# how dare you cecil **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [August 11, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021 "2009-08-11T02:20:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BLUEBIRD1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@BLUEBIRD1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BLUEBIRD1)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/1 "2009-08-11T02:20:16Z")
you are very rude and i also find this extremely offensive…first you insult the welsh people by using the term “welshed”. and the welsh lady corrected you for using such foul and derrogatory prejudicial statements. and then you go on to utter more filth by mocking the scottish people by usage of the term “malcolmed”. well, i happen to be full-blooded scottish and a descendent of the rulers of alba, even some of the malcolms. you should definately watch your language. -james ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/2 "2009-08-11T02:32:23Z")
I, too, agree that Cecil should not denigrate the fine Celtic people, such as the Welsh, the Scots, and my own people, the Irish. It is a cheap shot to take at residents of what have not been third-world nations for upwards of a decade! 😉 Really, BLUEBIRD1, before ranting you should enlighten us as to which particular column it is that you are reacting to. It’s not like he doesn’t get several “How dare you, Cecil,” emails every hour. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/3 "2009-08-11T03:37:54Z")
If Cecil is so smart, he already should know which column that Bluebird1 is talking about. Actually, the American Heritage Dictionary lists the origins of the term “Welched” as unknown. It might be derived from the Anglo name of the people of Wales, and then again, it might not. It would be interesting to see what the OED says. Just because words sound alike doesn’t mean they mean they have similar etymologies. Then again, is Bluebird serious or simply pulling our leg? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/4 "2009-08-11T03:59:54Z")
It appears to be this one: [Why can’t Prince Rainier become a king?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/794/why-cant-prince-rainier-become-a-king) ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/5 "2009-08-11T05:10:48Z")
I do not remember where I read it, but somewhere (I know, not helpful) I read that the “welsher” was a person named Welsh, not the whole country of Wales. Or maybe it was Welch. But anyway, one guy–or maybe a family. Everything I can find online either says it’s derived from Wales, or etym. unknown. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/6 "2009-08-11T05:13:26Z")
How dare I cecil? I’ve never ceciled. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/7 "2009-08-11T05:26:26Z")
This OP is a pretty lame attempt at satire. If you’re going to go to the trouble, at least do it well. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/8 "2009-08-11T06:08:18Z")
Well this is a James’ed up OP if ever I saw one. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/9 "2009-08-11T15:19:39Z")
**Bluebird1** , you apparently misunderstood something. When Cecil said he would replace the word “welshed” with the word “malcolmed”, he was not attacking the whole of Scotland, or Scottish people as an ethnic group. Rather, he was attacking that _one person_ who wrote him named “Malcolm”. If you’re going to be pissed off, at least be pissed off for a legitimate reason. ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/10 "2009-08-11T15:50:42Z")
Nobody’s mentioned sheep yet? ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/11 "2009-08-11T17:47:11Z")
I’m from the third world, Yorkshire. (To quote the Two Ronnies.) How come we don’t get our own gratuitous insult? They do have sheep there, though. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/12 "2009-08-11T17:48:33Z")
“Malcolm Solomon” at that, which brings to mind several now-embarrassing moments in pre-WW2 British novels, such as _Busman’s Honeymoon_ or _The Ball and the Cross_. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/13 "2009-08-11T19:57:27Z")
> [@qazwart](#): > > If Cecil is so smart, he already should know which column that Bluebird1 is talking about. Undoubtedly, he does but us mere mortals do not. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/14 "2009-08-11T21:07:31Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > I’m from the third world, Yorkshire. (To quote the Two Ronnies.) How come we don’t get our own gratuitous insult? Choose one: A. What makes you think those insults were gratuitous? B. BBC One insults Yorkshire [on a weekly basis.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_of_the_Summer_Wine) C. Come back when Yorkshire enters the First World. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/15 "2009-08-12T15:24:47Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Choose one: > > A. What makes you think those insults were gratuitous? > > B. BBC One insults Yorkshire [on a weekly basis.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_of_the_Summer_Wine) > > C. Come back when Yorkshire enters the First World. > > 😉 We were poor, boot we were happy… Aye. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/16 "2009-08-16T18:33:06Z")
Here’s the start of the OED entry. > [@](#): > > **welsh** , _v_. > > Also **welch**. [Of obscure origin.] > > ``` > 1. trans. To swindle (a person) out of money laid as a bet (see WELSHER1). Hence **welshing** *vbl. n. and ppl. a. Racing.* > > ``` > > 1857 Morn. Chron. 8 June 8/3 He got his living by ‘welching’ and taking in the ‘flats’. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/17 "2009-08-16T18:48:35Z")
I concur. Cecil should hand out racial insults niggardly if at all. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/18 "2009-08-16T19:01:17Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I concur. > > Cecil should hand out racial insults niggardly if at all. Oh, Cecil has never been a niggard with his insults. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/19 "2009-08-16T20:12:39Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Here’s the start of the OED entry. One suggestion is that it comes from the German word _welken_ which means “to fade”. I.e. the bookies would “fade away” when it was time to pay up. Managed to get _The Guardian_ to print a letter with that explanation a couple of years ago, but I have a feeling it was promptly shot down in the next edition! ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-cecil/506021/20 "2009-08-18T21:24:26Z")
_I don’t mind a stupid question as long as it has a certain redeeming whimsicality_ will be my new favorite Cecilism.