Comments on: The International Association of Turtles http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 21:55:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: piratealice http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121609 piratealice Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121609 My dad had one of those cards. I wonder what happened to it. My dad had one of those cards. I wonder what happened to it.

]]> By: DoorFrame http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-122634 DoorFrame Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-122634 Ugh, the Turtles are annoying. Ugh, the Turtles are annoying.

]]> By: cheeken http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121623 cheeken Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121623 Interestingly, I was recently doing some research on my dad (deceased a while ago) who had a little green turtle tattooed on his left forearm. No one in the family knew *for sure* what it meant, but after asking around, it turns out he was a Turtle, and seems to have taken it pretty seriously (well, at least as seriously as one can when "You bet your sweet ass I am" is the motto.) It's interesting to see this come up here. Here are some of the pages I ran across in doing my research about my father: <a href="http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/palms/1396/turtle.html">Geocities Turtle Page</a> <a href="http://ruaturtle.com/">ruaturtle.com</a> <a href="http://community-2.webtv.net/turtleybysai/AreYouATurtle/index.html"> Are You A Turtle?</a> <a href="http://community-2.webtv.net/warmrainynight/AreYouATurtle/index.html">Another one</a> <a href="http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/fraternalism/turtles.htm">Masonic Turtles</a> - This one seems to trace the origins of the turtles back to the Masons...it's certainly interesting stuff. Interestingly, I was recently doing some research on my dad (deceased a while ago) who had a little green turtle tattooed on his left forearm. No one in the family knew *for sure* what it meant, but after asking around, it turns out he was a Turtle, and seems to have taken it pretty seriously (well, at least as seriously as one can when “You bet your sweet ass I am” is the motto.)

It’s interesting to see this come up here. Here are some of the pages I ran across in doing my research about my father:

Geocities Turtle Page
ruaturtle.com
Are You A Turtle?
Another one
Masonic Turtles – This one seems to trace the origins of the turtles back to the Masons…it’s certainly interesting stuff.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121882 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121882 Kurt Vonnegut mentiones the "You bet your sweet ass I am!" thing in one of his books, but I forgot which one. According to Vonnegut, whenever he was asked if he was a member of the Turtle society he HAD to yell "You bet your sweet ass I am!" at the top of his lungs, no matter how inappropriate the circumstances... Kurt Vonnegut mentiones the “You bet your sweet ass I am!” thing in one of his books, but I forgot which one. According to Vonnegut, whenever he was asked if he was a member of the Turtle society he HAD to yell “You bet your sweet ass I am!” at the top of his lungs, no matter how inappropriate the circumstances…

]]> By: Wickedashtray http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121633 Wickedashtray Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121633 I had a buddy in elementary school who brought one of those cards in. Always thought it was dumb though it is cool to see the history of it. I had a buddy in elementary school who brought one of those cards in. Always thought it was dumb though it is cool to see the history of it.

]]> By: andy cochrane http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121639 andy cochrane Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121639 Ha!!! I had a friend in high school who was a member of the turtles, I completely forgot about that until I saw the image on this post (I recognized it before I even read the headline or copy). Thanks for the blast back to the past! Ha!!! I had a friend in high school who was a member of the turtles, I completely forgot about that until I saw the image on this post (I recognized it before I even read the headline or copy). Thanks for the blast back to the past!

]]> By: skirtmanwarrior http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-122152 skirtmanwarrior Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-122152 re message 23: the card in question was written by Wally Schirra, and flashed in front of the Apollo 7 TV camera during the first series of live broadcasts from space in October, 1968. The card read, "Deke Slayton, Are You A Turtle?" Slayton was capsule communicator on the ground at the time, and his response was, "I have recorded my answer." He apparently switched off his mike while delivering the "You bet your sweet ass I am." Believe it or not, Time magazine dutifully reported all this, and the story is available on their website: <http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,900413,00.html> re message 23: the card in question was written by Wally Schirra, and flashed in front of the Apollo 7 TV camera during the first series of live broadcasts from space in October, 1968. The card read, “Deke Slayton, Are You A Turtle?” Slayton was capsule communicator on the ground at the time, and his response was, “I have recorded my answer.” He apparently switched off his mike while delivering the “You bet your sweet ass I am.” Believe it or not, Time magazine dutifully reported all this, and the story is available on their website:

< http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,900413,00.html>

]]> By: Gary61 http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-122159 Gary61 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-122159 My girlfriend has a sweet ass .. and I've often 'bet' her in my local 5-card stud poker games (when I'm pretty sure I've got the winning hand). So, I've 'bet my sweet ass' quite a few times .... Do I get honorary membership? My girlfriend has a sweet ass .. and I’ve often ‘bet’ her in my local 5-card stud poker games (when I’m pretty sure I’ve got the winning hand).

