# What is it with Cecil Adams? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 26, 2002, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023 "2002-12-26T20:39:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/1 "2002-12-26T20:39:57Z")
Ok, Ok, I know that I’m going to be stepping on alot of people’s toes when I start this thread, and I dont expect to get many replies, but I was just wondering…what’s the big deal with Cecil Adams? Granted, he may be one of the most intelligent people I haven’t encountered, but he’s just a guy. Just a regular guy with tremendous resources. Is it really necessary to make him into a god? I dont think so. I’d like to know what everyone else thinks. ---
**Author:** ![B.Pants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@B.Pants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Pants)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/2 "2002-12-26T20:53:32Z")
This looks to me like an attempt to get Perfect Master Cecil to post in your thread so that you can feel special. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/3 "2002-12-26T20:53:50Z")
It is not necessary to make him into a God, no. He already is one. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/4 "2002-12-26T20:54:30Z")
SINNER!!! BACK YE UNBELIEVER!!! ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/5 "2002-12-26T21:01:48Z")
I first encounter Cecil Adams when I was a teenager. At the time I knew of many people who would print your questions and their answers in newspapers and magazines. Cecil Adams, however, was the only one of these folks who would answer _any_ kind of question. Not many “Ask the Expert” columnists I’m aware of will include everything from the fate of Chanel One to the caloric content of semen in their questions and answers. It’s neat. I, however, don’t think Cecil is a god. Probably not even a demigod. His books are entertaining, though. The website ain’t half bad either. And now I shall hide, for the prospect of being tarred and feathered does not appeal to me. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/6 "2002-12-26T21:08:21Z")
“Don’t mock Cecil.” “Why not? Is it dangerous?” “No, just tacky.” ---
**Author:** ![XPav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b77776/32.png) [@XPav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XPav)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/7 "2002-12-26T21:18:28Z")
Cults of personality are dangerous. That is, all of them except mine. ---
**Author:** ![Ooner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c67d28/32.png) [@Ooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ooner)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/8 "2002-12-26T21:23:10Z")
I don’t get the Cecil obsession either. Sure, the articles are interesting and clever, but I find far better material all over the SDMB every day. I started with reading his columns, then moved on to the message boards, and haven’t had any reason to go back to regularly reading him. ---
**Author:** ![flood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/9 "2002-12-27T02:01:24Z")
Wow, I know exactly what you mean Ooner. It used to be that I would read those articles on the website. Once I registered, I stopped reading them. I figure that if I post a question here, I’ll get a better result than if I had asked good ol’ Cecil himself. And despite what anyone says, this isn’t an attempt to get him to post, nor would I feel special if he did. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/10 "2002-12-27T02:32:01Z")
Maybe Cecil is sockpuppeting for compliments :-)… You might like his brother, Ed, too. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/11 "2002-12-27T15:45:51Z")
flood, it’s like Betty Crocker, you know a trademark. ---
**Author:** ![SmileyDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SmileyDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmileyDeath)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/12 "2002-12-27T15:57:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by flood \* > \*\*Ok, Ok, I know that I’m going to be stepping on alot of people’s toes when I start this thread, and I dont expect to get many replies, but I was just wondering…what’s the big deal with Cecil Adams? Granted, he may be one of the most intelligent people I haven’t encountered, but he’s just a guy. Just a regular guy with tremendous resources. Is it really necessary to make him into a god? I dont think so. I’d like to know what everyone else thinks. \*\* Cecil, the man,the legend, the vague answers about his identity. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/13 "2002-12-27T16:55:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*“Don’t mock Cecil.” > “Why not? Is it dangerous?” > “No, just tacky.” \*\* [geeky nitpick] Don’t taunt the fear demon. Why? Can he hurt me? No, it’s just… tacky. [/pathetic geeky nitpick] ---
**Author:** ![MSU\_1978](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@MSU\_1978](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MSU_1978)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/14 "2002-12-27T17:14:35Z")
Just curious- does Cecil ever post to the SDMB? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/15 "2002-12-27T17:23:14Z")
Yes he does. Last post I saw him in was about **Airman doors** kid or something. Instead of member his says master. 😃 He does have a low post count though, so technically he’s still a newb. ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/16 "2002-12-27T17:52:29Z")
**World Eater** I believe with the “Quality Over Quantity” dogma of the SDMB, The **Perfect Master** would _not_ be a newbie, because he is a 99er and the **Perfect Master** of all things. I think Slug’s comics have a subliminal attraction to them. But that’s just the icing on the cake. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/17 "2002-12-27T19:38:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ooner \* > \*\*I don’t get the Cecil obsession either. Sure, the articles are interesting and clever, but I find far better material all over the SDMB every day. I started with reading his columns, then moved on to the message boards, and haven’t had any reason to go back to regularly reading him. \*\* **WITCH! WITCH!** Get thee back Hellspawn! Thou doest defile the shining glory that is _ **Cecil Adams** _,praise be his name. (kneel, and make the sign of the straight dope-a vertical line down the chest and a toke on an imaginary joint) ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/18 "2002-12-27T20:05:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homebrew \* > \*\*[geeky nitpick] > > Don’t taunt the fear demon. > > Why? Can he hurt me? > > No, it’s just… tacky. > > [/pathetic geeky nitpick] \*\* Halloween episode of Buffy.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/19 "2002-12-27T20:35:55Z")
Why the obsession? Without him, none of would be here! ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023/20 "2002-12-28T00:12:29Z")
“Just curious- does Cecil ever post to the SDMB?” He does post in ATMB forum under his handle & rank of PERFECT MASTER sometimes. Some of his questions he answers sometimes look as if they came from the forum, so either he or his staff reads the forum, but then his staff moderates the forums. Hmm Believe it or not CA was a registered trademark of the Chicago reader. I wonder if he is also mathew alice of the S.D. Calif Reader? Who knows? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cecil-adams/145023.md?page=2)