# I'm not criticising the Master, of course, but . . .

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-criticising-the-master-of-course-but/64661>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [May 7, 2001, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-criticising-the-master-of-course-but/64661 "2001-05-07T16:25:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-criticising-the-master-of-course-but/64661/1 "2001-05-07T16:25:34Z")

</div>

Cecil,

I remember reading your response to the question [**Do copper bracelets ease pain?**](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980814b.html) when it was first published, and I find I have the same sense of dissatisfaction now.

Two paragraphs, Unca Cece’? With the answer being “I dunno?” No one would have known if you had simply let this one rot in the bottom of the mailbag. Why respond at all if the Straight Dope is that there _isn’t_ any?

I understand it’s, as always, all Little Ed’s fault. Could he possibly have accidentally omitted part of your undoubtedly enlightening and thorough answer?

Ever teeming,

-andros-  
(hoping he won’t get a major smiting)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-criticising-the-master-of-course-but/64661/2 "2001-05-08T12:55:27Z")

</div>

Well, me, too. I can’t believe somebody somewhere hasn’t done more research on this, but a Google check turned up only people selling them.

Besides, Cecil has more important things to research than arthritis, things like psychic orgasms and snot and tiny Amazon fish that may or may not crawl up your wee-wee. 😃

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-criticising-the-master-of-course-but/64661/3 "2001-05-08T23:58:00Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> Besides, Cecil has more important things to research than arthritis, things like psychic orgasms and snot and tiny Amazon fish that may or may not crawl up your wee-wee.

Well, that’s just it, you see. There ase _answers_ to those questions. Or at least (in the psychic orgasm case) a vivid and engaging discussion of the issues.

I’m not at all interested in the subject matter at all. Copper, schmopper. I’m just wondering why Cecil even bothered responding if there was nothing to say . . .

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Quisling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e47c2d/32.png) [@Quisling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quisling)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-criticising-the-master-of-course-but/64661/4 "2001-05-09T07:51:28Z")

</div>

Well I was gonna make a new post but this one makes my point quite well I think. “I remember reading this before” Andros makes my point exactly. Whats up Cecil? It seems the last month or so I’ve been on all I have read are either the exact same Q and A posted before on your site or in your books or a slight rehash. Whats wrong? We can’t be that low on Questions in the world can we?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [May 9, 2001, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-criticising-the-master-of-course-but/64661/5 "2001-05-09T10:14:09Z")

</div>

Once a week, usually on Friday, a new column and Slug illustration are posted, which is the same as that run by the subscribing newspapers. On all other days, the posted links are older columns. So it’s just like the Simpsons – one new show a week, with reruns on the other days. Except that Cecil writes 52 new columns a year, versus twenty-odd for the Simpsons.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-criticising-the-master-of-course-but/64661/6 "2001-05-09T13:25:17Z")

</div>

…and Cecil is a real person, and the Simpsons aren’t.  
.  
.  
.  
.  
.  
.  
.  
.  
I mean, right?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [May 9, 2001, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-criticising-the-master-of-course-but/64661/7 "2001-05-09T14:03:39Z")

</div>

I’m not going to get into a theological argument with someone who is obviously a secret follower of Marilyn vos Savant and A GOOGLE ADDICT. There, I’ve said it…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [May 10, 2001, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-criticising-the-master-of-course-but/64661/8 "2001-05-10T03:33:03Z")

</div>

Sometimes, Cecil wants to let people know the state of the art rather than the definitive answer. And sometimes the state of the art is that no one knows.

Just because Cecil knows everything doesn’t mean he’s omniscient.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [May 12, 2001, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-criticising-the-master-of-course-but/64661/9 "2001-05-12T12:45:42Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by C K Dexter Haven \*  
> \*\*Just because Cecil knows everything doesn’t mean he’s omniscient. \*\*

The very first sentence in the foreword to _The Straight Dope_ reads:

> [@](#):
>
> I first became acquinted with Cecil Adams, self-proclaimed omniscient, in the fall of 1978…

While the Japanese Emperor some time back renounced his claim to divinity, I do not believe Cecil has made any similar proclamation with respect to his continuing omniscience.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [May 12, 2001, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-criticising-the-master-of-course-but/64661/10 "2001-05-12T19:36:34Z")

</div>

Cecil Adams renounced his divinity when he came down to Midgard to Fight Ignorance among us grubby mortals.

We should thank him.

How 'bout sacrificing a bull in his honor?
