# Am I The Only Fool? (Question regarding Cecil.) **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 31, 2004, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392 "2004-12-31T07:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/21 "2005-01-01T10:04:00Z")
My apologies to the Board and to **NotNow**. It was harsh, especially to a new guest. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/22 "2005-01-01T17:14:54Z")
Bin Ich Der Einzige Dummkopf? ¿Soy El Único Tonto? Est-ce que Je Suis Le Seul Imbécile? Sono L’Unico Sciocco? Sou Eu O Único? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/23 "2005-01-01T17:36:52Z")
> [@Alvis](#): > > This is silly. That FAQ reads like “Oh, YEAH, Cecil is real… _WINK_WINK\*” > > I hardly think linking to Cecil’s web page counts as a good cite. That’s like linking to a 1993 SEGA press release on Blast Processing to explain what it is (God, I hope someone gets that). > > Frankly - I don’t care if he’s real - I’m just upset that on a board that seems so focused at providing clean, factual information, this one topic is shrouded in jest and assumption. Hmm… [“shrouded in jest and assumption”.](http://celfcentered.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/cecil1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/24 "2005-01-01T18:05:00Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > **NotNow** , your little poster is wrong. He has been affected by the credulism of a credulous age. He does not accept except what he sees on Oprah. He thinks that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by his little mind. All minds, **NotNow** , whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. > > Yes, **NotNow** , there is a **Cecil Adams**. > > He exists as certainly as investigation and research and analysis exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no **Cecil Adams**! It would be as dreary as if there were no **NotNow**. There would be no ornery skepticism then, no doubting, no analysis to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood’s demands for truth fill the world would be extinguished. > > Not believe in **Cecil Adams**! You might as well not believe in the OED, the Encyclopædia Britannica or Google™. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the Chicago Reader offices on Monday morning to catch **Cecil Adams** , but even if you did not see **Cecil Adams** enter the building, what would that prove? Nobody sees **Cecil Adams** , but that is no sign that there is no **Cecil Adams**. The most real things in the world are those that have not been debunked by Cecil or Jan Harold Brunvand or Barbara Mikkelson . Did you ever see Zhou Enlai? Of course not, he used to live in China and he’s dead now, but that does not mean he was not real. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the masters there are unseen and unseeable in the world. > > You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the agoraphobic world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only cash, therapy, cash, (perhaps threats), can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, **NotNow** , in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. > > No **Cecil Adams**? Thank God he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, **NotNow** , nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of students of knowledge. **tomndeb,** I, for one, have saved your “Yes, **NotNow** , there is a Cecil…” parody. With your permission, I will, baring stroke, heart attack or other natural disaster,( I am quite old, after all,) repost it each New Years Eve eve, to carry on the true meaning of the SDMB. You have now become a legend in your own time. I salute you! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2005, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/25 "2005-01-02T08:41:47Z")
> [@moriah](#): > > the original poster preceded the question with inane introductory blathering A slight nitpick, but the OP _followed_ the question\* with “inane introductory blathering”. The only question to be asked appeared in the thread title. It remains moot, as **Polycarp** would say, as to whether said question has been answered. Perhaps the OP could enlighten us one way or the other. And may I add my voice to those hoping that he, or she, will just us on a full-time basis. He, or she, is just the kind of member we are looking for. - In **GQ** , where standards of accuracy and verisimilitude should be maintained even during the festive season. ---
**Author:** ![NotNow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7cd45c/32.png) [@NotNow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotNow)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2005, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/26 "2005-01-02T17:35:05Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > A slight nitpick, but the OP _followed_ the question\* with “inane introductory blathering”. The only question to be asked appeared in the thread title. It remains moot, as **Polycarp** would say, as to whether said question has been answered. Perhaps the OP could enlighten us one way or the other. And may I add my voice to those hoping that he, or she, will just us on a full-time basis. He, or she, is just the kind of member we are looking for. > > - In **GQ** , where standards of accuracy and verisimilitude should be maintained even during the festive season. I’m sorry, it does indeed appear this thread is in the wrong forum. What I really wanted to know, but in my grief did not clearly ask, is who writes all the straight dope for him (physically)? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/27 "2005-01-02T19:43:01Z")
Cecil’s editor and occasional amanuensis is Ed Zotti. There are those who believe that Cecil is _no more than_ a trademark and that Ed is the only human involved (besides Slug), but we tend to scoff at such unbelievers. None of the unbelievers have yet proven that Cecil does not exist. I suppose that I _could_ move this thread to **About This Message Board**. ---
