# Can I see the Moderator Registration Agreement? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 24, 2001, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040 "2001-11-24T17:51:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/101 "2001-11-29T01:26:16Z")
**UncleBeer** wrote > [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > BTW, handy, you have the dubious recognition of being the only person ever bawled out by Cecil. Congrats! > > Actually, Cecil called Coldfire an asshole, or something similar, a while back. Ed Zotti once told me to eat shit; Does that get me any sort of consolation prize? (In fairness, he followed it up in a later post with “I was just kidding! It was an affectionate vulgarity, no offense intended!”) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=2384#post29387](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=2384#post29387) ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/102 "2001-11-29T01:31:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bill H. \* > \*\*Ed Zotti once told me to eat shit; Does that get me any sort of consolation prize? \*\* Those are the very same words told to Coldfire by Cecil. I rest my case. ---
**Author:** ![poopoobuttworms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@poopoobuttworms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poopoobuttworms)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/103 "2001-11-29T02:02:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by barbitu8 \* > > \*\*That is not responsive. You said who do I believe, Cecil or some putz? Well, since Cecil never said anything concerning his identity, it’s not an “either or.” However, since Ed said he was not Cecil and you said who do I believe, the logical conclusion is that Ed is Cecil. Altho Cecil does not lie, Ed might. > > \*\* > > Your logic is flawed. I will attempt to correct it. If necessary, r.e.a.d. s…l…o…w…l…y… > > Two givens: > **1**. Ed has said that he ain’t **Cecil** (and, in one of the later books, didn’t Cecil say that he ain’t Ed? I’ll check later) > **2**. Cecil never lies. > > Four possible states: > **A**. Ed=Cecil…and lies > **B**. Ed[sym]¹[/sym]Cecil…and lies > **C**. Ed=Cecil…and tells the truth > **D**. Ed[sym]¹[/sym]Cecil…and tells the truth > > State **A** is out. since it violates Given #2. State **C** is out since it violates Given #1. > > State **B** violates both Given #1 _and_ Given #2. Ed’s already said he’s not Cecil. If he’s lying about it, it means that Cecil _is_ a liar, and that thought won’t be tolerated. > > That leaves us with State **D** , Ed isn’t Cecil. #1 is an assumption based of Ed’s words, not a tautology (unless you believe what everyone tells you :p). Besides, what if Cecil Adams is really a team of people but primarily Ed? (Like say Ed does writing and research and others assist him with research.) Then Ed could technically say that “he” is not Cecil because the implication of the question, is Ed Cecil?, is that “he” and “he alone” is Cecil. And if Cecil is a composition of people then Ed could technically deny that question and be telling the truth. Logician, poopoobuttworms ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/104 "2001-11-29T02:18:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by barbitu8 \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Bill H. \* > > \*\*Ed Zotti once told me to eat shit; Does that get me any sort of consolation prize? \*\* > > Those are the very same words told to Coldfire by Cecil. I rest my case. \*\* Well, when someone comes by your website, it’s only polite to offer a small snack of something. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/105 "2001-11-29T03:06:30Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by poopoobuttworms \* > \*\* > #1 is an assumption based of Ed’s words, not a tautology (unless you believe what everyone tells you :p)._\* Nope. All I’m doing is reciting a simple, undeniable fact. Ed _has_ said that he isn’t Cecil. Can’t deny it and takes no assumptions whatsoever. He has said it. \*\* > [@](#): > > Besides, what if Cecil Adams is really a team of people but primarily Ed? (Like say Ed does writing and research and others assist him with research.) Then Ed could technically say that “he” is not Cecil because the implication of the question, is Ed Cecil?, is that “he” and “he alone” is Cecil. And if Cecil is a composition of people then Ed could technically deny that question and be telling the truth.\*\* You forget Given #2: Cecil never lies. If (blasphemy) Cecil weren’t an individual, then how could he be the smartest man alive? He doesn’t say he’s the smartest men alive. And besides, how do you explain Mrs. Adams if he’s a composite? Besides he speaks in first person if he were a composite, that would be deceptive. We can lump deceptiveness in with #2: Cecil never lies. Nope. Ed ain’t Cecil. Once again the heretics and unbelievers blasphemy falls before the shining light of truth. Fenris (Hey Cecil! Any chance of a “Hello” to bolster my spirits as I try to enlighten and reason with the heretical millions?) ---
**Author:** ![poopoobuttworms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@poopoobuttworms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poopoobuttworms)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/106 "2001-11-29T07:16:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by poopoobuttworms \* > > #1 is an assumption based of Ed’s words, not a