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)