How to Get Your Man Card Back

Gentlemen,

Your Man Card can never be taken away, only temporarily revoked. Do something manly and have it reinstated.

That is the whole rule, and it has been since 2005. Somebody files a charge on the Revoked Report, the members vote Revoke or Keep, and if the jury revokes, the card is out of his hands until he earns it back. Nobody gets thrown out of the club. A revocation is a challenge with a crowd watching.

Who decides what counts

There is no official list, and that is on purpose. The man who filed, the jury and the comments work it out between them, and the price usually fits the charge. The standard menu still works: chug a beer, burp your name, build something with a power tool. The members have been more creative than that.

In 2014 a member was charged with staying up all night watching Justin Bieber videos. The jury revoked him 68 to 2, and one commenter set the terms on the spot: "The only way I can see him getting his card back is a 3 day session of rock or metal."

Some filings come with the way back written in. In 2012 a member was charged with watching Army Wives on purpose, and the charge itself spelled out the deal: "After you terminate these actions your man card will be placed under review and may then be reinstated." The jury agreed, 18 to 1. Stop watching, and you get your hearing.

Turning yourself in counts too

In November 2010 Chris K. filed on himself. A New Kids on the Block song came up on his iPod at work, he chair danced to it, and then he admitted it on Facebook. The jury revoked him 54 to 3, confession and all.

One member asked whether a man who confesses should get a suspension instead. Tom, who started all this, answered him in the comments:

"Well Ken you must remember, Chris' Man Card can never be taken away permanently, just temporarily revoked."

That is still the ruling. A man who owns up has done the hardest part. The rest is one manly act, done where somebody can see it.

How to get yours back

1. Read the charge and the comments. The members usually tell you what they want.
2. Do it, and do it in front of witnesses. A buddy, a phone camera, the group text.
3. Do something that answers the charge. Skipped the game? Show up to the next one. Played the wrong music? Play the right music, loud.
4. Then go back to the case and say what you did. The man who filed on you is the first one who should hear it.

Don't have a card to lose yet? Put your name on one. Two Revoke Cards come in every package, so you can hand the next one out yourself. And if you know a man who has earned his card back, or never will, file the charge.

What did you have to do to get yours back? Tell us in the comments.

Stay Manly My Friends...