# Ed Zotti **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 6, 2004, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-zotti/222965 "2004-01-06T06:21:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-zotti/222965/41 "2004-01-09T05:19:21Z")
Thankyou to all those whove attempted to keep this thread alive in the hope that we may get an answer to one of the burning questions of the 20th century. Is **Cecil Adams** actually **Ed Zotti**?Alas it may well be one of the burning questions of the 21st century. It is quite clear that no one has been able to answer the question including the officers of this message board. I have done some research into the matter and I have found the answer to my OP. In fact its been practically in front of our noses all along. Yes, if you go to the home page of the straight dope and follow the links to the[Cecil Adams vs. Ed Zotti](http://www.ipass.net/whitetho/edcecil.htm) page you will find a picture of **Ed Zotti** holding a child in his _ **left** _ arm! This is not the answer I was hoping for. As **Dignan** points out, it could merely be a coincidence that both characters are left handed. If \*\* Ed\*\* was right handed however then he couldn’t be Cecil and my anguish over my ignorance over this matter would cease. > [@](#): > > _t-keela_ > Another thought… > Isn’t Ed like a nickname for an editor? and whoever knew any real person with the name Zotti? Maybe we’re going at this all wrong? > [@](#): > > _friedo_ > Folks, this is GQ. Let’s not let rampant speculation run wild. I think it’s obvious that Ed Zotti is not Cecil. However, Cecil may, in fact, be Ed Zotti. Well that got me thinking. Its been my experience in life that the top dog usually has someone else to do the dirty work, be the scapegoat and chastise the troops while maintaining the public image of geniality and fairness etc. Why would **Ed** create someone to take on his glory? Could it be with the low budget at the Chicago Reader that \*\*Cecil \*\* was refused an assistant and virtually had to create one? Also, if **Ed** created **Cecil Adams** , wouldn’t that piss off the 13 **C. Adams** in the Chicago phone directory? There’s only one **Edward Zotti** in the phone book, and I’ll guess all you get is an answering machine, because if **Ed** were real he’d be inundated with phone calls from idiots trying to make contact with **Cecil** , and would have got his number unlisted. By the way, I e-mailed **Ed** right after posting the OP, but I did not get a reply. Of course all this is wild speculation, but what do you make of the fact that there is a **Cecelia Adams** in the Chicago Phone Directory ? I usually dismiss the “Why can’t God be a woman” advocates, but do you think I may be on to something here. Dammit, I’ve got to get my life back! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-zotti/222965/42 "2004-01-09T05:22:06Z")
OOOOOOOPs ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-zotti/222965/43 "2004-01-09T05:31:10Z")
Now that I have recovered, thankyou for the reply **Ed** I also bat right and write left and use right handed scissors because left handed scissors are hard to come by. Nice to know that I have somewhat rare characteristics that are shared by such exalted people. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-zotti/222965/44 "2004-01-09T05:43:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ed Zotti \* > \*\*I’m kinda bi. Bat right, use right-handed scissors, but write left. Just like Cecil, Bill Clinton, and Ross Perot. \*\* Wow. I didn’t know all those guys were bi… or ambidextrous. I can’t tell, that is all the same to me… ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-zotti/222965/45 "2004-01-09T07:19:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dtilque \* > **That’s Lois Lane, not Louis Lane.** Louis Lane is a [conductor](http://www.tupelosymphony.com/bios/louislane.html). ---
**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:** [January 9, 2004, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-zotti/222965/46 "2004-01-09T10:55:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by grienspace \* > **I have done some research into the matter and I have found the answer to my OP. In fact its been practically in front of our noses all along. Yes, if you go to the home page of the straight dope and follow the links to the [Cecil Adams vs. Ed Zotti](http://www.ipass.net/whitetho/edcecil.htm) page you will find a picture of Ed Zotti holding a child in his _left_ arm!** However, in the original magazine photograph, the child is being held in his _right_ arm. After scanning the photo, from page 14 of the September, 1995 _Parenting_ magazine, I flipped the image so that the two adults appear side-by-side. Of course, it is also possible that the _Parenting_ photograph had been flipped, in which case I would have been restoring the original orientation. Without the negative there is no way to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-zotti/222965/47 "2004-01-09T13:07:41Z")
## quote: ## Originally posted by dtilque That’s Lois Lane, not Louis Lane. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Knorf \* > \*\*Louis Lane is a [conductor](http://www.tupelosymphony.com/bios/louislane.html). \*\* So we may assume that **Lois** Lane is a **non** -conductor, and therefore made of plastic. Superman is in to plastic inflatables? :eek The image of my childhood hero is shattered. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-zotti/222965/48 "2004-01-09T13:09:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ed Zotti \* > \*\*I’m kinda bi. Bat right, use right-handed scissors, but write left. Just like Cecil, Bill Clinton, and Ross Perot. \*\* Curiously, this also applies to Lady Chance. You’re not moving to Ohio soon, are you Ed? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-zotti/222965.md?page=2)