# Is there a Cecil Adams? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 7, 2011, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322 "2011-12-07T00:22:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/41 "2011-12-07T14:39:05Z")
As a slight hijack… I asked this question the last time the Cecil question came up and wasn’t sure if I got a straight answer. Does Cecil’s column still appear in print, in the Chicago Reader or elsewhere? With the exception of a post acknowledging the paper’s 40th anniversary, there has only been one column on [their website](http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/ArticleArchives?author=861483) since 2007. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/42 "2011-12-07T14:52:08Z")
Yes Virginia there is a Cecil Adams. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/43 "2011-12-07T15:03:02Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > As a slight hijack… I asked this question the last time the Cecil question came up and wasn’t sure if I got a straight answer. Does Cecil’s column still appear in print, in the Chicago Reader or elsewhere? With the exception of a post acknowledging the paper’s 40th anniversary, there has only been one column on [their website](http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/ArticleArchives?author=861483) since 2007. Yes, the column still appears in print in several cities. I forget which ones, but the last I checked it was more than a dozen. It may be less as so many papers are moving their content online. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/44 "2011-12-07T15:04:05Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > How do we know Cecil isn’t a woman named Una? I’ve never seen you both in the same room. > > In fact, I’ve never seen either of you in person (or in persson, for that matter). How do we know Una is real? > > (AFAIK, septimus is the only Doper I’ve met in person and I’m even doubtful of his reality.) I wonder that myself… ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/45 "2011-12-07T15:05:17Z")
**Una Persson** , or anyone else who knows the answer: why does it matter if we know who the corporeal Cecil is? Is it just that some people find the mystique fun? ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/46 "2011-12-07T15:43:52Z")
> [@postcards](#): > > If you’re not particular, [there’s lots of them](http://www.whitepages.com/name/Cecil-Adams/). I’m Cecil Adams! ---
**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:** [December 7, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/47 "2011-12-07T15:45:20Z")
Cecil finds it fun, and staff members who are close enough have been told not to spoil the fun. Also, Ed Zotti isn’t smart enough or perfect enough to be Cecil. He’s said so himself, several times, in public. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/48 "2011-12-07T15:50:44Z")
> [@NineToTheSky](#): > > **Una Persson** , or anyone else who knows the answer: why does it matter if we know who the corporeal Cecil is? Is it just that some people find the mystique fun? I don’t think it should matter at all. Even if people believe they know 100%, what’s the point of getting upset over it? It never ceases to amaze me how some people in past threads have become livid over the fact that no one will officially say “yes, Cecil is really…” I can almost imagine them putting their fists through the drywall every time they see Santa Claus on a Coke can. I personally find the mystique to be neither good nor bad. The Straight Dope message and the facts and entertainment value of what Cecil writes should be the most important thing IMO. I enjoy being part of the official Straight Dope enterprise because of the opportunity to help educate and share knowledge. I also like doing all those experiments for Cecil, although I am starting to accumulate enough lab equipment to make an actual “Straight Dope Labs.” I might need to add another room… ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/49 "2011-12-07T15:55:27Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > A staff of writers to write a single weekly column? Doesn’t sound very cost effective to me. A staff could be two people. Or it could be one person who changed every few years. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/50 "2011-12-07T15:59:39Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > I don’t think it should matter at all. Even if people believe they know 100%, what’s the point of getting upset over it? It never ceases to amaze me how some people in past threads have become livid over the fact that no one will officially say “yes, Cecil is really…” I can almost imagine them putting their fists through the drywall every time they see Santa Claus on a Coke can. > > … I think that if people think that the answers are evasive or coy over a long period, they are going to get frustrated. It’s human nature. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/51 "2011-12-07T16:09:10Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > I still research things for Cecil all the time. I love working for the Straight Dope. And in a few weeks you’ll get to read about me burning bacon and pork chops with a Class IV laser. Wait… people get paid to _burn bacon with a laser?_ See? This is why I haven’t given up on the world yet. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/52 "2011-12-07T16:11:42Z")
My understanding has always been that Cecil is a rotating group of interns who research selected questions. Ed Zotti edits the end result. Particular contributors who keep chipping in over the years, like Dex and Una, are recognized by name/_nom de plume_. Of course, I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/53 "2011-12-07T16:21:25Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Wait… people get paid to _burn bacon with a laser?_ > > See? This is why I haven’t given up on the world yet. Not just bacon, but rich, salty, applewood-smoked bacon. Which was then further cooked and eaten with Aunt Jemima pancakes. Which were not cooked by laser. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/54 "2011-12-07T17:06:46Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > I don’t think it should matter at all. Even if people believe they know 100%, what’s the point of getting upset over it? It never ceases to amaze me how some people in past threads have become livid over the fact that no one will officially say “yes, Cecil is really…” I can almost imagine them putting their fists through the drywall every time they see Santa Claus on a Coke can. > > I personally find the mystique to be neither good nor bad. The Straight Dope message and the facts and entertainment value of what Cecil writes should be the most important thing IMO. I enjoy being part of the official Straight Dope enterprise because of the opportunity to help educate and share knowledge. I don’t know what this has to do with the question at hand, but since you bring it up. I have always thought that this whole silly thing is a black eye for the site. A site committed to the “Straight Dope” keeps the identity of its primary author a secret.:dubious: However cute, it makes the whole enterprise look sketchy. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/55 "2011-12-07T17:12:54Z")
Cecil Adams must be a real person. There would be no need to construct such an elaborate set of mythology concerning the non-existence of a non-existent person. The mere attempt to cover-up his existence is sufficient evidence of his reality. ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/56 "2011-12-07T17:28:33Z")
I just came here to say that whether a real person or not, I always find it strangely exciting when **Cecil Adams** posts in threads here on the SDMB. His last one was in 2008 in a GD thread on abortion rights. (He’s posted since then, but mostly in the Cecil’s Columns forum, which doesn’t really count) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/57 "2011-12-07T17:29:31Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > My understanding has always been that Cecil is a rotating group of interns who research selected questions. Ed Zotti edits the end result. Particular contributors who keep chipping in over the years, like Dex and Una, are recognized by name/_nom de plume_. > > Of course, I could be wrong. This is one speculation that is definitely incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/58 "2011-12-07T17:40:22Z")
Cecil Adams and Ed Zotti have separate user accounts. If they were the same person, they would both be banned. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/59 "2011-12-07T17:40:22Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > This is one speculation that is definitely incorrect. So you’ve narrowed it down to a single person who is not named Cecil Adams currently writing all the columns under the Cecil Adams byline. Zotti is the traditional choice for who that person is, but it could be someone or a string of someones (on a non-rotating basis) who is/are not as well known. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322/60 "2011-12-07T17:48:49Z")
> [@Pabitel](#): > > I don’t know what this has to do with the question at hand, but since you bring it up. > I have always thought that this whole silly thing is a black eye for the site. A site committed to the “Straight Dope” keeps the identity of its primary author a secret.:dubious: I highly doubt your IRL legal name is “Pábitel”, and yet I don’t weigh your response any less for that. > [@](#): > > However cute, it makes the whole enterprise look sketchy. No it doesn’t. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cecil-adams/605322.md?page=4)