# What if I don't want to be a "Charter Member" **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 23, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798 "2004-03-23T00:24:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/41 "2004-03-23T21:14:15Z")
They’re all Marxists anyways. ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/42 "2004-03-23T21:29:28Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > If we go to a premium subscription plan (premium members pay a higher fee, but get more privileges) that’s one of the benefits that’s been talked about. HOWEVER, the moderating staff would still have final say as to the appropriateness of user-selected titles. Soooo… we could pay _more_ to _not_ be “Charter Members”. I laughed so hard I nearly fell off my polo pony. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/43 "2004-03-23T22:24:06Z")
Polo pony? Must be a rental…“Guest.” ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/44 "2004-03-23T22:47:23Z")
> [@Una Persson](#): > > I rather like port, and tried cigars on a dare. I also like the title too. > > And you know why? Because we deserve it. We’re the risk-takers. The daredevils. We’re the ones who slammed our chips down on the casino table on number “36” and silenced the laughter. We were shown a map to the New World and supplied ships, supplies, and a hundred men, stout and true. We funded the “manhattan” project to serve the greater good. We stepped forward from the crowd and said “I, Spartica, will pay!” We lit the fuse, pulled the pin, signed the form and laughingly tossed our immortal souls into the wind. Applause to **Una** as well. (I love the last sentence I quoted: the “We lit the fuse” one), and ditto. I’m quite comfortable, assuming I can’t have “Idol of millions” as my custom user title, having “Charter Member”. It has…panache. And it’ll seperate us from the Riff-Raff\* I strongly recommend that if there really are people upset by this, that they be allowed to just have “subscriber” under _their_ names while the rest of us bask in our titled glory. Fenris, Charter Member. \*As opposed to the Columbia or the Brad or the Janet ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/45 "2004-03-24T00:16:39Z")
> [@Flash-57](#): > > … it won’t be long before posters are completely ignored or ridiculed for not having the “right” tag under their name. In my experience **most** people around here are adults. Adults act as adults, no matter the “tag” under people’s membername. Salaam.A ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/46 "2004-03-24T00:31:50Z")
> [@GMRyujin](#): > > You type by yourself? Really, what a terribly medieval idea! I let the butler do it. He’s typing right now. Say hello, Wadsworth. Hello. Well _obviously_ one would normally let one’s help take care of such matters but I’ve sent Dickins into town to fetch new coolie hats for the gardeners. Mrs Bright is _ever_ so particular about such things. Besides, Dickins isn’t much of a typist anyway. If he was fully literate, he might learn to _read_. Good heavens! Think of the consequences for ordered society if one of _hoi polloi_ started _reading_! There would be revolution! England would start to look like _France_, for God’s sake. Anyway, as I say, I was rather hoping we might actually spruce this club up a bit, you know, make it worth belonging to. I talked to that **Zotti** fellow but he refused to tell me whether he had any plans for the addition of doormen. Appears there won’t be a bar either. I mean, really… what good is a gentleman’s club if one can’t enjoy a dry Gimlet? ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/47 "2004-03-24T00:38:38Z")
All of a sudden the gaff is awash in David bloody Nivens wearing Smoking Jackets; aka \*\* Dexter Haven’s\*\* ultimate fantasy writ friggin large. It’s the Philadelphia Story run amok in cyber space, for fucks sake. Whoops ! Bottoms up, mine’s a large one . . . ---
**Author:** ![Jojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecd19e/32.png) [@Jojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jojo)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/48 "2004-03-24T00:43:23Z")
I say, who let that Calling fellow in? Rather a rough diamond what, what? Oh shit, I’ve just realised it says guest under my name so I can’t get into the club by blag. Hmm…rethinks tactics ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/49 "2004-03-24T01:09:44Z")
> [@Jojo](#): > > I say, who let that Calling fellow in? Rather a rough diamond what, what? > > Oh shit, I’ve just realised it says guest under my name so I can’t get into the club by blag. Hmm…rethinks tactics Terribly sorry, old chap, but you don’t appear to be a member- may I ask what you’re doing here? Oh, you _aren’t_ a member, is that it? Well then, begone, peasant! We’ll inform you when the chimney flues need sweeping; until then, you may crawl back into whatever hole you came from. Brixton, I should imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Flash-57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/839c29/32.png) [@Flash-57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flash-57)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/50 "2004-03-24T17:07:14Z")
> [@Aldebaran](#): > > In my experience **most** people around here are adults. Adults act as adults, no matter the “tag” under people’s membername. Then again, I don’t see that it’s the children of the world starting wars and burning crosses. Adults are far more prejudicial than children. Let’s hope that “guests”, around here, are treated the same as “members”. In my experience on other boards, that normally isn’t the case. ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/51 "2004-03-24T17:25:14Z")
Flash, My guess on this is that anyone who tries to make a “disitinction” between those who paid for membership and those who visit as guests, shall find himself (to begin with) in the title of a thread on the BBQ-thing. I don’t name that place a “forum”; I consider it to be a rather childish addition to this message board. But in this case I would even applaud the use of it to educate those who think they are adult yet act like schoolchildren. Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/52 "2004-03-24T19:27:53Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > If we go to a premium subscription plan (premium members pay a higher fee, but get more privileges) that’s one of the benefits that’s been talked about. HOWEVER, the moderating staff would still have final say as to the appropriateness of user-selected titles. YAY! Thanks, Lynn! 🙂 :runs off to think of a clever title: ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/53 "2004-03-25T00:29:22Z")