So, I’ve ‘bet my sweet ass’ quite a few times ….

Do I get honorary membership?

]]> By: joejoejoe http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121651 joejoejoe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121651 The Turtle Club is mentioned in Tom Wolfe's novel 'The Right Stuff' about the Mercury astronauts. The Turtle Club is mentioned in Tom Wolfe’s novel ‘The Right Stuff’ about the Mercury astronauts.

]]> By: Tavie http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121652 Tavie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121652 "This password must be given if you are ever asked by a fellow member, "Are you a Turtle?" You MUST then reply "You bet your sweet ass I am." If you do not give the password in full because of embarassment or some other reason, you forfeit a beverage of his choice. So always remember the password. " This blew my mind. This was an inside joke between me and my mom, something she told me once when we were visiting the Air & Space Museum in Washington DC. We were looking at astronaut stuff and she told me that astronauts always ask eachother this question, but that I shouldn't tell my sister because the answer was too "grown-up". So it was a secret joke between she and I for years. I had no idea it was based on a secret society. I'm kind of blown away right now. “This password must be given if you are ever asked by a fellow member, “Are you a Turtle?” You MUST then reply “You bet your sweet ass I am.” If you do not give the password in full because of embarassment or some other reason, you forfeit a beverage of his choice. So always remember the password. ”

This blew my mind. This was an inside joke between me and my mom, something she told me once when we were visiting the Air & Space Museum in Washington DC. We were looking at astronaut stuff and she told me that astronauts always ask eachother this question, but that I shouldn’t tell my sister because the answer was too “grown-up”. So it was a secret joke between she and I for years.

I had no idea it was based on a secret society. I’m kind of blown away right now.

]]> By: ill lich http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121653 ill lich Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121653 Holy shit! My dad was an Air Force pilot in WW2 (although he never saw action, and certainly never served in the UK), and he used to use those jokes all the time, including the "Are you a turtle" line, which he transplanted onto another unrelated local club he was in. Holy shit! My dad was an Air Force pilot in WW2 (although he never saw action, and certainly never served in the UK), and he used to use those jokes all the time, including the “Are you a turtle” line, which he transplanted onto another unrelated local club he was in.

]]> By: Tavie http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121655 Tavie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121655 "This password must be given if you are ever asked by a fellow member, "Are you a Turtle?" You MUST then reply "You bet your sweet ass I am." If you do not give the password in full because of embarassment or some other reason, you forfeit a beverage of his choice. So always remember the password. " This blew my mind. This was an inside joke between me and my mom, something she told me once when we were visiting the Air & Space Museum in Washington DC. We were looking at astronaut stuff and she told me that astronauts always ask eachother this question, but that I shouldn't tell my sister because the answer was too "grown-up". So it was a secret joke between she and I for years. I had no idea it was based on a secret society. I'm kind of blown away right now. “This password must be given if you are ever asked by a fellow member, “Are you a Turtle?” You MUST then reply “You bet your sweet ass I am.” If you do not give the password in full because of embarassment or some other reason, you forfeit a beverage of his choice. So always remember the password. ”

This blew my mind. This was an inside joke between me and my mom, something she told me once when we were visiting the Air & Space Museum in Washington DC. We were looking at astronaut stuff and she told me that astronauts always ask eachother this question, but that I shouldn’t tell my sister because the answer was too “grown-up”. So it was a secret joke between she and I for years.

I had no idea it was based on a secret society. I’m kind of blown away right now.

]]> By: FAC33 http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121670 FAC33 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121670 I heard about this years ago back when I was a Usenet junkie and read alt.folklore.urban. I had always thought the *only* thing required for Turtle membership was the "you bet your sweet ass" line. Had no idea they had membership cards and initiation fees. Alas, no one has ever asked me the question. I heard about this years ago back when I was a Usenet junkie and read alt.folklore.urban.
I had always thought the *only* thing required for Turtle membership was the “you bet your sweet ass” line. Had no idea they had membership cards and initiation fees.

