# Why the lame columns lately? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 6, 2000, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161 "2000-09-06T00:30:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/1 "2000-09-06T00:30:59Z")
For about a year now, I have noticed that as I peruse old articles, they have been edited. Invariably it seems, the once-sharp wit has either been removed, or replaced with a lame parody of Leno-esque overexplication. Now, in the past month or two, I have been reading the original column (well, original to the web, that is) and i run across the start of a good barb/witticism, only to find that it turns into yet another exercise in hitting one over the head with a punchline. BEFORE i even get to read the original joke ☹ So, basically I am asking, has his writing changed, and if not, can we get the good stuff first, please? And thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/2 "2000-09-06T03:11:49Z")
I’ve been more disappointed lately in the quality of the questions the Master chooses to answer, not the answers themselves. But, you raise a good point. I’ve been reading the original Straight Dope book (I’ll let a mod link to it, I’m lazy) and Cecil was a lot crabbier back in the day: cursing a lot, and generally bashing people from Baltimore. It gives certain theories credence, doesn’t it, how the writing style has changed over the years. Hmm… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/3 "2000-09-06T03:39:29Z")
We discussed this a while back [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=26028). But I agree, they seem even more ‘off’ now than they once did. Maybe the geezer in him is catching up and now he’s trying to get into heaven by being nice. Getting old made my grandparents decide to start attending church. ---
**Author:** ![beirne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@beirne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beirne)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/4 "2000-09-12T22:23:11Z")
The strangest things about the columns in the last year or so is that the mailbag questions answered by the Science Advisory Board are usually more interesting than Cecil’s. He’s been taking a lot of lame questions. The mailbag has been more interesting than Cecil, because the questions are better and there are more columns. ---
**Author:** ![VanL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ee7513/32.png) [@VanL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanL)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/5 "2000-09-18T18:31:24Z")
I agree. Since this column went on-line the quality of the writing has decreased dramatically. When the column’s on-line site was on AOL I asked about this and the moderator said it was an attempt to reach a broader audience. I fail to see how one can attract a wider audience by lessening quality. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/6 "2000-09-19T16:31:21Z")
Oh, I dunno. I’ve been reading since '83 or so, and I haven’t noticed a decline in writing quality. In vitriol, yes, but not in literary ability. AFAICR, Cecil has always answered some pretty boring questions, interspersed with a few exciting ones. The difference now is that we can surf straight to the ones that catch our fancy, so we always expect the more interesting questions to be answered every week. And that ain’t gonna happen. ---
**Author:** ![Frumpy\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Frumpy\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frumpy_Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/7 "2000-09-21T13:51:41Z")
Well, there’s definately a softness going on here. As I noted in another thread (found [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=38351)), Cecil’s editor (Ahem) Ed took an original reply Cecil gave me in 95 and CHANGED IT to some soft-ass response instead of the ZING it originally contained. (The links to both the original and the newly editied reply are in the other thread). So I dunno. Maybe Cecil has lost the “edge”. I’m surprised he hasn’t jumped into the loop on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Cecil\_Adams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cecil\_Adams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecil_Adams)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/8 "2000-09-22T16:26:33Z")
Lost my edge, eh? You pathetic losers can kiss my ass. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/9 "2000-09-22T17:32:36Z")
sorry to hijack, but Cecil . . . I’ve been [looking for you](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=39429). ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/10 "2000-09-22T17:49:41Z")
Now **that** ’s the Cecil Adams we know and love. ---
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/11 "2000-09-22T18:01:13Z")
I’ve been kissing your ass for a year and what has it gotten me? One measly greeting. Feh! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/12 "2000-09-22T18:10:21Z")
“Kiss my ass” is the **Cecil Adams** we all know and love? Pft. “Don’t snivel, we just had the floors waxed.” “I’d love to [open fire upon querant’s antagonist], but right now you’re the only target within range.” “Your feelings are understandable, Ruth; there’s no question that the phenomenon of creatures with their brains up their butts has acquired a certain desperate relevance today.” “I notice, Frank, that you hail from Baltimore, a city whose residents fall into one of two categories, in my observation: (1)persons of exceeding wit and ingenuity, and (2) complete idiots. Your letter, quite honestly, lends itself equally well to either proposition.” THAT is the **Cecil Adams** I know and love. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/13 "2000-09-22T18:20:23Z")
Cecil, I still love you. I don’t think you’ve lost your edge. How could the Master lose his edge? That’s like saying that Picasso couldn’t paint his way out of a box. That Beethoven was a hack. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/14 "2000-09-22T18:52:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cecil Adams \* > \*\*Lost my edge, eh? You pathetic losers can kiss my ass. \*\* OH yes, THAT’S what I’m talking about. Please Cecil give use some more. _Mojo dangles bait_ In fact, I would love to kiss your ass, wiggle your ears and make a target. Given the enormity of the job, is there a time limit involved? If you feel you must mention my name, I guess that would be OK, (it’s Cindi with 2 i’s) _ducks and runs_ ---
**Author:** ![don\_Jaime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@don\_Jaime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_Jaime)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/15 "2000-09-22T19:09:10Z")
::breaking out whetstone:: ---
**Author:** ![KimKatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@KimKatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KimKatt)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/16 "2000-09-22T19:09:20Z")
I agree with **Uke**. In times past (insert appropriate melodramatic violin music here), the master’s insults not only put down the offendee, but did so with a rhythm and eloquence, with a beautiful blend of wit and satire that is lacking in the phrase, “You pathetic losers can kiss my ass.” ---
**Author:** ![aenea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@aenea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aenea)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/17 "2000-09-22T19:15:53Z")
You are the master, but… > [@](#): > > You pathetic losers can kiss my ass." That’s not even pitworthy! Come on! Show us some of that razor sharp wit that you’ve become so famous for. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/18 "2000-09-22T19:49:33Z")
Well, I don’t think Cecil has lost his edge. He is still writing columns that put the rest of the columnests to shame, and I salute him. He is more witty, more readable and more interesting than the rest-no one else even comes close. Dave Barry is funny, but Cecil combines funny with informative. So what I really wonder about here, is this- Does this mean that the Great Cecil actually **reads** this message board? Because I have always assumed that he didn’t have the time or interest to “lurk” here. Scotti ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/19 "2000-09-22T20:48:04Z")
I can see new sigs for **andros** , **Frumpy Jones** , et al., already: One of seven Dopers officially called a pathetic loser by Cecil! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161/20 "2000-09-22T21:09:55Z")
I dunno, I still think that the only Pathetic Loser in Cecil’s eyes shall be Coldfire. What a nice reply! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161.md?page=2)