Do you ask (or, better: demand) a definition of what a “real” scientist is in the context of a discussion of crackpots? (10 points), In addition, do you constantly ask for definitions of standard English (or native language terms ("Define ‘dead’ ")? (+10 additional points)
So, m’friend, you made it back to 40!!! I want an autographed issue when you make the cover of Skeptic.
(*) Do you cite your degree in a completely non-related field as credentials for your theory? (10 pts). And extra credit if you cite your academic postion at the institution you founded. (15 pts).
e.g. “Cletus Hoffmeyer, author of ‘Why Einstein was Wrong’, is the senior advisor at the Hoffmeyer Foundation for Limitless Energy. He holds a master’s degree in anthropology.”
See real science is actually magic, the Atlanteans knew it and the Illuminati know it.
The real way to do magic is through the Sacred Sigils given by the Elohim who dwell primarly on the Other Earth which is always 6 months in front of Our Earth so that we can never see it. Two of these Sigils form the base of the false science you all know. They’re the 17th and 23rd Sigils, aranged in the 5th mode of relation. Its simple really.
Great quiz, Fenris. I’ve always wanted to know, and now I do, I’m NOT a crackpot.
Unfortunately, the dog is. As is the Norfolk Island Pine and several of the little people living under my photocopier. The dog and the pine are collaborating on a grand unified theory in which, apparently, George Eastman plays rather a large part.
I am off to secure some real funding by selling a perpetual motion generator. Now where is that formula, wire lots of wire and a sprinkling of rare earth elements the plebs (er investors) have never heard of. A blinking light and let us see a little blurb about the rotational velocity of the earth (relative to the galactic centre of course) and all of that hither to un harnessed energy, and how this does not contradict any law of thermo dynamics to boot, (well OK not more than four) but I am sure the universe will let me away with it. I mean its not like it has a police force out enforcing all these laws or anything. Skeptic here we come
Now please get back to ranting against unfounded, unprovable hyperbole, that the news media knows will sell but also knows (at least I hope it does) is incorrect and generally harmful to the better understanding of our universe and our place in it.
Thanks for the update on Ludwig…excuse me, Archimedes Plutonium, gigi. It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to know he’s still around and annoying the scientific community.
In the area of crackpot science, I personally found this theory amusing…
If you have declared that your theory can only be disproved by certain evidence (e.g. “Moon rocks don’t count, the only way to prove the moon landing occurred is to explain all the photographs” or, for the complete loon, “the only evidence I will accept to show that andros is not the same person as gaudere is if you show me a simulpost”).
Sublight: You’d get Scam-Artist points, (and that’s a whole 'nother thread)!
WaterJ2: I agree with the principle, but I can’t think of a phrasing that would work. With yours (or any that I come up with) someone saying “I’ve got a theory that computers like Ice Cream. Spoon it right in! And the only way I’ll believe otherwise is if the computer stops working!” would get crackpot points. And they shouldn’t.
I know exactly what you’re getting at, it’s just the phrasing…
How about if the only form of evidence you will accept to disprove your theory, has less validity than the original theory? Then evidence such as a counter example would oviously not count.
Great quiz, Fenris! I think I could boil it down to one question, though:
Answer honestly, now. Is there anything, any expert opinion, any theoretical argument, any piece of evidence, any experimental result, that will convince you that your theory is a pile of steaming horseshit? Not that you should modify your theory slightly, not that you need to think more carefully about it, not that you must do more research. Is it possible for you be convinced that you should scrap your theory entirely? Will you ever conclude that you were off on the wrong track? Is there a teeny, tiny scrap of doubt in your mind, a miniscule crack to let the daylight in, any possiblity that the rest of the world is right, and you are wrong?
If the answer is “No” then you are a kook. Here’s your free identification card and complimentary tinfoil hat.
In my book, the qualifying characteristic of a crackpot, and possibly one of his most endearing qualities, is that he is completely in love with his theory, and won’t give it up, no matter what.
Believe it or not, Wilhelm Reich (the crackpot who first thought up orgone energy) acutally built what he considered to be an orgone energy field meter, which anybody could use.
Too bad it was just a fancy-looking Tesla coil, measuring nothing more than the electrical conductivity of the air and any nearby objects.
I just had to say that Fenris has four pit rants on the forst page!!! Do you live in the pit or what?
No offense intended of course…just seemed weird that they were ALL on the page before I scrolled down.
And yes, I guess you could call this a handy post
Fenris, I think Carl Sagan coined the perfect response to the crackpots that say something like that:
“They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown.”