# Is Cecil Adams A Sock Puppet? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 3, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143 "2006-10-03T19:23:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/21 "2006-10-04T00:05:06Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] Now, see, if he wore nothing but a copy of the _Reader_ when he went shopping, as Chez suggests, then folks wouldn’t be _able_ to tear at his clothes. Two problems solved at once. [/QUOTE] Well, I didn’t go as far as suggesting he went _shopping_ wearing a _Reader_. In fact, I’m not at all sure it would be a good idea. The trouble is that Adams has such an iconic status in the message board world that he would certainly inspire copycat behaviour. At present, wannabee Cecils can only wander about at parties telling everybody who will listen that the capital of Mali is Bamako, or that Paris Hilton is a slapper. If somebody, purporting to be Adams, started going to the shops dressed only in a newspaper, these wannabees would pretty soon get to hear of it. Before you know where you are, the shopping malls of Chicago will be bursting at the seams with naked men holding newspapers over their genitals telling startled passers-by that Affirmed was the last horse to win the US Triple Crown (in 1978, ridden by Steve Cauthen I believe). On the other hand, sales of the _Chicago Reader_ will go through the roof. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/22 "2006-10-04T00:11:47Z")
[QUOTE=Chez Guevara] What will the media make of this when I tell them? [/QUOTE] If Cecil Adams is such a recluse, why not assume his identity and start milking the lecture circuit at $85,000 a pop? By the time your audience discovers you aren’t anywhere close to the world’s smartest human, you’re safely ensconsed back in your armored Humvee and heading for that televised death match with Marilyn vos Savant. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/23 "2006-10-04T01:10:00Z")
[QUOTE=HeyHomie] Here’s my theory, FWIW: There is no person named Cecil Adams. There IS a person who posts material under the name “Cecil Adams.” He is a real person and not a creation of a committee of Chicago Reader employees. That person chose the name “Cecil Adams” to protect his identity, and because it sounds cool. He has a research staff, but he remains one person. His real name may be Ed Zotti or it may be Phineas Eugene Shackleford, but nevertheless he is a real person. [/QUOTE] His name is Tyler Durden. He’s a great man. ---
**Author:** ![docandjean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7993a0/32.png) [@docandjean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/docandjean)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/24 "2006-10-04T01:20:16Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. Sven-Goran Eriksson Doesn’t this part bother anybody else? ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/25 "2006-10-04T01:33:10Z")
[QUOTE=Carnac the Magnificent!] By the time your audience discovers you aren’t anywhere close to the world’s smartest human… [/QUOTE] Do you have _any_ idea how hurtful that is? ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/26 "2006-10-04T02:22:47Z")
He’s real, all right. I saw him playing cards with Betty Crocker, Johnny Walker, and Mr. Clean. Poppin’ Fresh was in the kitchen making snacks. Pretty bizarre, I tell ya. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/27 "2006-10-04T05:43:54Z")
[QUOTE=Chez Guevara] On the other hand, sales of the _Chicago Reader_ will go through the roof. [/QUOTE] The _Reader_ is a weekly free paper, supported solely by advertising, AFAIK. I went to Chicago once to attend a modmeet, and I picked up a copy. Upon examining the personals section, I found that some people in Chicago have very…sophisticated…sexual tastes. They know what they want and they’re not afraid to ask for it. However, these sort of personal ads seem to be common to the free newspapers I’ve read. ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_Norder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dan\_Norder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Norder)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/28 "2006-10-04T07:20:33Z")
[QUOTE=Chez Guevara] As for the rest of your observation, it would seem that you are promoting the idea of one rule for some and another rule for others. [/QUOTE] Have you never lived in the real world? OF COURSE Cecil Adams plays by different rules. It’s his board, after all. The idea that you’d show up to whine about the hypothetical and sniff that it’s not fair when Cece rarely posts anyway is just ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/29 "2006-10-04T07:50:12Z")
[QUOTE=Lynn Bodoni] The _Reader_ is a weekly free paper, supported solely by advertising, AFAIK. I went to Chicago once to attend a modmeet, and I picked up a copy. Upon examining the personals section, I found that some people in Chicago have very…sophisticated…sexual tastes. They know what they want and they’re not afraid to ask for it. [/QUOTE] I believe you. Of course I would normally ask for a cite. However, requesting a cite from the _Reader_ via a _Reader_ staff member on a _Reader_ message board administered by said _Reader_ employee is an irony too far for me, and certainly an irony too far for the author of the post which precedes this one. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/30 "2006-10-04T07:59:46Z")