tautology (unless you believe what everyone tells you :p). > > Nope. All I’m doing is reciting a simple, undeniable fact. Ed _has_ said that he isn’t Cecil. Can’t deny it and takes no assumptions whatsoever. He has said it. So the fact that it is a fact that he made the statement doesn’t make it true. Implementing that as a basis for your logic taints it because it is not a proven tautology (always true). You are making an assumption that you cannot make to prove anything in definance–that he is being truthful–henceforth your logic is _not_ encompassing all alternative practical possibilities and your hypothis is voided. I’m not saying Ed is a liar or anything… [sub]Well I wouldn’t trust him with my _new_ Popeil Pasta machine, but that’s another story…[/sub] > [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Besides, what if Cecil Adams is really a team of people but primarily Ed? (Like say Ed does writing and research and others assist him with research.) Then Ed could technically say that “he” is not Cecil because the implication of the question, is Ed Cecil?, is that “he” and “he alone” is Cecil. And if Cecil is a composition of people then Ed could technically deny that question and be telling the truth. > > You forget Given #2: Cecil never lies. If (blasphemy) Cecil weren’t an individual, then how could he be the smartest man alive? He doesn’t say he’s the smartest men alive. And besides, how do you explain Mrs. Adams if he’s a composite? Besides he speaks in first person if he were a composite, that would be deceptive. We can lump deceptiveness in with #2: Cecil never lies. Who’s to say Cecil never lies, is he the Pope or something? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/107 "2001-11-29T12:26:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by poopoobuttworms \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by poopoobuttworms \* > > > #1 is an assumption based of Ed’s words, not a tautology (unless you believe what everyone tells you :p). > > > > Nope. All I’m doing is reciting a simple, undeniable fact. Ed _has_ said that he isn’t Cecil. Can’t deny it and takes no assumptions whatsoever. He has said it. > > So the fact that it is a fact that he made the statement doesn’t make it true. Implementing that as a basis for your logic taints it because it is not a proven tautology (always true). You are making an assumption that you cannot make to prove anything in definance–that he is being truthful–henceforth your logic is _not_ encompassing all alternative practical possibilities and your hypothis is voided. I’m not saying Ed is a liar or anything… > \*\* You didn’t actually read my post, did you? C’mon you can tell me. The first section (Givens #1 and #2) are facts. Cecil never lies. Ed said the words “I am not Cecil”. I didn’t accept as a given that the statement was true or false. My only given was that he said the words. The _second_ half, the part you seem to have missed, examines what happens if the statement by Ed (“I am not Cecil”) is true or false. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![ultress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7c8e57/32.png) [@ultress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultress)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/108 "2001-11-29T13:05:48Z")
I believe that Cecil is Cecil and Ed is Ed. Your assumptions are made in vain on this message board. You cannot convince me otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/109 "2001-11-29T13:08:24Z")
It’s very simple, y’all. If **Cecil Adams** and **Ed Zotti** were the same person, **TubaDiva** would’ve banned his sorry ass by now. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/110 "2001-11-29T14:31:40Z")
As I posted before, it depends upon what hat Ed is wearing. When he’s wearing his own, he’s a fallible human as the rest of us are, and can tell an occasional white lie. What person hasn’t? However, when he’s wearing the hat of Cecil, he becomes God, who is omnipotent, omniscient, and always truthful. A point I’ve refrained from making before, waiting for some more ridicule from Tuba, is that in responses to my first two posts, she resorted to name calling, insults, and ridicule, not only to me but to the author who pointed out Cecil’s true identity (“a putz”), which, BTW, could leave her open to libel - but that’s another matter. Instead of cogently and logically refuting my claims, or even uncogently and illogically attempting to refute them, she tried to debase me as an individual and did not try to refute my statements. ---
**Author:** ![ultress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7c8e57/32.png) [@ultress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultress)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/111 "2001-11-29T14:49:48Z")
Geesh, what’s your problem? You’ve been on the boards for a while now, close to 2,000 posts and you wanna fanigle over this stupid point? Count your blessings, if I had control of the BANNED buttom you woulda been out of here yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![BuddhaDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@BuddhaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuddhaDog)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/112 "2001-11-29T16:41:48Z")
