So we’ve established that Cecil Adams the human being does exist. (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=32147)
I’m curious, though–who, aside from Ed, has actually met the man? Who knows Cecil’s secret? The members of the SDSAB (I thought some were in far-flung locales)? Is this one of the perks of becoming a moderator? Is he dashing and handsome? Does he have a long white beard and flowing robes and a halo of light behind his head?
I am Cecil.
God, I feel better now.
Seriously, he’s about 55 years old, married, at least 3 kids, Catholic, left-handed, possibly African-American. No different from a sizable chunk of the population. Look, he’s behind you right now.
Missed him, again, huh?
If they told you, then it wouldn’t be a secret. 
I do! Long, long ago I used to work at Barbara’s bookstore on Broadway in Chicago, and he was a regular customer.
(And to preempt the inevitable, Wild horses, etc.)
Remember, over time Cecil has had three different editors – Mike Lenehan, Dave Kehr, and Ed Zotti – all of whom presumably have met Unca Cece in the flesh. The following information about Mike Lenehan’s experiences comes from the Introduction to The Straight Dope (1984):
“Lenehan found working with Cecil a bizarre experience. It was a full year before the two met face-to-face, Cecil prefering to conduct his business via phone and anonymous phone drops. … Cecil eventually… consented to show up from time to time in the paper’s editorial offices–usually about three minutes before deadline, and invariably with copy that looked like it had been sitting under a canary all night. He would stroll around in Bermuda shorts, sandals, and shirts with the sleeves cut out, muttering non sequiturs to himself. No one ever actually saw him at work, but Lenehan reported after a visit to Cecil’s house that tottering mounds of mildewed newsprint were piled everywhere, the rugs were worn as thought from incessant nervous pacing, and dirty coffee cups were scattered all over the place. Cecil himself sat at his battered desk in the middle of the room rummaging through the heaps of papers, mumbling ‘Wait a second, I know I’ve got it here somewhere’.”
In the “About the Author” section, the book adds: “All Cecil’s dealings with the public are handled through his editor and confidant, Ed Zotti, who has been sworn to secrecy. Consequently, little is known about Cecil’s private life. Even Zotti says he doesn’t know where Cecil managed to learn so much stuff”.
He’s Batman.
I think he was sent from God to answer our questions and make us smarter.
He’s actually John Cleese. Besides the same personality, humor, intelligence, etc., look at the career timing.
Sua
Ssa tac lemac a nis id
Off to MPSIMS.
His mother. His mothers obgyn.
…His identity was revealed in Biggest Secrets by William Poundstone.
And since I own it, I know.
-SSB
The first rule of The Straight Dope is: you do not talk about Cecil Adams.
The second rule of The Straight Dope is: you do not talk about Cecil Adams…
On page 21 of Biggest Secrets, Poundstone claims that “[Katherine] Hepburn was born… on November 8.” Wrong. She was actually born on May 12th, while November 8th was her brother’s birthday.
This is the kind of glaring mistake that Unca Cece would never make. So, “whose your messiah now?”
Cecil was a trademark, just like Betty Crocker.
Still, I wonder if Mathew Alice is the same mark ownership?
Jeeesh. Everyone already knows that Cecil is actually Jimmy Hoffa Sr. That’s why he doesn’t like being seen.
whitetho: So what you’re saying is that one error means everything is to be questioned in something? You hang out with Biblical literalists for kicks, I assume… :rolleyes:
Yer pal,
Satan
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5384 cigarettes not smoked, saving $673.01.
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"Satan is not an unattractive person."-Drain Bead
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Cecil was actually born in a small fishing villiage in Greece, in 1947. He made some money off the fisherman in trivia games, which he won with some regularity. As a young person (gender puposely withheld), Cecil enjoyed learning but, not school. In 1963 Cecil immigrated to the U.S., and worked in several Chinese restaurants before finding his first ‘real’ job, for the Chicago Reader - mail room. After three years in the mail room, Cecil had a chance to demonstrate his knack for trivia and fact finding. The then editor hired him on the spot for the Straight Dope Column (originally titled ‘No Dope’).
Any questions?
Well, I guess I let that one slip…
The Shadow knows…