# Holy Crap! I'm a Star! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 27, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-im-a-star/226258 "2004-01-27T05:41:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [January 27, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-im-a-star/226258/1 "2004-01-27T05:41:01Z")
I can’t believe it! Me and Cecil had a little falling out a while back over handwriting, and I’m ashamed to admit that as a result I haven’t read his column in some time. Today I went back and caught up what I’d missed and was shocked to see I was answered in a column! And not only that but Sig immortalized my name as part of his art! And not only that, but Cecil said that I --and I quote – “seem like a good fellow”! (Of course, the last time Ed and I spoke on the board, he told me to “eat shit and die”, but we’ll see if he doesn’t come back to his senses, now that Cecil and me are tight again) [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/031024.html](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/031024.html) So Cecil and I are old buds again, and that’s the way it’s going to stay. even if I don’t completely agree with his latest column update. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-im-a-star/226258/2 "2004-01-27T08:19:31Z")
Let’s recap this saga! The [original column](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030418.html) appeared on 18 Apr of last year. The next day **Bill H.** started [thread=183925]a new thread[/thread] that wound up lasting about three weeks and seven pages. Much of it was devoted to setting up an experiment which never took place, wherein **Bill** would match handwriting samples with posting histories. After a week and a half of this, [post=3348478] **Cecil** posted[/post], admitting that in the column he had overstated the case. The column was amended. This got the thread back on topic, but it lost most of its steam thereafter. After that thread had died off, [thread=183925] **Bill H.** started another thread[/thread], this one addressed to Cecil particularly, on 14 May. This one only lasted three pages, but remained more on topic. **Bill** kept hoping for a response from Cecil, which never came. The thread finally [post=3621795]died a month later with this post[/post]: > [@Bill H.](#): > > One more bump before I give up disappointed. > > I’ve always been highly respectful of Cecil’s research in his articles. I’ve gotta say, as a big fan, I’m pretty bummed: First he quotes somebody, then when he’s called because it was an erroneous quote, he apologizes for not checking his sources, but then corrects with a second unchecked source. Which also turns out to be erroneous. The second column was finally written on 24 Oct 2003, referencing the OP of the second thread. (You know how it is with the wheels of the gods.) I believe that the illustration for this column is an artist’s depiction of the experiment thought up in the first thread. As far as I can tell, the second column was met with [thread=219245]only two[/thread] [thread=219661]short threads[/thread]. And now this one. I have to admit, I agree with what Cecil is saying about the distinction between characteristics and personality traits. In fact, I think this distinction is exactly what [post=3310331]I was trying to alert people to[/post] with respect to the proposed experiment. So maybe it’s not so surprising that I agree. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-im-a-star/226258/3 "2004-01-27T08:33:44Z")
Found [thread=231485]one more thread[/thread] in response to the columns. Also, I would like to point out that [thread=172452]I’ve been waiting like nine months[/thread] for an update. 🙂 ---
**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:** [January 27, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-im-a-star/226258/4 "2004-01-27T19:13:17Z")
And what’s a star without a personal biographer? Thanks very much, **Archernar**! I’ll send you your 20% as soon as the checks start rolling in, which I’m expecting will be any day now. Also, thanks very much for researching the links to the new article. I’d looked myself yesterday and didn’t find anything. To be honest, I have some reservations about the recent column’s conclusions, but my debating of the topic is over, at least for now. Two corrections by the Master, including a second column, and custom artwork to boot, not to mention complimentary references: I’d much rather have the glory than be right.