This post

[aesmael]

    Let me show you it. The Alternative-Science Respectability Checklist.

    The short of it is, if you have a brilliant new theory and do not wish to be dismissed as a crank, please demonstrate that you understand what you are attempting to overthrow and the enormous weight of evidence backing it up.

Comments

[lost-angelwings.livejournal.com]

*hugs* :)

I think our media, esp our fiction rly glorifies the idea of the "outsider", non-academic genius who discovers things by looking at it from a "different perspective". In fact the idea of proper training in most fiction is dismissed as being too rigid and in fact bad for you. :o The best martial artists are the self taught and/or taught by weirdos kind. The best sports players are the ones who never played in a league or a team before. The smartest scientists are the ones who never went to school. :\

[aesmael.livejournal.com]

Sadly, this means they often miss out on crucial lessons like "Don't do that, it will just fly up in your face and hit you".