# Aha! I knew it! Ed is Cecil. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 4, 2008, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034 "2008-09-04T18:53:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/1 "2008-09-04T18:53:43Z")
In the new Forum there’s some discussion about how come Ed gets a forum for his own book. I did a doubletake when I read this: > [@So, Is anyone going to tell us about/explain this new forum?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-anyone-going-to-tell-us-about-explain-this-new-forum/461941/28): > > When you’ve been here 35 years like Ed has, sure. 🙂 > > If it wasn’t for Ed none of this would be here. Geez, show a little respect already. So, since 1973, when the column started… Hmm… But reading the FAQ about CA for the main page, [I find this](http://www.straightdope.com/pages/faq/cecil) at #14 > [@](#): > > The management at the Chicago Reader huddled. This Cecil, they said, he’s brilliant, but his insufferable personality is more than any normal person should be asked to bear. The only solution is to assign him an editor who does not have any sense of self to start with. > > This explains Ed Zotti. He started off slow and it’s been downhill from there. But since \*\*1978 \*\*he’s kept Cecil, if not happy, at least constructively pissed, cranking out columns once a week. Better that than letter bombs. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/2 "2008-09-04T18:55:28Z")
Good heavens, man! If this should become common knowledge… ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/3 "2008-09-04T18:57:32Z")
And the winner of this years “No Shit, Sherlock” Award goes to… ---
**Author:** ![Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cornelius_Tuggerson)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/4 "2008-09-04T19:00:06Z")
Well if Ed is Cecil then how do you explain the fact that [googling](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22perfect+master%22&btnG=Google+Search) “Perfect Master” yields no links to the website or this board? He is just covering his tracks, no need to be alarmed. Now I want you to think very carefully, have you told _anyone_ else about this? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/5 "2008-09-04T19:02:16Z")
Maybe Ed was on the job, but didn’t keep Cecil properly pissed those first five years. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/6 "2008-09-04T19:04:06Z")
Sherlock Holmes you are. And this makes what difference, pray tell? You’re hat and pipe are in the mail.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/7 "2008-09-04T19:08:15Z")
Dudes. I know. It’s just that this is the first time I’ve seen any corraboration from someone officially linked to the board. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/8 "2008-09-04T19:13:21Z")
Well it’s news to me, if it makes you feel any better. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/9 "2008-09-04T19:14:32Z")
Also in the news: Einhorn is Finkle. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/10 "2008-09-04T19:19:00Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Also in the news: Einhorn is Finkle. \ ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/11 "2008-09-04T19:23:26Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > And the winner of this years “No Shit, Sherlock” Award goes to… Perhaps _Charlie Chan_ would be a more appropriate detective. But I don’t even understand this deduction. Tuba says Ed’s been here for 35 years, but really he has been here for 30 years. Cecilo has been here 5 years longer than Ed. And that proves that Ed is Cecil. How, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/12 "2008-09-04T19:28:07Z")
> [@Charlie\_Tan](#): > > I know. It’s just that this is the first time I’ve seen any corraboration from someone officially linked to the board. I’d say that **TubaDiva** isn’t perfect, any more than Ed is, but she’d probably kick my ass. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/13 "2008-09-04T19:35:57Z")
I was born in 1978, so by this reasoning I am Ed Zotti and Cecil Adams’ love child. Love child…never meant to beeeeeee ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/14 "2008-09-04T19:54:47Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > And the winner of this years “No Shit, Sherlock” Award goes to… I’d love to see the trophy for that. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/15 "2008-09-04T19:59:55Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > I’d love to see the trophy for that. Like [this](http://www.mardigrasoutlet.com/_images/products/RI7228-300.jpg), but in gold on top of a metal and marble base. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/16 "2008-09-04T20:05:42Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Perhaps _Charlie Chan_ would be a more appropriate detective. > > But I don’t even understand this deduction. Tuba says Ed’s been here for 35 years, but really he has been here for 30 years. Cecilo has been here 5 years longer than Ed. And that proves that Ed is Cecil. How, exactly? What was Little Ed doing 'tween '73 and '78? If TD says he’s been along for the whole ride, and there were other editors before him…? Really, it’s not about Ed being Cecil (which we all know), it’s about TubaDiva slipping up. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/17 "2008-09-04T20:08:27Z")
“What was Ed doing between '73 and '78?” is a question that makes the question of Jesus’ lost years seem utterly insignificant by comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/18 "2008-09-04T20:09:48Z")
Don’t you get it? That “slip-up,” the new forum, all of it… It’s all a plot to emphasize the fiction that Cecil Adams doesn’t exist! It’s a conspiracy! Wake up, sheeple! Open your eyes! You’re next! I want to believe! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/19 "2008-09-04T20:45:38Z")
I have seen indication that Ed is not the original Cecil, he is just the long term Cecil. The cites above would seem to confirm this. Besides, it appears Cecil is a little bit of a group personality. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034/20 "2008-09-04T22:09:54Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Cecilo has been here 5 years longer than Ed. And that proves that Ed is Cecil. How, exactly? That proves that someone else was Cecil before Ed. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aha-i-knew-it-ed-is-cecil/462034.md?page=2)