# What is a charter member and how do I become one. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 5, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430 "2011-06-05T20:30:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430/41 "2011-06-08T19:41:08Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > And the third rule is that you don’t talk about the rules. > > And the fourth rule is that you don’t talk about the rule about talking about the rules. > > I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to kill you all now, then kill myself with my last bullet. That’s the fifth rule. Which is against the rules. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430/42 "2011-06-08T20:13:15Z")
That’s true…guns are strictly prohibited here on the Straight Dope. You can use a dull soup spoon though. But when you kill yourself or others for flagrant rules violations you have to do so humanely… -XT ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430/43 "2011-06-08T20:29:37Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > That’s true…guns are strictly prohibited here on the Straight Dope. You can use a dull soup spoon though. But when you kill yourself or others for flagrant rules violations you have to do so humanely… > > -XT Unless you’re in MPSIMS. MPSIMS is strictly a no-kill shelter. Please bring your quarry to the pit for disposal. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430/44 "2011-06-08T21:58:11Z")
However, there is _no way_ to become a 99er. Except to kill one in single combat. And eat his brain. ---
**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:** [June 9, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430/45 "2011-06-09T01:00:45Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > However, there is _no way_ to become a 99er. > > Except to kill one in single combat. > > And eat his brain. That’s not true. I tried it, and it didn’t work. ---
**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:** [June 9, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430/46 "2011-06-09T01:32:58Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > However, there is _no way_ to become a 99er. > > Except to kill one in single combat. > > And eat his brain. **Bosda** , is this the voice of experience talking?😉 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430/47 "2011-06-09T01:47:45Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > However, there is _no way_ to become a 99er. > > Except to kill one in single combat. > > And eat his **brain**. Which is really a conundrum, because most of the 99ers don’t have one. 😃 ---
**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:** [June 9, 2011, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430/48 "2011-06-09T01:52:46Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > However, there is _no way_ to become a 99er. > > Except to kill one in single combat. > > And eat his brain. > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > That’s not true. I tried it, and it didn’t work. Well, truth be told he still defeated me even after I ate his brain. That’s how awesome the 99ers are! ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430/49 "2011-06-09T20:10:13Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > The “Charter Member” tag is a sop for those who didn’t make the '99er cut. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nefarious_chipmunk/32/1045_2.png) [@Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefarious_Chipmunk)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430/50 "2011-06-09T20:19:38Z")
Charter member is for those who arrive fashionably late, but not too late. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430/51 "2011-06-09T20:41:21Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > However, there is _no way_ to become a 99er. Sure there is. Just wait another 88 years… ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430/52 "2011-06-09T20:56:11Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > The first rule of charter membership is you don’t talk about charter membership. > > The second rule of charter membership is YOU DON’T TALK ABOUT CHARTER MEMBERSHIP! 3.) Hi, Opal! * * * Unbelievable! Such lack of practical imagination on a message board devoted to fighting ignorance. And with some being Charter Members, too. OF COURSE there is a way for a brand new poster to become a Charter Member. No silly time-machine necessary. It’s simple! All you have to do is start your own gosh-darn message board! ---
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430/53 "2011-06-09T21:13:22Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > And the third rule is that you don’t talk about the rules. > > And the fourth rule is that you don’t talk about the rule about talking about the rules. > > I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to kill you all now, then kill myself with my last bullet. That’s the fifth rule. You told us you would say that, sir. You told us you would say that too, sir. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430/54 "2011-06-09T21:14:35Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > OK - two things… > > 1. the squid should be DEAD! > 2. you’re supposed to put in your MOUTH! > > Charter members do NOT make Opal references > [@Trans Fat Og](#): > > 3.) Hi, Opal! Huh, I guess I was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430/55 "2011-06-10T17:42:52Z")
Interestingly, there is no poster (charter, regular or guest) named **Charter**. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430/56 "2011-06-11T01:39:08Z")
> [@Wilson](#): > > Interestingly, there is no poster (charter, regular or guest) named **Charter**. (contemplates name change..) -C [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-charter-member-and-how-do-i-become-one/584430.md?page=2)