Talk:Expert Error

Should we mention the rejection of Semmelweiss and his notion that an "invisible substance" carried on doctor's hands was causing childbed fever?

Or the resistance of climate change theorists to acknowledge the flaws in the hockey stick graph? --Ed Poor ^Talk 15:36, 24 December 2009 (EST)

I think the whole climategate scandal has exposed all the climate 'experts', but the question is whether this was down to error or deceit. TrondE 17:19, 24 December 2009 (EST)

I agree with TrondE that ClimateGate definitely belongs under deceit, not this page. But I'm definitely voting to include Ed's suggestions, I think they're great examples! JacobB 17:31, 24 December 2009 (EST)

United States Patent Office

Leading scientists recommending around 1900 that the United States Patent Office should be abolished because everything useful had been invented.

I couldn't find any corroboration for this: the idea for this entry seems to be an alleged quote of Charles Duell, U.S. Patent Commissioner, 1899:

"Everything that can be invented has been invented."

But though this quotation is fairly widespread, it seems to be entirely made up:

• Tech titans wish we wouldn't quote them on this baloney
• A Patently False Patent Myth

So, I'll slap an {{source}}-tag on this entry, until someone is more successful in finding recommendations of leading scientists than I was.

Everything you post must be true and verifiable

FrankC aka ComedyFan 09:57, 25 December 2009 (EST)

Opposition by experts to the United States Patent Office, because supposedly everything useful has been invented.

I think this statement is patently wrong - and it is not backed by the footnote, as no one ever subscribed to the content of this pseudo-quotation.

The late 19th century was a hot-bed of scientific inventions, as various nations struggled for the lead in the engineering sciences. Have a look at the books of Jules Verne to see what was thought to be possible in the near future...

FrankC aka ComedyFan 11:02, 25 December 2009 (EST)

Irving Fisher

The quotes I found were:

1. "There may be a recession in stock prices, but not anything in the nature of a crash." New York Times, Sept. 5, 1929

1. "Stock prices have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau. I do not feel there will be soon if ever a 50 or 60 point break from present levels, such as (bears) have predicted. I expect to see the stock market a good deal higher within a few months." Oct. 17, 1929

Though this was obviously wrong, he didn't say that stock prices would never decrease.

FrankC aka ComedyFan 10:13, 25 December 2009 (EST)

Thanks for the improvement of the article! FrankC aka ComedyFan 11:03, 25 December 2009 (EST)

William Thomson

The entry for Lord Kelvin is imprecise - according to the source, he thought that

• heavier than air flight is impossible
• radio has no future
• x-rays are a hoax

Naturally, he didn't say anything about radioactivity. FrankC aka ComedyFan 12:15, 26 December 2009 (EST)