# Recent article on electrocution...why so angry? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [July 12, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-article-on-electrocution-why-so-angry/188015 "2003-07-12T18:30:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-article-on-electrocution-why-so-angry/188015/1 "2003-07-12T18:30:31Z")
Recently a reader asked about eh ins-and-outs of electrocution. He admitted to a morbid curiosity. Cecil gave his usual learned answer, but ended by calling the person who asked the question an asshole. I thought this was uncalled for an out of character, furthering my belief that Cecil is not a person, but a character whose author has changed… ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-article-on-electrocution-why-so-angry/188015/2 "2003-07-12T18:34:55Z")
Uh, **newcrasher** , you’re aware that that “recent” article was over 20 years old? ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-article-on-electrocution-why-so-angry/188015/3 "2003-07-12T19:31:43Z")
I was also surprised by Cecil’s gruffness in [What physically happens to someone electrocuted in the electric chair?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_219.html) He wasn’t nearly as angry when [someone asked about female circumcision](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_197.html). I reread the question as posed, and I think I may know whence the resentment comes: > [@](#): > > I have a fear of, yet a morbid curiosity about, execution by electrocution. **How does one get in to see an execution?** What preparations go on before an execution? What happens to the prisoner before and after? What physically happens to the prisoner during an electrocution? Has anyone ever been strapped in, then taken out? **Are there tours of Death Houses at prisons?** Please try to be as detailed as possible. _[I bolded this, all by myself.]_ Cecil may be upset that the person is interesting in using another’s gruesome death as a means of personal edification. Even though Cecil seems hateful of the morbid curiosity itself, I think the willingness to participate is the crux of his ire. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-article-on-electrocution-why-so-angry/188015/4 "2003-07-12T20:12:59Z")
Cecil is angry because his brother died by electric chair. Albeit, it fell on him from a four story building, but nevertheless, the anger is justified. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-article-on-electrocution-why-so-angry/188015/5 "2003-07-13T00:16:25Z")
**newscrasher**. I agree that you just aren’t used to reading Cecil’s columns from the early 1980’s. Calling someone an asshole was just par for the course. I assume that you don’t have any of the Straight Dope books? WHY NOT? If you want to read some vintage Cecil(and even read these rehashed columns _before_ they reappear here, then go to the [Straight Dope Bookstore](https://securesite.chireader.com/cgi-bin/dopestore/buystuff.bat) and purchase a copy or two. Most of the columns that are being reposted of late are from _The Straight Dope_. People on this board are so concerned that it may not survive economically. Well, buy a book. From the SD. If you like this place. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-article-on-electrocution-why-so-angry/188015/6 "2003-07-13T22:41:32Z")
Of course you _can_ borrow those books from the library. 😉 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-article-on-electrocution-why-so-angry/188015/7 "2003-07-15T16:42:05Z")
Speaking of Cecil’s books, I’ve been meaning to ask: When is the next one coming out? It’s overdue!!! [Doubtless this gets asked and answered every few months. Forgive me. I’m new in these parts.] ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-article-on-electrocution-why-so-angry/188015/8 "2003-07-15T16:51:48Z")
**BJMoose** , it does come up a lot, and the answer is always “You’re going to have to buy up the books that have already been printed before we go turning out new ones”. So, that brings us back to **samclem’s** advice. ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-article-on-electrocution-why-so-angry/188015/9 "2003-07-16T11:15:24Z")
[continuing hijack] I’m wondering why there isn’t a **discount** for buying the whole series? I thought of getting them for a friend for his birthday, but what with shipping to the UK etc., it comes a bit too expensive. After all, I’ve got hairdos and pizzas to pay for … :)[/continuing hijack] Julie ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-article-on-electrocution-why-so-angry/188015/10 "2003-07-16T11:52:48Z")
What kind of an outfit is this? They can’t make new books unless we buy up all the old junk? This is worse than my mom saying I can’t open the new bottle of ketchup until I finish off the two-year-old bottle we already have. Hmph.