# Question for Mr. Adams \[on updating columns\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [October 18, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575 "2013-10-18T13:53:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![QwertyJuan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90db22/32.png) [@QwertyJuan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QwertyJuan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575/1 "2013-10-18T13:53:50Z")
I have a question in reference to an article linked [HERE](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1008/did-medieval-scholars-argue-over-how-many-angels-could-dance-on-the-head-of-a-pin) The article clearly states that the question was asked by a Mr. David F back in 1988, yet your article references Google(which was not founded until 10 years later in 1998) as a source. I also see you referenced a book written by Teun Koetsier and Luc Bergmans in 2004, which I am also guessing(by the date) wasn’t around in 1988. So question… is the date on the article incorrectly stated or do you normally wait for a minimum of 16 years to lapse before answering your readers’ questions? If the latter, I am looking forward to your response in 2029! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575/2 "2013-10-18T14:13:11Z")
> [@QwertyJuan](#): > > I have a question in reference to an article linked [HERE](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1008/did-medieval-scholars-argue-over-how-many-angels-could-dance-on-the-head-of-a-pin) > > The article clearly states that the question was asked by a Mr. David F back in 1988, yet your article references Google(which was not founded until 10 years later in 1998) as a source. I also see you referenced a book written by Teun Koetsier and Luc Bergmans in 2004, which I am also guessing(by the date) wasn’t around in 1988. > > So question… is the date on the article incorrectly stated or do you normally wait for a minimum of 16 years to lapse before answering your readers’ questions? If the latter, I am looking forward to your response in 2029! My guess is that someone noted that the link no longer worked, so Cecil had the link fixed. ---
**Author:** ![QwertyJuan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90db22/32.png) [@QwertyJuan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QwertyJuan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575/3 "2013-10-18T14:20:13Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > My guess is that someone noted that the link no longer worked, so Cecil had the link fixed. I am completely stumped at your answer and don’t understand how it relates in any way to the question asked. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575/4 "2013-10-18T14:22:27Z")
It looks like the column answer was updated later, or the date on the column is wrong. Usually, updates are clearly marked as such, but this one isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![QwertyJuan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90db22/32.png) [@QwertyJuan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QwertyJuan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575/5 "2013-10-18T14:49:36Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > It looks like the column answer was updated later, or the date on the column is wrong. Usually, updates are clearly marked as such, but this one isn’t. If this is in fact the case(that the article date is wrong) then who is to blame? According to what I read [HERE](http://www.straightdope.com/pages/faq/cecil), Cecil is never wrong. Are one of Cecil’s many peons to blame? ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575/6 "2013-10-18T14:55:47Z")
I don’t know about this particular article, but many others have been updated after publication (sometimes years later), while retaining the original date. It’s unfortunate that Ed (Zotti, Cecil’s “editor”) doesn’t note the update date when it’s done. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575/7 "2013-10-18T15:00:59Z")
> [@QwertyJuan](#): > > If this is in fact the case(that the article date is wrong) then who is to blame? According to what I read [HERE](http://www.straightdope.com/pages/faq/cecil), Cecil is never wrong. Are one of Cecil’s many peons to blame? Cecil does not have “peons”. Cecil has _minions_. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575/8 "2013-10-18T15:10:35Z")
> [@QwertyJuan](#): > > If this is in fact the case(that the article date is wrong) then who is to blame? According to what I read [HERE](http://www.straightdope.com/pages/faq/cecil), Cecil is never wrong. Are one of Cecil’s many peons to blame? We pretty much blame Ed Zotti for everything we don’t like. He’s handy to have around. ---
**Author:** ![QwertyJuan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90db22/32.png) [@QwertyJuan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QwertyJuan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575/9 "2013-10-18T15:14:57Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Cecil does not have “peons”. > Cecil has _minions_. Peon - a person who does menial work. Minion - a follower devoted to serving his master relentlessly. Until today, I had no idea there was a difference! Thanks for taking the time to enlighten! ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575/10 "2013-10-18T15:46:30Z")
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Board. Your first post involved nitpicking a Cecil column. You’ll fit in well here, I think. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![QwertyJuan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90db22/32.png) [@QwertyJuan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QwertyJuan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575/11 "2013-10-18T16:30:48Z")
After “scoring” projects and reports for Grades three through eight for 10 years, I tend to find errors and discrepancies sooner than most. 🙂 ---
**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:** [October 19, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575/12 "2013-10-19T13:33:19Z")
Columns are potentially updated at several points in time: if they are being printed in a book, for instance, they need to be thoroughly researched and updated. Sometimes, when they are being posted on the Message Boads, minor edits and updates are made (almost never a complete and thorough update.) I’m not sure what happened in this case, but one of those two scenarios is most likely. See: [PLEASE READ: Forum Rules](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=335641) noting post #5. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575/13 "2013-10-22T00:20:11Z")
The column was originally produced in 1988. The column was reprinted in one of Cecil’s books and was likely updated then. It may also have been edited/updated when The Straight Dope was featured on AOL in the late 1990s. And you don’t have to be so snotty. That’s Cecil’s job. 😃 ---
**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:** [October 22, 2013, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575/14 "2013-10-22T11:22:53Z")
PS - Someone has suggested a more descriptive thread title would be helpful to other readers, so I’ve amended thread title. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575/15 "2013-10-22T20:02:41Z")
> [@QwertyJuan](#): > > Peon - a person who does menial work. > Minion - a follower devoted to serving his master relentlessly. > > Until today, I had no idea there was a difference! Thanks for taking the time to enlighten! Peons say funny things when you poke them. If Cecil publishes an official addendum/errata in the papers, it gets its own section at the end. Not always dated (except in print), but at least it’s clear that this is written months or more later. Sometimes they make more minor changes, but don’t change the date. I wish they would, old columns get confusing sometimes. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2013, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-mr-adams-on-updating-columns/671575/16 "2013-10-23T10:58:53Z")
Since the columns in the books aren’t dated, they basically didn’t track when which edits were made. (I assume it’s obvious why the columns in the book aren’t dated.)