# A Possible Heresy, But . . . .

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-possible-heresy-but/45624>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [December 14, 2000, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-possible-heresy-but/45624 "2000-12-14T21:58:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2000, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-possible-heresy-but/45624/1 "2000-12-14T21:58:14Z")

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. . . Haven’t the Great and Powerful Cecil’s “columns” gotten a little, well, _short_ lately? I mean, compare any column from his first three books to the his latest answer on the difference between white chocolate and real chocolate. Where’re the obscure references? Where’s the history? Most importantly, where’s the derisive humor? I’m afeared that next weeks offering will be:

QUESTION: Is it true the sun revolves around the earth?

CECIL: No.

So I’m wondering – is there a reason the answers are getting so perfunctory? Like excessive editing or a lack of thought-provoking questions or . . . or _something_? Or what? And please tell me I’m not the only one to notice this; I’d hate to face the potential Wrath of Cecil alone.

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**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2000, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-possible-heresy-but/45624/2 "2000-12-14T22:12:49Z")

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The chocolate answer you’re referring to, [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a970829b.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a970829b.html) , is a Classic Column that appeared three years ago. Also, note that it was a short filler question, to use up the space left over by that week’s main question, about “Shrinking 'Nads” ( [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a970829a.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a970829a.html) ).

You can rest assured that this weeks’ column, on catepiller sex (not yet posted), is as detailed and comprehensive as ever.

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**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2000, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-possible-heresy-but/45624/3 "2000-12-14T23:26:24Z")

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The columns are definitely longer than they used to be. Witness this classic: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_003b.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_003b.html)

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**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:** [December 15, 2000, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-possible-heresy-but/45624/4 "2000-12-15T00:19:59Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by whitetho \*  
> \*\*  
> You can rest assured that this weeks’ column, on catepiller sex (not yet posted), is as detailed and comprehensive as ever. \*\*

Yes, it’s definitely one of Cecil’s best. 😉

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**Author:** ![Nanook\_of\_the\_North\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Nanook\_of\_the\_North\_Shore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanook_of_the_North_Shore)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2000, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-possible-heresy-but/45624/5 "2000-12-15T04:03:51Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by JillGat \*  
> \*\*The columns are definitely longer than they used to be. Witness this classic: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_003b.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_003b.html) \*\*

Notice though that the URL for that column ends in a **b** (and just picture what the VB code for **that** looked like). It seems that all the **b** columns are short filler columns, whereas the a classics are the longer, more Cecilian columns. For the one you pointed out, here is the a column for it.

[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_003a.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_003a.html)

Notice much longer and in depth.