Cecil Adams is akin to the Dread Pirate Roberts. There was one, there was many, but there is only one. My .02cents, you are all wrong and it is **CK Dex** Booya! > [@](#): > > But it’s so simple. All I have to do is divine from what I know of you: are you the sort of man who would put the poison into his own goblet or his enemy’s? Now, a clever man would put the poison into his own goblet, because he would know that only a great fool would reach for what he was given. I am not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But you must have known I was not a great fool, you would have counted on it, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/113 "2001-11-29T16:56:34Z")
What, no one thinks that **I’m** Cecil Adams? I’m so disappointed. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/114 "2001-11-29T17:51:45Z")
Some of us knew you when you were still a person, John! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/115 "2001-11-29T19:39:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ultress \* > \*\*Geesh, what’s your problem? You’ve been on the boards for a while now, close to 2,000 posts and you wanna fanigle over this stupid point? Count your blessings, if I had control of the BANNED buttom you woulda been out of here yesterday. \*\* What’s your problem? “Finagle” is not the right word and you also misspelled it. ---
**Author:** ![poopoobuttworms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@poopoobuttworms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poopoobuttworms)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/116 "2001-11-29T20:36:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by poopoobuttworms \* > > \*\* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > > > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > > > \*Originally posted by poopoobuttworms \* > > > > #1 is an assumption based of Ed’s words, not a tautology (unless you believe what everyone tells you :p). > > > > > > Nope. All I’m doing is reciting a simple, undeniable fact. Ed _has_ said that he isn’t Cecil. Can’t deny it and takes no assumptions whatsoever. He has said it. > > > > So the fact that it is a fact that he made the statement doesn’t make it true. Implementing that as a basis for your logic taints it because it is not a proven tautology (always true). You are making an assumption that you cannot make to prove anything in definance–that he is being truthful–henceforth your logic is _not_ encompassing all alternative practical possibilities and your hypothis is voided. I’m not saying Ed is a liar or anything… > > \*\* > > You didn’t actually read my post, did you? C’mon you can tell me. > > The first section (Givens #1 and #2) are facts. Cecil never lies. Ed said the words “I am not Cecil”. I didn’t accept as a given that the statement was true or false. My only given was that he said the words. The _second_ half, the part you seem to have missed, examines what happens if the statement by Ed (“I am not Cecil”) is true or false. > > Fenris \*\* You don’t really understand how to use logic properly do you? Both your givens must be true without a shadow of a doubt for your conclusion to be valid in this case, otherwise what you are trying to say has zero meaning. You can’t prove your so called “facts” are essentially true, therefore your conclusion is worthless. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/117 "2001-11-29T21:23:02Z")
poopoobuttworms (I would like to say that I enjoyed typing in your username, but I can’t. How about asking Tubadiva to change your username to Iris or Gladiola?), I must forcefully disagree with your assertion that Fenris’ conclusion is worthless. If one creates a “truth scale” assigning the value of zero to an obviously false statement such as 1 + 1 = 3, and the value of 1 to an obviously true statement such as 2 + 5 = 7, then I would give Fenris at least a 0.64. I think you should revise your estimate to bring it more in line with commonly accepted measures for gauging the validity of scientific proof. ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/118 "2001-11-29T21:36:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by barbitu8 \* > **As I posted before, it depends upon what hat Ed is wearing. When he’s wearing his own, he’s a fallible human as the rest of us are, and can tell an occasional white lie. What person hasn’t? However, when he’s wearing the hat of Cecil, he becomes God, who is omnipotent, omniscient, and always truthful.** I know what I am asking for in the SDMB Secret Santa gift exchange. And it ain’t Ed’s hat. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/119 "2001-11-30T15:30:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by barbitu8 \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Bill H. \* > > \*\*Ed Zotti once told me to eat shit; Does that get me any sort of consolation prize? \*\* > > Those are the very same words told to Coldfire by Cecil. I rest my case. I once told one of my teachers to eat shit. I must be Cecil. Why am I always the last to know? If I’m Cecil, then **barbitu8** , EAT SHIT! ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040/120 "2001-11-30T18:27:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by imthjckaz \* > \*\* > If I’m Cecil, then **barbitu8** , EAT SHIT! \*\* You’re not Cecil, and not being Cecil, or an administrator, or a moderator, if you want to insult me, swear at me, or otherwise express your anger over something I’ve done (other than trying to fight ignorance), take it to the Pit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-the-moderator-registration-agreement/95040.md?page=7)