Alas, no one has ever asked me the question.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-862286 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-862286 I want a turtle to "Turtle" me in. "So mote it be." I want a turtle to “Turtle” me in.
“So mote it be.”

]]> By: foobar http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121678 foobar Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121678 I wonder why they overcharge non Americans. I wonder why they overcharge non Americans.

]]> By: Alli http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121936 Alli Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121936 Hrmm. When I was in High School in the early 80's, we also belonged to a 'special drinking' group. Woodchucks to be precise. And one had to respond, when asked if you were a Woodchuck with the phrase "You bet your sweet ass I am!" No ID cards tho. I suspect t'was an offshoot of the Turtles, as we lived in a pretty rural area. Haven't met any Woodchucks in years tho. Hrmm. When I was in High School in the early 80′s, we also belonged to a ‘special drinking’ group. Woodchucks to be precise. And one had to respond, when asked if you were a Woodchuck with the phrase “You bet your sweet ass I am!” No ID cards tho.

I suspect t’was an offshoot of the Turtles, as we lived in a pretty rural area. Haven’t met any Woodchucks in years tho.

]]> By: Burns! http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121682 Burns! Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121682 This was a blast from the past for me, too. My grandfather was a Turtle, and I remember hearing about it as a very young child in the early 70s. Hadn't thought of it in over 25 years, but I recognized the password right away. I think I'll join now to carry on the legacy. This was a blast from the past for me, too. My grandfather was a Turtle, and I remember hearing about it as a very young child in the early 70s. Hadn’t thought of it in over 25 years, but I recognized the password right away. I think I’ll join now to carry on the legacy.

]]> By: lautaylo http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121944 lautaylo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121944 OH MAN! I've heard about the Turtles before, but never in this detail. In my circle of friends, we are "Cardinals" - I think someone brought it back from college or something ages ago. Also called "Cardinal Puff". I was told that it descended from the Turtles, but didn't think to look them up. We issue the "Cardinal Challenge" to gain membership: it involves finishing about 24 oz of beer throughout the task (drank from the regulation-size plastic Steak n Shake cup), and completing a complex series of hand taps, gestures, etc., all in the correct order. Fascinating ritual. If one performs any bit of it incorrectly, one must start over from the beginning and have the cup refilled with beer. This gets a lot more difficult if you don't concentrate and do it right the first time, needless to say. Anyway, once all is finished properly, one is asked, "Are you a Cardinal?" The only proper response is, "You bet your sweet ass I am." If one fails to give the appropriate response, one must perform the ritual all...over...again... No membership card required, though I dare say the "dues" involved are worth more than $5 to get it right! http://www.brewthis.com/drinking-games/The-Real-Cardinal-Puff-rules.html The above site has the movements and finger placements correct, but we do the words a bit differently. http://www.beerhunting.org/default.aspx?g=posts&t=9 This site points to Notre Dame as the origin. As an Indiana native, I find that spiffy! OH MAN!

I’ve heard about the Turtles before, but never in this detail. In my circle of friends, we are “Cardinals” – I think someone brought it back from college or something ages ago. Also called “Cardinal Puff”. I was told that it descended from the Turtles, but didn’t think to look them up. We issue the “Cardinal Challenge” to gain membership: it involves finishing about 24 oz of beer throughout the task (drank from the regulation-size plastic Steak n Shake cup), and completing a complex series of hand taps, gestures, etc., all in the correct order. Fascinating ritual. If one performs any bit of it incorrectly, one must start over from the beginning and have the cup refilled with beer. This gets a lot more difficult if you don’t concentrate and do it right the first time, needless to say.

Anyway, once all is finished properly, one is asked, “Are you a Cardinal?” The only proper response is, “You bet your sweet ass I am.” If one fails to give the appropriate response, one must perform the ritual all…over…again…

No membership card required, though I dare say the “dues” involved are worth more than $5 to get it right!

http://www.brewthis.com/drinking-games/The-Real-Cardinal-Puff-rules.html

The above site has the movements and finger placements correct, but we do the words a bit differently.

http://www.beerhunting.org/default.aspx?g=posts&t=9

This site points to Notre Dame as the origin. As an Indiana native, I find that spiffy!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-865891 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-865891 I became a member in 1972 when I was in high school. I think instill have my card somewhere. I know I still have my jeans jackets with a big turtle embroidered on the back! I became a member in 1972 when I was in high school. I think instill have my card somewhere. I know I still have my jeans jackets with a big turtle embroidered on the back!

