# Unca Cece's Wikipedia page **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [December 1, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504 "2006-12-01T18:28:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/21 "2006-12-05T02:39:15Z")
There is a Santa Claus. So sayeth the New York Times. In theory, I suppose it might be argued that “Cecil” also exists in the hearts and minds of believers. Or maybe Cecil is like Elvis, and most people have a little Cecil in them somehow. Elvis needs boats. Cecil needs currency, small non-consecutive bills prefered… ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/22 "2006-12-05T03:02:52Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] Not sure what you want me to prove. The Chicago Reader admited this: _CECIL ADAMS DOES NOT IDENTIFY ANY PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL BUT WAS DEVISED AS A FANCIFUL NAME_ in the document I linked from the USPTO. It’s either true, or they’ve made a false statement in a federal filing–which I suspect would be a bad thing to do. [/QUOTE] Of course there isn’t a “Cecil Adams.” He values his privacy too much. But he can still be a real person. Just as “Dear Abby” was. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/23 "2006-12-05T03:12:38Z")
If you’re saying there’s one and only one person who both writes “The Straight Dope” and uses the alias Cecil Adams for so doing, I ain’t buying it. Could be wrong, but that is not what I understand the trademark document to say. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/24 "2006-12-05T04:15:10Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] There is a Santa Claus. So sayeth the New York Times. [/QUOTE] 'Twas the _Sun_ (and it was in 1897). ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/25 "2006-12-05T04:23:13Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] If you’re saying there’s one and only one person who both writes “The Straight Dope” and uses the alias Cecil Adams for so doing, I ain’t buying it. Could be wrong, but that is not what I understand the trademark document to say. [/QUOTE] Well, then, you understand wrongly. It only establishes that “Cecil Adams” is a pseudonym owned by the _Chicago Reader_ (and not by “Cecil”); it says nothing either way about who actually _does_ write the column. There is significant evidence of a single “Cecil”:[ul] [li]“Cecil” occasionally posts here.[/li][li]There is a quite consistent prose style and _weltanschauung_ to the “Cecil”-bylined columns.[/li][li]Other articles are consistently and explicitly credited to other names.[/li][/ul] ---
**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:** [December 5, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/26 "2006-12-05T04:23:33Z")
The text in the trademark document leaves open the possibility of multiple people writing under the “Cecil Adams” name. It does not necessarily imply that they do so at the same time: It could be that one single person has replaced another single person in the role. It could even be, based on that document, that only one person has _ever_ used the name, thus far, and the Reader just wants to leave it open to the possibility that someone else may someday replace that person. Besides, if Cecil’s columns were written collaboratively by multiple people, who would those people be? I can tell you straight up that it isn’t the members of the SDSAB. And when Cecil does use information from one of the staff members, he always credits that member. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/27 "2006-12-05T04:44:53Z")
[QUOTE=John W. Kennedy] Well, then, you understand wrongly. It only establishes that “Cecil Adams” is a pseudonym owned by the _Chicago Reader_ (and not by “Cecil”); it says nothing either way about who actually _does_ write the column. There is significant evidence of a single “Cecil”:[ul] [li]“Cecil” occasionally posts here.[/li][li]There is a quite consistent prose style and _weltanschauung_ to the “Cecil”-bylined columns.[/li][li]Other articles are consistently and explicitly credited to other names.[/li][/ul] [/QUOTE] It clearly, and in all caps, says what I quoted it as saying.–ie Cecil is not a particular individual. If you say I’m wrong, I’d like a cite to something other than your opinion. Anybody can register a user name. Hell, it might be a joint use account, or used by whoever edits the column. Don’t think it was ever explicitly confirmed or denied in the thread I linked. A single editor could account for the style. The “Cecil” columns are the draw. The other stuff is like the salad while waiting on your steak. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/28 "2006-12-05T05:03:26Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] It clearly, and in all caps, says what I quoted it as saying.–ie Cecil is not a particular individual. [/QUOTE] No, it does not; it says that “Cecil” need not be a particular individual, which is not the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/29 "2006-12-05T11:41:43Z")
