# Straight Dope Member Info **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 23, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615 "2010-11-23T02:44:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MinkyBinks735](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@MinkyBinks735](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MinkyBinks735)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/1 "2010-11-23T02:44:31Z")
How do you become a “charter member” on here and how do you become a “moderator”? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/2 "2010-11-23T02:48:51Z")
Moving from General Questions to About this Message Board. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/3 "2010-11-23T02:50:41Z")
For the first one, you’ll need a time machine. For the second, thick skin and deep pockets. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/4 "2010-11-23T02:53:11Z")
Charter Members are those who bought subscriptions back when the board first went pay-to-post and have maintained that subscription without a break. They get to renew for half price. It was a one time offer at the time. Moderators, you need to apply for the position. Contact an Admin. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/5 "2010-11-23T02:54:19Z")
Charter Members were the original paying members of the board back when they first started charging a membership fee. Recently there was a one-time amnesty which allowed lapsed Charter Members (like yours truly) to regain their status by paying for two years’ membership up front. There’s some debate about how Moderators attain that status. I, for one, believe they are chosen from the ranks of the elite by grace alone, so you can’t really hope to achieve that rank by works or by faith. But it can’t hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/6 "2010-11-23T02:55:09Z")
“Charter Members” are those who paid a membership fee when this board first began to charge in order to post, and have continued to be paying members ever since. Since then, posting has gone back to free, although a paying members don’t see ads. It is no longer possible to become a Charter Member title. Moderators are selected by the board administration. Those who wish to be considered can send in an application. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/7 "2010-11-23T03:11:07Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I, for one, believe they are chosen from the ranks of the elite by grace alone, so you can’t really hope to achieve that rank by works or by faith. Grace hasn’t picked the moderators for a long time. Most recently we’ve been using an octopus named Ignatius. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/8 "2010-11-23T04:36:02Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Grace hasn’t picked the moderators for a long time. Most recently we’ve been using an octopus named Ignatius. Jokes in ATMB, my my. :o ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/9 "2010-11-23T05:36:04Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Grace hasn’t picked the moderators for a long time. Most recently we’ve been using an octopus named Ignatius. I thought it was the squid ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/10 "2010-11-23T14:14:10Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > I thought it was the squid The squid had an unfortunate…ah, accident. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/11 "2010-11-23T14:25:03Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The squid had an unfortunate…ah, accident. _burp_ ---
**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:** [November 23, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/12 "2010-11-23T14:31:06Z")
> [@MinkyBinks735](#): > > how do you become a “moderator”? I refuse to be a member of a club that would accept me as a member. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/13 "2010-11-23T14:41:54Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The squid had an unfortunate…ah, accident. What kind of an accent did it have? On an related note, how does one become part of the Scientific Advisory Board? ---
**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:** [November 23, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/14 "2010-11-23T14:53:16Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > What kind of an accent did it have? A salty accent. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/15 "2010-11-23T15:04:07Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > What kind of an accent did it have? > On an related note, how does one become part of the Scientific Advisory Board? If you have some deep and specialized knowledge and would like to help out on the SDSAB, contact one of the administrators in a PM. If you’d like to be a moderator, contact a psychotherapist 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/16 "2010-11-23T15:04:16Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > What kind of an accent did it have? The accident involved garlic and olive oil, not Accent. > [@](#): > > On an related note, how does one become part of the Scientific Advisory Board? If you are interested in writing Staff Reports, the best thing to do is to contact **C K Dexter Haven**. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/17 "2010-11-23T15:24:15Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > If you are interested in writing Staff Reports, the best thing to do is to contact **C K Dexter Haven**. I was trying to feed you the line that the SDSAB requires scrupulous attention to detail with the ‘accent’ crack. As it happens, I have some esoteric expertise that no one should ever care about, so maybe I’ll drop the powers that be a line. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/18 "2010-11-23T15:33:12Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > I have some esoteric expertise that no one should ever care about, Perfect! ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/19 "2010-11-23T18:09:47Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The squid had an unfortunate…ah, accident. Bit off more than he could chew? ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615/20 "2010-11-23T19:58:40Z")
**MinkyBinks735** If a [lighter](http://www.colibri.com/)can be a moderator, then I’m sure you can be too. The squid, grace and even Cecil would approve. 🆒 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-member-info/561615.md?page=2)