]]> By: Simeon http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121955 Simeon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121955 What's a four letter word for snatch? (Answer: Grab) What’s a four letter word for snatch?

(Answer: Grab)

]]> By: Victor Erimita http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121704 Victor Erimita Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121704 My Dad is a big turtle guy. He is part of the dying lounge culture where these sort of bar room jokes were once commonplace. He made me a turtle years ago and you bet your sweet ass I am. I find old turtle memorabilia once in a while and send it to him. For instance the turtle Jim Beam bottle: http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/clt/524953146.html My Dad is a big turtle guy. He is part of the dying lounge culture where these sort of bar room jokes were once commonplace. He made me a turtle years ago and you bet your sweet ass I am. I find old turtle memorabilia once in a while and send it to him. For instance the turtle Jim Beam bottle: http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/clt/524953146.html

]]> By: legotech http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121709 legotech Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121709 I am wearing a Turtle TShirt to the next con...feel free to ask for the password :) I am wearing a Turtle TShirt to the next con…feel free to ask for the password :)

]]> By: V http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121711 V Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121711 Apparently, there's an Army version, too, since these guys have brought their own asses... http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/NWKlr650/ed6d0b2e.jpg http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/NWKlr650/26a34356.jpg Apparently, there’s an Army version, too, since these guys have brought their own asses…

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/NWKlr650/ed6d0b2e.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/NWKlr650/26a34356.jpg

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-918896 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-918896 The "Turtle" rage struck several of my buddies and I during my tour of Germany in the '70s. We all had the cards and had a good bit of fun with it back then. I even have a Jim Beam bottle asking the question, "Are you a Turtle?". Unfortunately Beam felt too inhibited to correctly answer the question. Instead the back of the bottle reads, "How sweet is is". The “Turtle” rage struck several of my buddies and I during my tour of Germany in the ’70s. We all had the cards and had a good bit of fun with it back then. I even have a Jim Beam bottle asking the question, “Are you a Turtle?”. Unfortunately Beam felt too inhibited to correctly answer the question. Instead the back of the bottle reads, “How sweet is is”.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121733 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121733 Hi- my name is David, don't have time to log in. I remember this "club" from when I was in my teens. One of the other questions was "what goes in a woman's mouth long and hard, but comes out soft and sticky". chewing gum, of course. Hi- my name is David, don’t have time to log in. I remember this “club” from when I was in my teens. One of the other questions was “what goes in a woman’s mouth long and hard, but comes out soft and sticky”. chewing gum, of course.

]]> By: Rafferty http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121990 Rafferty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121990 My sixty-year-old father will still, upon being asked if he is a Turtle, respond "you bet your sweet ass I am." Great fun when I was younger, and still a good thing to pull out at times like midnight Mass and funerals. My sixty-year-old father will still, upon being asked if he is a Turtle, respond “you bet your sweet ass I am.” Great fun when I was younger, and still a good thing to pull out at times like midnight Mass and funerals.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-308106 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-308106 I do have an orignal card and was trying to find the crest electronically somewhere. Any ideas? My husband and I were both card carrying members and added a few members through the years (often our friends who were also balloonists with us). We were particular in who we shared the Society with and enjoyed the laughs. I do have an orignal card and was trying to find the crest electronically somewhere. Any ideas?

My husband and I were both card carrying members and added a few members through the years (often our friends who were also balloonists with us). We were particular in who we shared the Society with and enjoyed the laughs.

]]> By: mdhatter http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-122001 mdhatter Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-122001 Betting my sweet ass since 1991, tyvm. Betting my sweet ass since 1991, tyvm.

]]> By: romulusnr http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-121746 romulusnr Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-121746 I'm not turtley enough for the turtle club. Turtle! Turtle! I’m not turtley enough for the turtle club. Turtle! Turtle!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/02/07/the-international-as.html#comment-809370 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-809370 You bet your sweet ass I am! I've been a Turtle since 1967. I have an official membership card You bet your sweet ass I am!
I’ve been a Turtle since 1967. I have an official membership card

]]>