# Is Cecil smarter than Ben Stein? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 12, 2000, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615 "2000-10-12T00:38:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/1 "2000-10-12T00:38:46Z")
Ok i know i could possibly be facing charges of heresy here but come on guys, just think about it…Ben Stein is pretty smart. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/2 "2000-10-12T00:41:20Z")
well, _duh_ Cecil is simply the smartest man alive. Ben Stein is pretty smart though, for a mortal. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/3 "2000-10-12T00:53:37Z")
I’ll bet they are both smart enough to know this is the wrong forum for this… * * * Yer pal, Satan - Commissioner, [The Teeming Minions](http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/full/show?lid=39428&page=leaguehome) _TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING: Six months, two days, 22 hours, 54 minutes and 12 seconds. 7438 cigarettes not smoked, saving $929.77. Extra time with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 4 days, 19 hours, 50 minutes._ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/4 "2000-10-12T01:25:00Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ll bet they are both smart enough to know this is the wrong forum for this… Most other discussions of just how smart Cecil is seem to be in MPSIMS, if they don’t relate to a specific column. This one can go keep them company:) ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/5 "2000-10-12T01:41:39Z")
Oh, and sorry, but I’ll place my bets on Asimov. Well, before he died at any rate… * * * Yer pal, Satan - Commissioner, [The Teeming Minions](http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/full/show?lid=39428&page=leaguehome) _TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING: Six months, two days, 23 hours, 42 minutes and 6 seconds. 7439 cigarettes not smoked, saving $929.94. Extra time with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 4 days, 19 hours, 55 minutes._ ---
**Author:** ![Sangria](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@Sangria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangria)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/6 "2000-10-12T01:42:19Z")
I guess I’m out of the loop, but who’s Ben Stein? Does he have a column, too? ---
**Author:** ![SILENT-BOB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@SILENT-BOB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SILENT-BOB)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/7 "2000-10-12T02:00:04Z")
:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/8 "2000-10-12T02:08:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sangria \* > \*\*I guess I’m out of the loop, but who’s Ben Stein? Does he have a column, too? \*\* What the HELL is the matter with you? You’ve been missing out on life. [Ben Stein](http://www.comedycentral.com/wbsm/) ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/9 "2000-10-12T02:15:56Z")
Although Cecil is clearly smarter (Hiya, Unca Cec! Feel free to welcome me. I have psychic orgasms, BTW), you have to admire Ben Stein’s breadth. C’mon, not many people can pull off the game show host/lawyer/speechwriter/actor/college professor/novelist gig. I actually read one of his novels once. It was absymal, but it was fun to “hear” it in his voice. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/10 "2000-10-12T03:51:33Z")
Maybe Ben and Cecil are one and the same. After all, who among us can say we’ve actually _seen_ both of them together at the same party? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/11 "2000-10-12T05:05:54Z")
i think Cecil should go on WBSM. Hell, he can wear a mask if he wants. I just want to see them go head to head. I bet they would get mad ratings if they made a prime-time special out of it. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/12 "2000-10-12T10:59:41Z")
Ben Stein _is_ very smart. However, there are people out there who _have_ Won Ben Stein’s Money. Hell, while playing along with the lightening round, or whatever it’s called, I’ve occasionally beaten him myself. Whereas, no one could ever beat Uncle Cecil at any intellectual face-off _ever_. That’s the difference between ‘smart’ and ‘smartest.’ ---
**Author:** ![THespos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@THespos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/THespos)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/13 "2000-10-12T12:22:32Z")
I am smarter than Ben Stein. Cecil is smarter than me. Therefore, by the chain rule, Cecil is smarter than Ben. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/14 "2000-10-12T12:22:36Z")
Cecil is smart enough not to give away his own money. Most people are just begging him to welcome them to the boards. So there! ---
**Author:** ![WiredGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@WiredGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WiredGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/15 "2000-10-12T12:41:24Z")
Ben Stein answers question randomly, quickly, and individually. Cecil Adams has a research staff, answers question that suit him, and take weeks to months to answer them. This is a no brainer, Ben Stein hands down. ---
**Author:** ![MadHatter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@MadHatter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadHatter)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/16 "2000-10-12T13:10:30Z")
There is actually NO SUCH PERSON as Cecil Adams. He is merely the name assigned to a group of researchers who go about finding the answers to reader quiestions. The name is made up, and it represents a GROUP of people. No such person. Ben Stein wins. ---
**Author:** ![BF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@BF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BF)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/17 "2000-10-12T13:24:52Z")
Ooooh. Heresy, heresy I say!! We shall purify their souls on the pyre!! ((said in my best John Cleese voice)) ---
**Author:** ![Cecil\_Adams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cecil\_Adams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecil_Adams)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/18 "2000-10-12T16:08:05Z")
MadHatter writes: > [@](#): > > There is actually NO SUCH PERSON as Cecil Adams. He is merely the name assigned to a group of researchers who go about finding the answers to reader quiestions. The name is made up, and it represents a GROUP of people. No such person. ThhE weorsT pArrT ISis, thei phFFFriGGGing ggrUoup tiyping@+// ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/19 "2000-10-12T16:14:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cecil Adams \* > \*\*ThhE weorsT pArrT ISis, thei phFFFriGGGing ggrUoup tiyping@+// \*\* One at a time! Maybe you could draw numbers or something. Didn’t you mothers teach you how to share? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615/20 "2000-10-12T16:30:08Z")
Group typing, or one-handed typing? You would think that the World’s smartest human would know where to find the good porn. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-smarter-than-ben-stein/36615.md?page=2)