# Adult diapers column: possible small error **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [August 28, 2016, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-diapers-column-possible-small-error/764252 "2016-08-28T10:00:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2016, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-diapers-column-possible-small-error/764252/1 "2016-08-28T10:00:19Z")
In the column about [how long adult diapers have been around](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3303/how-long-have-adult-diapers-been-around), Cecil says: > [@](#): > > NASA learned the hard way that astronauts have the same biological needs as anyone else when Alan Shepherd wet himself while waiting for the Freedom 7 launch in 1961. Wasn’t the guy’s name spelled Alan **Shepard**? (I’m assuming [this](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Shepard) is the guy, right?) Perhaps a spell check suggestion that was accepted by accident? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2016, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-diapers-column-possible-small-error/764252/2 "2016-08-28T10:17:49Z")
Yeah, looks like Cecil screwed the pooch on that one. He just didn’t have the right stuff. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2016, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-diapers-column-possible-small-error/764252/3 "2016-08-28T10:22:06Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Yeah, looks like Cecil screwed the pooch on that one. He just didn’t have the right stuff. Nah, I bet it was that dastardly “Little Ed” guy, you know, the one who edits the column and occasionally inserts mistakes to keep us all on our toes. With Cecil himself, failure is not an option. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2016, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-diapers-column-possible-small-error/764252/4 "2016-08-28T12:44:47Z")
“Chicago, we’ve had a problem here.” ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2016, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-diapers-column-possible-small-error/764252/5 "2016-08-28T14:12:21Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > Nah, I bet it was that dastardly “Little Ed” guy, you know, the one who edits the column and occasionally inserts mistakes to keep us all on our toes. With Cecil himself, failure is not an option. Now now … most all other print media has done away with copy-editing altogether … if our Little Ed is feeling ignored and taken for granted … then that’s our fault … we’ve become as spoiled children demanding perfection and expecting nothing less … I don’t blame our Little Ed for these occasional reminders … We need an International Honor the Editors Half-hour every few years. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2016, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-diapers-column-possible-small-error/764252/6 "2016-08-28T20:50:03Z")
Cecil is perfect but we are not. I passed this comment up the line and the column now reflects the correct spelling. Good catch, and thank you very much. “To err is human.” Dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2016, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-diapers-column-possible-small-error/764252/7 "2016-08-28T21:16:55Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Cecil is perfect but we are not. Since when are you hanging around this dump again? I thought this was some kind of bizarre zombie thread until I looked at the dates. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-diapers-column-possible-small-error/764252/8 "2016-08-29T01:28:38Z")
I’m on the board from time to time … just not my job to tend it. After 20 years it’s a hard habit to break.