Hear hear! ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/31 "2006-10-04T15:22:22Z")
Hey I see ya got Bugs Bunny on that list. Why don’t you go and see about him first, maybe get an autograph for proof. After all he’s much higher up on the list. Once you get that mystery solved you can then start on the whole Cecil thing. Baby steps, grasshopper. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/32 "2006-10-04T15:43:22Z")
[QUOTE=Chez Guevara] I believe you. Of course I would normally ask for a cite. [/QUOTE] > [@](#): > > The Reader is distributed free at more than 1,000 locations in Chicago and close-in suburbs. For a location near you call 312-828-0350. [http://www.chicagoreader.com/readerinc/Subscrip.html](http://www.chicagoreader.com/readerinc/Subscrip.html) of course . . . > [@](#): > > Subscriptions are available by mail in the U.S. for $95 per year. Foreign subscriptions cost $200 per year. Include check or money order payable to Chicago Reader, Inc., and mail to Reader Subscriptions, 11 East Illinois, Chicago 60611. - Id. \* ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/33 "2006-10-04T15:56:38Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] It’s their board and if they wanna dress up in a Cecil costume a couple times a year, who gives a shit? No skin off my nose. [/QUOTE] Tell us more about this Cecil costume. (I visualise a business suit, but with a stylish waistcoat…) [QUOTE=HeyHomie] His real name may be Ed Zotti or it may be Phineas Eugene Shackleford, but nevertheless he is a real person. [/quote] Phineas Eugene Shackleford?! Now that is one fine name. 😃 I think Cecil (which in England is a slightly soppy name) should immediately change. I want to be part of the **Phineas Eugene Shackleford** board! ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/34 "2006-10-04T18:30:12Z")
[QUOTE=Chez Guevara] What will the media make of this when I tell them? [/QUOTE] > [@](#): > > **Higgins** - Hey, Turner. How do you know they’ll print it? You can take a walk, but how far if they don’t print it? > > **Turner** - They’ll print it. > > **Higgins** - How do you know? Do you [really think the media will listen to you](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073802/), **Chez**? Do you? ---
**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:** [October 4, 2006, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/35 "2006-10-04T18:53:26Z")
[QUOTE=glee] Tell us more about this Cecil costume. [/QUOTE] If you as me, I think **Slug Signorino** capures it [best](http://www.geocities.com/elfisiconuclear/luncacecil.gif). ---
**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:** [October 4, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/36 "2006-10-04T20:08:56Z")
[QUOTE=Uvula Donor] He’s real, all right. I saw him playing cards with Betty Crocker, Johnny Walker, and Mr. Clean. Poppin’ Fresh was in the kitchen making snacks. Pretty bizarre, I tell ya. [/QUOTE] I _ **think** _ I saw him in the Oscar Meyer Wiener Mobile strangling Mr. Peanut, as Big Boy was driving in what was I would say a very careless manner at about 70 MPH. I say “think,” because the person he was strangling didn’t have a monocle. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/37 "2006-10-04T22:10:13Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster] Do you [really think the media will listen to you](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073802/), **Chez**? Do you? [/QUOTE] I’ve already been to see my editor. I need 48 hours to get the scoop. However: > [@](#): > > **Guevara** - Look, when a reporter tells his assignment editor that he thinks he may be on to something that could be really big, the assignment editor is supposed to say: “You’ve got forty eight hours, kids, and you better come up with something good or it’s going to be your neck!” That’s what he’s supposed to say, I saw it in a movie. > > **Loughlin** - You’re not crazy, I’m crazy. I’m crazy for listening and I’m crazy for saying what I’m about to say. I’ll give you twenty four hours to come up with something. Not forty eight. I saw the movie too, it was twenty four. Editors. [Always cutting deadlines.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077294/quotes) ---
**Author:** ![Thalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@Thalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thalion)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/38 "2006-10-05T01:14:11Z")
You actually think that the Perfect Master is going to put in an appearance for someone who ranks him at #198?? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/39 "2006-10-05T01:56:13Z")
[QUOTE=Thalion] You actually think that the Perfect Master is going to put in an appearance for someone who ranks him at #198?? [/QUOTE] At least that’s higher than Vlad the Impaler. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143/40 "2006-10-05T03:11:12Z")
Only just. It was a bunch finish for #198. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-adams-a-sock-puppet/375143.md?page=3)