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Rach3
It's irrational to turn into a crackpot - sane people will stop funding your research. Yet there are PhDs turned crackpot; for example Podkletnov. Why? It can't be a statistical fluke - there are thousands of these guys.
Just some guy said:Well I would think most come from broken enamelware, but I digress...
Out of how many?It can't be a statistical fluke - there are thousands of these guys.
And besides, it's not nice.heartless said:“I have no right, by anything I do or say, to demean a human being in his own eyes. What matters is not what I think of him; it is what he thinks of himself. To undermine a man's self-respect is a sin.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Ivan Seeking said:I think some people get hooked on one way of thinking and can't let it go. Eventually they abandon rational thought in order to preserve their belief system.
1 of the crackpots said:I'm the end of the evolution of the human race! I'm universe and I'm out.
Crackpots come from Pottery Barn, obviously.
mmmruff rfflrrrph. Thrfl flrmf flf glrmff rphlrmf. *pleh!* the stuffing makes my mouth too dry. Definately unchewable, but now it's all shred up. But I guess I won't fall!wolram said:Any one ever seen a parrot that has fallen from a perch it has chewed through, if you want to prevent this make sure your perch is unchewable
Ivan Seeking said:Thousands?
I think some people get hooked on one way of thinking and can't let it go. Eventually they abandon rational thought in order to preserve their belief system.
In his later years, was Pascal a crackpot, or did he simply see the light?
Good observation.chroot said:There's nothing about PhD recipients that makes them immune to mental illness, and mental illnesses often severely distort one's prior world-view. It seems pretty likely that a scientist who develops schizophrenia while spending the majority of his/her waking life working on a project will incorporate much of that work into his/her symptoms.
It occurs to me as I read this that for thousands of years crackpots ruled the roost in physics from the time of Aristotle to Galileo and his immediate predecessors. The kinds of questions asked in physics are, and have always been, extremely attractive to overly speculative people.On the other hand, the PhD-cum-crackpot is a much, much rarer breed than the legions of uneducated charlatans who have managed to convince themselves they're the next Einstein after havng read A Brief History of Time.
Crackpots, or people who hold unconventional or absurd beliefs, can come from any background or location. They are not limited to a specific geographic region or demographic.
Like most traits, it is a combination of nature and nurture. Some people may be more predisposed to having unconventional beliefs due to genetics or upbringing, but their environment and life experiences also play a role.
There is no one specific cause for someone to become a crackpot. It could be a combination of factors such as mental illness, lack of critical thinking skills, or a desire for attention and validation.
It is possible for crackpots to change their beliefs, but it often requires a significant event or realization. Many crackpots hold onto their beliefs strongly and may not be open to changing their minds.
When dealing with crackpots in a scientific setting, it is important to remain patient and respectful. Engaging in a logical and evidence-based discussion can help to challenge their beliefs without being confrontational. It is also important to set boundaries and not give them a platform to spread their false or harmful ideas.