> [@Flash-57](#): > > But, it won’t be long before posters are completely ignored or ridiculed for not having the “right” tag under their name. I’m with **Aldebaran**. Ridiculers will get their heads handed to them by others with the “right” tag and probably a mod or two. And to directly contradict your dire prediction, we already have two pieces of information to distinguish posters: post count and registration date. I’ve **never** seen any poster ridiculed solely because of a lower post count or recent registration date. > [@Flash-57](#): > > I think Groucho once said something wise about joining clubs. Shakespeare said something far wiser about names which I’m sure the vast majority of Dopers agrees with. And Groucho’s statement wasn’t really wise, it was more like a paradox, i.e., a joke. > [@Flash-57](#): > > Then again, I don’t see that it’s the children of the world starting wars and burning crosses. Adults are far more prejudicial than children. In some areas, perhaps. But see “Lord of the Flies”, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2004, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/54 "2004-03-25T07:55:09Z")
I like “Charter Member” too. It sounds like a prestigious title (and no, I won’t use it to be snooty). Please don’t take mine away! 🙂 > [@Fenris](#): > > \*As opposed to the Columbia or the Brad or the Janet Or the Cleo or the Mungo or the Heathcliff. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/55 "2004-03-26T19:22:08Z")
This whole ‘charter member’ business just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I’d rathe be a paying ‘guest’, or blank for that matter. Please do something! Creativity! ---
**Author:** ![DaveW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DaveW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveW)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/56 "2004-03-27T02:50:50Z")
**rowrrbazzle** wrote: > [@](#): > > I’ve **never** seen any poster ridiculed solely because of a lower post count or recent registration date. No, instead they do it to themselves. At least, they used to, quite often, in the Pit. As in “you’re just pitting me because I’ve got a two-digit post count,” written in response to someone with a post count in the thousands. If I remember correctly, it appeared to me to be a sort of last-ditch defense, when the subject of scorn didn’t want to admit to being an idiot or a jerk, yet all other rationalizations of the behaviour that got them Pitted had failed. As such, I have little doubt that we will see plenty of posts which say, in effect, “you’re only saying those mean things to me because I’m a guest” (or _not_ a “Charter” member). Sort of like, in real life, people claim that bad things are done to them solely because they’re black, or female, or young, or disabled, or gay, or whatever. Mind you, in the world at large, where interaction between people often means more than just an exchange of ideas, these claims are probably more often correct than not, but here, where a person’s title isn’t going to affect their job or home or health, _almost_ all such claims will simply be whining. ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/57 "2004-03-27T08:37:31Z")
> [@Una Persson](#): > > I rather like port, and tried cigars on a dare. I also like the title too. > > And you know why? Because we deserve it. We’re the risk-takers. The daredevils. We’re the ones who slammed our chips down on the casino table on number “36” and silenced the laughter. We were shown a map to the New World and supplied ships, supplies, and a hundred men, stout and true. We funded the “manhattan” project to serve the greater good. We stepped forward from the crowd and said “I, Spartica, will pay!” We lit the fuse, pulled the pin, signed the form and laughingly tossed our immortal souls into the wind. > > They told us it was a drunkard’s dream - a fools quest. A lie told to small choldren to make them feel better. Stories whispered by a secretive Byzantine Cabal. Ed Zotti would take our money and load up his Mercedes with Canadian Sex Slaves and Keystone Light and head to Vegas ala Hunter Thompson. He’d light his Havana cigars with our credit card receipts, laughing at us - laughing at YOU, yes YOU, **TheLoadedDog**. Mocking you and your value system. TubaDiva would get a gold-plated bidet. Lynn would get that new Weatherby rifle she wanted. Dex would finally get his beautiful, perfect, android body. xash would get his circus elephant. All funded from our sweat and toil. wrung from us like blood from the proverbial turnips. > > But we did it. I did it, you did it, we all - well, most importantly, I did it. It is for History to decide if our actions make us “monsters” or “messiahs”, not you or I. But until then - God DAMN it - I want my title. For taking my $5 TO THE EXTREME!!! Here! Here! I’m such a maverick, I signed up _without ever having posted before_. I lurked a lot, though… Hi everybody! 🙂 ---
**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:** [March 27, 2004, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/58 "2004-03-27T08:46:22Z")
Welcome **JellyBlue**! ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2004, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/59 "2004-03-27T09:24:42Z")
> [@1920s Style Death Ray](#): > > Welcome **JellyBlue**! Thanks, **1920s Style Death Ray**. I particularly appreciate it when someone takes the time to color my name correctly. 😃 ---
**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:** [March 27, 2004, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798/60 "2004-03-27T11:04:16Z")
Yeah, it’s just a shame that the [wobble] tag isn’t working :). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-dont-want-to-be-a-charter-member/235798.md?page=4)