Mountain Man's Global News Archive The Crackpot Index by John Baez
Web Publication by Mountain Man Graphics, Australia - Southern Spring 1995

Date: Tue, 14 Nov 1995
From: baez@guitar.ucr.edu (john baez)
Newsgroups: sci.physics
Subject: The Crackpot Index

On Tue, 14 Nov 1995 baez@guitar.ucr.edu (john baez) posted:

The Crackpot Index

A simple method for rating potentially
revolutionary contributions to physics.





• 1) A -5 point starting credit.

• 2) 1 point for every statement that is widely agreed on to be false.

• 3) 2 points for every statement that is clearly vacuous.

• 4) 3 points for every statement that is logically inconsistent.

• 5) 5 points for each such statement that is adhered to despite careful correction.

• 6) 5 points for using a thought experiment that contradicts the results of a widely accepted real experiment.

• 7) 5 points for each word in all capital letters (except for those with defective keyboards).

• 8) 10 points for each claim that quantum mechanics is fundamentally misguided (without good evidence).

• 9) 10 points for each favorable comparison of oneself to Einstein,
  or claim that special or general relativity are fundamentally misguided (without good evidence).

• 10) 10 points for pointing out that one has gone to school, as if this were evidence of sanity.

• 11) 20 points for suggesting that you deserve a Nobel prize.

• 12) 20 points for each favorable comparison of oneself to Newton
  or claim that classical mechanics is fundamentally misguided (without evidence).

• 13) 20 points for every use of science fiction works or myths as if they were fact.

• 14) 20 points for defending yourself by bringing up (real or imagined) ridicule accorded to ones past theories.

• 15) 30 points for each favorable comparison of oneself to Galileo,
  claims that the Inquisition is hard at work on ones case, etc..

• 16) 30 points for claiming that when ones theory is finally appreciated,
  present-day science will be seen as the sham it truly is.

• 17) 30 points for claiming that the "scientific establishment" is engaged in a "conspiracy"
  to prevent ones work from gaining its well-deserved fame, or suchlike.

• 18) 40 points for claiming one has a revolutionary theory but giving no concrete testable predictions.

  John Baez

  E-Mail: baez@guitar.ucr.edu (john baez)

  WWW: The John Baez Papers represent a vast resource for academic mathematicians and physicists.

Mountain Man's Global News Archive The Crackpot Index by John Baez
Web Publication by Mountain Man Graphics, Australia - Southern Spring 1995