**Oakminster** , have you read any other patent documents in the same field? They all say pretty much the same. Are you suggesting that no column is or has ever been written by a single person? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/30 "2006-12-05T14:30:39Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] There is a Santa Claus. [/QUOTE] Just because you do not exist, does not mean that you should confuse Cecil with Santa. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/31 "2006-12-05T15:18:04Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] “Cecil Adams” is a fictional name. “The Straight Dope” is written by multiple individuals. [/QUOTE] I am a multiple individual. No, I’m not. Am, too. Maybe **I’m** a multiple individual, but **I’m** not! Yes, I am a multiple individual, but I am not Cecil. Oh, shut up, you glump. Hey, I can’t talk to myself that way. Have a little civility. Sorry. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/32 "2006-12-05T19:13:01Z")
[QUOTE=Priceguy] **Oakminster** , have you read any other patent documents in the same field? They all say pretty much the same. Are you suggesting that no column is or has ever been written by a single person? [/QUOTE] For starters, the document I linked is not a patent document, it’s a trademark document. Different things. Also, in somewhat random fashion, I checked a few names. Dave Barry’s listing says that it is an individual name used with his permission. Ann Landers is a fanciful name. Quite a few columnists aren’t listed at all. I don’t get why this is so controversial. The document says what it says. The language is quoted here multiple times. “Cecil Adams” is not a particular individual. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/33 "2006-12-05T20:08:23Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] For starters, the document I linked is not a patent document, it’s a trademark document. Different things. Also, in somewhat random fashion, I checked a few names. Dave Barry’s listing says that it is an individual name used with his permission. Ann Landers is a fanciful name. Quite a few columnists aren’t listed at all. I don’t get why this is so controversial. The document says what it says. The language is quoted here multiple times. “Cecil Adams” is not a particular individual. [/QUOTE] Yes, the document says what it says. It does not say what you say it says. It only establishes the fact that the _Chicago Reader_ reserves the right to name a new “Cecil”, not that there is more than one “Cecil” in fact. ---
**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 5, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/34 "2006-12-05T21:28:31Z")
Maybe someone should submit a question to Cecil asking if he exists. ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/35 "2006-12-05T21:29:15Z")
Oddly enough, a quote from the WIKI page: > [@](#): > > Thus, it seems likely that the pseudonym is applied to a group or series of writers seems to indicate that **Oakminster** isn’t alone in the belief that Cecil isnt a real, singular person. I say Oddly because the article then goes on to describe his traits including being married, balding, left-handed and color blind. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/36 "2006-12-06T00:41:25Z")
Holy wack, Cecil is James Bond… 🆒 … or The Doctor … 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/37 "2006-12-06T07:55:24Z")
[QUOTE=Una Persson] Maybe someone should submit a question to Cecil asking if he exists. [/QUOTE] Maybe someone should hire a team of analysts to check Adams’ output over the past few years. By examining the replies to Cecil’s Columns for similarities in sentence structure, grammar, phraseology, style (where applicable) and wit (ditto) it would surely be possible to conclude whether the same person, or group of people, is responsible for these columns. Regrettably there is a cost involved in getting this analysis performed. Any person willing to spend vast amounts of $$ in order to find out the truth would have to be truly obsessed with the Cecil enigma almost to the point of mania. Contributions to my _Who’s Cecil?_ fighting fund can be made by arrangement after contact via my email account (in profile). ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/38 "2006-12-06T10:25:11Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] I don’t get why this is so controversial. [/quote] I don’t get why you care. > [@](#): > > The document says what it says. The language is quoted here multiple times. “Cecil Adams” is not a particular individual. No, it doesn’t say that, as you’ve been told several times. Since you either do not bother to read or do not bother to comprehend, I guess this is the end of the conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/39 "2006-12-06T16:08:34Z")
_Disclaimer: the following is from this individual acting upon his own and is not to be considered an official answer upon the behalf of the USPTO as a whole._ “CECIL ADAMS DOES NOT IDENTIFY ANY PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL BUT WAS DEVISED AS A FANCIFUL NAME” only means “Cecil Adams” is a pseudonym. It does not mean there are mutiple people sharing that pseudonym at any given time–“The Straight Dope” is not penned by committee. **John W. Kennedy** is correct: the wording establishes the fact that the Chicago Reader reserves the right to name a new “Cecil”. Note that recent trademarks for “Dear Abby” contain similar wording: “the name DEAR ABBY or ABBY is a fanciful name and does not identify a living individual.” Yet the advice column has been penned by one person–not the _same_ person, mind you–since it started in 1956. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504/40 "2006-12-06T18:06:43Z")
Argh. This is the SDMB, the board of fighting ignorance and all that. And we cannot even find out whether the guy who writes the SD is real or not! wtf! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unca-ceces-wikipedia-page/382504.md?page=3)