# cecil's answers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [November 16, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-answers/213505 "2003-11-16T03:28:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Galo\_Aguirre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/858c86/32.png) [@Galo\_Aguirre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galo_Aguirre)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-answers/213505/1 "2003-11-16T03:28:33Z")
Quick question: ``` Has Cecil ever answered a question with just a simple yes or no? And has he printed it just like that? Like for a very stupid question or something? I think it would be funny if somebody had written like a long stupid question and then when you get to the answer part all he says is like no. ``` ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2003, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-answers/213505/2 "2003-11-16T05:44:48Z")
Yes ---
**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:** [November 16, 2003, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-answers/213505/3 "2003-11-16T12:10:41Z")
From page 3 of the first _The Straight Dope_ collection: > [@](#): > > _Do all mammals have tongues?–Cathy B., Baltimore_ >        Yes. An online copy of this column is at [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_003b.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_003b.html) . But I found it by leafing through the book. And if I may be allowed to editorialize, this is yet another example of why it is important that each and everyone of us purchase our own copies of the entire _Straight Dope_ series, which allows us to find answers that are difficult to find online, not to mention our only contact to the wisdom of Uncle Cecil during power failures. Just something to think about during the upcoming gift-giving season. ---
**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:** [November 16, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-answers/213505/4 "2003-11-16T17:06:35Z")
Generally, Cecil is paid to fill up a column. A simple yes/no answer won’t do it. Cecil rejects some questions because the answer is too long, and he rejects some questions because the answer is too short. From time to time, he can combine several short answer questions to fill up a column, but this is infrequent. For instance: [Why does the Canadian flag have a cannabis leaf on it?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010112.html) Plus, usually, a simple yes/no question just isn’t very interesting… or can readily be found elsewhere.