**Author:** ![Domokun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c77e96/32.png) [@Domokun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Domokun)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/28 "2005-01-02T19:46:44Z")
I believe in _ **Cecil** _, I believe in _ **Cecil** _, I believe in _ **Cecil** _. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/29 "2005-01-03T10:00:48Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > amanuensis [Sung to the tune of **Def Leppard** ’s _Pour Some Sugar On Me_] **tomndebb** taught me a new word! **tomndebb** taught me a new word! **tomndebb** taught me a new word! [/Sung to the tune of **Def Leppard** ’s _Pour Some Sugar On Me_] They say that when you learn a new word you should use it 10 times on the first day- then it will be yours forever. Now I’m going to have to come up with 10 reasons to say “amanuensis” today. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_Rey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/77aa72/32.png) [@Ian\_Rey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_Rey)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/30 "2005-01-03T19:21:31Z")
Much as I hate to be a credit hog, I actually wrote a “Yes Virginia” parody re: Cecil back in 98 or 99 on the AOL board. Useta be on Opal’s site, but it’s gone down the memory hole as far as I can tell. I know Tom/Deb didn’t crib it, except maybe in a George Harrisonesque “subconscious” way. Which is ironic, because I also wrote “He’s So Fine”, also about Cecil. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/31 "2005-01-03T21:57:12Z")
> [@NotNow](#): > > I have believed for many many years in you Cecil, don’t turn out to be like the Easter Bunny!!! ☹ You’re not saying the Easter Bunny isn’t… You’re joking, right? Right? Please say you’re joking. Please. PLEASE! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Zamboni)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/32 "2005-01-04T16:40:04Z")
How can Cecil not be real?! He once responded to Zamboni Father, years ago when it was still an AOL board, and called him “clueless” after my Dad called him “arrogant.” That is direct contact. Are you saying it was really just **Ed Zotti**? This is like saying the Tooth Fairy is just my Mom trying to fool me. There is just no way! My aunt had some old Discover Magazines dating back through the 80’s. One issue, which I think was from 87’ had an article about Cecil, Ed, and The Straight Dope when it was just a Reader column. It had the same 😉 attitude that FAQs has now. It seems fuzzy, but Cecil is probably Ed’s alter ego. When I find that issue, I’ll post the date so it can be found. **IF** Cecil isn’t real, then that just means that Ed is the cool one, and that’s alright with me. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/33 "2005-01-04T17:26:29Z")
> [@Scruloose](#): > > Real? He’s as real as the day is long! Good one. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Pez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5e9695/32.png) [@Pez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pez)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/34 "2005-01-05T02:11:01Z")
> [@trandallt](#): > > Good one. Heh. Well, then HE is not very real around here (64°N) this time of year. But very real in the summer. Trés interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/35 "2005-01-05T08:19:28Z")
I just wanna know when his flippin’ birthday is. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/36 "2005-01-05T14:30:20Z")
**Cecil Adams** is quite real. So are unicorns. Hey, Google for images about unicorns – you’ll find page after page of artists’ renditions showing essentially the same thing: a horselike creature with a spiral horn emerging from mid-forehead. The question, “Do horselike creatures bearing horns frequent the rain forests of deepest Venezuela or Gabon?” is a quite different question. There is a common consent as to what the term “unicorn” references – that there are no extant animals which can be displayed in the San Diego Zoo which match that common-consent referent, is moot. “Is there a man who files his 1040 income tax return under the name ‘Cecil Adams’ and who writes the Straight Dope column for the _Chicago Reader_?” is a quite different question from “Is there really a Cecil Adams?” And just as Nicholas of Myra, canonized bishop with a generous heart, gave rise to a set of legendary images involving erythrorhynchous caribou, so the man who produces the SD columns, and posts here far too seldom, has given rise to his own legend. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/37 "2005-01-05T18:06:07Z")
_Note to self: Do not post in GQ looking for straight, informative answers._ No, **NotNow** , there is not a person named Cecil Adams. Obviously, there is an accepted notion of an entity of some kind by that name, but it’s not a human being; it’s more like Uncle Sam or the Tooth Fairy. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/38 "2005-01-06T05:03:53Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > _Note to self: Do not post in GQ looking for straight, informative answers._ > > No, **NotNow** , there is not a person named Cecil Adams. Obviously, there is an accepted notion of an entity of some kind by that name, but it’s not a human being; it’s more like Uncle Sam or the Tooth Fairy. I have yet to see anything approaching “proof” that Cecil is not a human. Now, **slug** , on the otherhand…you just might get my vote. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/39 "2005-01-07T23:48:34Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > I have yet to see anything approaching “proof” that Cecil is not a human. From the [United States Patent and Trademark Office](http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=vc1c30.2.1): > [@](#): > > Word Mark: \*\*CECIL ADAMS \*\* > Goods and Services: (ABANDONED) IC 016. US 038. G & S: NEWSPAPER COLUMN. FIRST USE: 19730202. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19730202 > Mark Drawing Code: (1) TYPED DRAWING > Serial Number: 73631921 > Filing Date: November 24, 1986 > Current Filing Basis: 1A > Original Filing Basis: 1A > Owner (APPLICANT): CHICAGO READER, INCORPORATED CORPORATION ILLINOIS P.O. BOX 11101, FORT DEARBORN STATION CHICAGO ILLINOIS 60611 > Attorney of Record: RICHARD H. COMPERE > Type of Mark: TRADEMARK > Register: PRINCIPAL-2(F) > Other Data: **CECIL ADAMS DOES NOT IDENTIFY ANY PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL BUT WAS DEVISED AS A FANCIFUL NAME** > Live/Dead Indicator: DEAD > Abandonment Date: March 29, 1989 Emphasis mine. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392/40 "2005-01-08T03:07:53Z")
The same wording like “fanciful name” was used for Ann Landers, for instance. It doesn’t mean that the person isn’t real, it only means that the name is registered. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-fool-question-regarding-cecil/282392.md?page=3)