Politics

Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
1

Regarding the latest column from February 20th, 2009:

Alright, the Straight Dope doesn’t need this inane political hogwash. I’ve been a loyal subscriber for six years, but I don’t see a reason to stick around if the column is just going to be a medium to spew political venom. The transformation into a political soapbox has been the downfall of a great many sources of entertainment in the last few years.

I’m sure the mindless unwashed mob mentality is going to kick in, and half the replies to this thread will be “K DONT LET THE DOOR HIT U ON THE WAY OUT” or some clichéd bull like that. That’s fine.

I know you don’t get money from this column, so losing a subscriber probably doesn’t mean a thing to you, but for God’s sake, keep this column neutral and objective and just answer peoples’ questions, Cecil.

2

Are Americans dumber than Europeans? is the relevant column.

I think you mistake Cecil’s tone a *little *here. There’s a sneer in that last sentence of the quote too. Also, being a little inflammatory is good for views in these broke Loafing times.

In any case, if you’ve been reading Cecil for a while you shouldn’t expect “this column [to be] neutral and objective and just answer peoples’ questions”.

3

“Doofus” is the more charitable of the two possible explanations.

4

You’re a six year subscribing guest?

5

While I don’t particularly care if Cecil makes fun of Bush or not, I would point out that nowhere in the question was a comment about Bush or the Presidency. In fact, the question refers to an “old stereotype”. That suggests it predates a few years of 1 presidency.

Basically, that remark was out of left field for me. YMMV.

6

I’ve been with the Dope since the AOL days and I’m a guest. Guest merely means we aren’t paying to not see ads. :wink:

7

Your join date is Jul 1999. The OP’s is Feb 2009. I think that’s the distinction being made.

8

Presumably TheNilvarg has been a subscriber to the Straight Dope email for that time and has joined the message board recently.

9

This.

10

I agree with the OP. Whoever was writing the arti… I mean Cecil had a huge chip on his shoulder that was a bit over the top. The political commentary was the type of glib and heavy-handed commentary that I don’t want from something called The Straight Dope.

11

Like any good journalist, Cecil feels an obligation to report the truth. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.

12

I think Cecil was just refering to the opinion Europeans have of us. He didn’t say Bush was a doofus, he wrote that Europeans think we are stupid for electing a doofus. From what I have seen, this is exactly the opinion many Europeans have of us. I don’t believe the canard that it’s just a few European elitists that believe this. The majority of Europeans think Bush is a doofus.