# The SDMB Charter **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 19, 2006, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375 "2006-05-19T04:44:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheOnlySaneOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@TheOnlySaneOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheOnlySaneOne)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/1 "2006-05-19T04:44:06Z")
So, it’s been a few years since the board went pay-option. We lost a good few people then, and have lost a few more since to lack of time, drama, and any number of other things. But a few still retain that proud title 'neath their name: Charter Member. As Charter Members, should we not have a Charter? As such, I propose the following, to ensure everyone knows just what we stand for. Feel free to add on. WE the Og-fearing, forward thinking denizens/old fogeys of the Straight Dope Message Board, do hereby put forth this charter, and proclaim that we shall uphold the following provisions in the fight against ignorance: 1. You shall not be a jerk. Others may hold different beliefs than you, but this is no reason to be rude to them, and to deny them the chance to speak their mind in this Forum. Jerkishness is one of the leading causes of the struggle against ignorance’s delay. Next? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/2 "2006-05-19T04:53:27Z")
Pie is a staple food, and should always be brought. But not stupid food, and certainly not for breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/3 "2006-05-19T04:58:30Z")
#3 is no longer “hi Opal” ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/4 "2006-05-19T11:57:47Z")
> [@Seven](#): > > #3 is no longer “hi Opal” Fine, what is it then? Is seven the new three? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/5 "2006-05-19T12:12:16Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Fine, what is it then? Is seven the new three? Black is the new three. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/6 "2006-05-19T12:14:24Z")
Ummm… Do not ork the cows? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/7 "2006-05-19T12:24:45Z")
The plural of anecdote shall sometimes be data. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/8 "2006-05-19T12:31:48Z")
Thou shalt not leave thy computer on and [unattended](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=333640) ---
**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:** [May 19, 2006, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/9 "2006-05-19T12:39:56Z")
May a mere member make a suggerstion? If so always remember to Turn off the Power before using a [Tool for extracting a broken light bulb?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=353356) Jim ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/10 "2006-05-19T20:31:01Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > May a mere member make a suggerstion? > \Jim No. Just kidding! ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/11 "2006-05-19T20:55:14Z")
When mentioning your cat in any post, you must _always_ post pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/12 "2006-05-19T20:58:43Z")
Especially if said cat is for dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/13 "2006-05-19T20:58:59Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > The plural of anecdote shall sometimes be data. I think you misspelled _always_. Wrong forum transgressions shall be punished by 10 days in solitary with **The Grapist**. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/14 "2006-05-19T21:05:03Z")
Rule number six: There is no rule number six. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/15 "2006-05-19T21:15:40Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > Pie is a staple food, and should always be brought. But not stupid food, and certainly not for breakfast. Addendum #1. Posters shall not make disparaging remarks about what others order to drink in bars, and only the only one to determine if someone is a ‘picky eater’ is the one doing the eating. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/16 "2006-05-19T21:15:51Z")
> [@Mbossa](#): > > When mentioning your cat in any post, you must _always_ post pictures. Same goes for new DoperBabies. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/17 "2006-05-19T21:27:35Z")
> [@Troy McClure SF](#): > > Especially if said cat is for dinner. I’m gonna give you the benefit of the doubt (and ignore your sig) and assume your _for_ is the opposite of _against_, Yes, this rule applies double to cats who wholeheartedly support the doctrine of dinner. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/18 "2006-05-20T01:06:05Z")
The power to enforce this charter, and all the regulations within, shall be granted to jackbooted mods weilding 1920’s Style Death Rays. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/19 "2006-05-20T01:41:36Z")
This idea will never take off… …especially if it’s on a treadmill. (Oh, and for the umpteeth time, **I’m sorry.** ) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375/20 "2006-05-20T02:00:51Z")
The right to mock any poster for spelling, grammatical and/or typographical errors in any post shall belong only to Charter Members. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-charter/357375.md?page=2)