# "Got a factual question for the Teeming Millions"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-factual-question-for-the-teeming-millions/198654>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 30, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-factual-question-for-the-teeming-millions/198654 "2003-08-30T16:51:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Nomadic\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/858c86/32.png) [@Nomadic\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nomadic_One)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-factual-question-for-the-teeming-millions/198654/1 "2003-08-30T16:51:35Z")

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Why is it a question for the “teeming millions” when there are only around 36 thousand members on this message board?

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**Author:** ![Mr.Babbington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mr.Babbington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Babbington)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-factual-question-for-the-teeming-millions/198654/2 "2003-08-30T17:05:22Z")

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I think it is actually “facetious.” Or, “tongue in cheek.”  
As a fellow resident of our great state, I believe you need to go to the fair and eat some deep fried candy bars until your head explodes. Good Lord, Man.

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**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-factual-question-for-the-teeming-millions/198654/3 "2003-08-30T17:07:36Z")

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There’s only 36k _registered_ members of the board. When you factor in the non-registered viewers, the readers of the syndicated column, and the life forms that recieve Cecil’s brainwaves through telepathy, the number has surely risen into the billions by now.  
Actually, I believe the “Teeming Millions” term stems from what Cecil would call his readership when answering questions in the column, long before these boards came along.

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**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:** [August 30, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-factual-question-for-the-teeming-millions/198654/4 "2003-08-30T17:08:21Z")

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The “Teeming Millions” are comprised of _all_ readers of Cecil’s columns, not just the members of this board. I’d wager that there are many, many more who read his column than have joined this board.