# Why this classic phallic column?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-this-classic-phallic-column/288803>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [February 7, 2005, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-this-classic-phallic-column/288803 "2005-02-07T14:38:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-this-classic-phallic-column/288803/1 "2005-02-07T14:38:40Z")

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I’m wondering, especially since the standard deviation is being discussed [in GQ](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=300610), why the editors chose [this penis column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_193.html) to whip out.

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-this-classic-phallic-column/288803/2 "2005-02-07T16:14:00Z")

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Well, I could say it was an amazing coincidence. But I think it was more likely that today’s Classic Column (on penis length related to race) was included in the subscriber email sent out on Friday (4 Feb), and that prompted the GQ thread about standard, um, deviation.

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**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-this-classic-phallic-column/288803/3 "2005-02-08T15:32:04Z")

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> [@C K Dexter Haven](#):
>
> Well, I could say it was an amazing coincidence. But I think it was more likely that today’s Classic Column (on penis length related to race) was included in the subscriber email sent out on Friday (4 Feb), and that prompted the GQ thread about standard, um, deviation.

I figured as much, but the loaded terminology was too much to resist,

“whip it out” 😃

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**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:** [February 8, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-this-classic-phallic-column/288803/4 "2005-02-08T19:45:37Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> I figured as much, but the loaded terminology was too much to resist,

Including “phallic column”?

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**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-this-classic-phallic-column/288803/5 "2005-02-09T02:40:44Z")

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> [@Chronos](#):
>
> Including “phallic column”?

And that’s just what I can come up with without using my l33t deconstruction sk1llz.