver assigns the remaining spots (the caller still gets shotgun.) Also, GF’s and BF’s have automatic constant shotgun in their SO’s car. And if someone is to drunk to drive their car and hands to keys to someone else, they have automatic shotgun as well. The driver can also call reload, and all seats must be recalled. And if, for some reason, someone must get out of their seat (to use an ATM, for instance) they must call ‘fives’ on their seat, or it is up for grabs. We also call shotgun on other things, in place of calling dibbs. Such as the last can of soda, or the remote. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-of-shotgun/88785/7 "2001-10-22T04:19:21Z")
I am 6’3" unless your taller I get shotgun…unless its a VERY roomy car. ---
**Author:** ![blur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dbc845/32.png) [@blur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blur)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-of-shotgun/88785/8 "2001-10-22T04:32:31Z")
[Here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?thradid=69849) is another thread where the rules of shotgun were discussed. My freinds have always played by calling when you are outside and can see the car. ---
**Author:** ![blur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dbc845/32.png) [@blur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blur)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-of-shotgun/88785/9 "2001-10-22T04:57:43Z")
[Shotgun](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=69849) thread from a couple of months ago, try two.