Re: Updated crackpot index?

From	whodat <whodaat@void.nowgre.com>
Newsgroups	sci.physics
Subject	Re: Updated crackpot index?
Date	2022-12-08 14:13 -0600
Message-ID	<jveus6Fik1bU2@mid.individual.net> (permalink)
References	<tmtets$u6qm$1@dont-email.me>

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On 12/8/2022 1:46 PM, Volney wrote:
> Many people score crank posts according to John Baez's Crackpot Index 
> (https://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/crackpot.html). But it's almost a 
> quarter century old. I've been thinking of updating it, since cranks 
> have come up with many novel techniques since 1998 that are not listed. 
> For example, using crackpot-only words and phrases, for example 
> "Einsteinian" and "relativist", usually intended to insult scientists.
> 
> Is this worth doing?

Probably.

> Should I take the existing crackpot index and simply add to it?

Yes, expand unless you can come up with a set of more generic sorts of
claims that cover all the territory. While it is clear that Baez was
brilliant I think his list was a product of frustration and suffered for
it. One should not think the Baez work was not enjoyable in context. On
the other hand one should realize that most (if not all) the cranks in 
these newsgroups suffer from significant mental illness. So the end
product should be about the claims, not the individuals.

> Should any of its original entries be changed, even if only the points?
> Should I redo this in a completely different format? If so, suggestions?
> Should point scores apply to individual posts or the poster overall?

Following Baez in this effort I think you should make it your own work,
whatever that turns out to be, while retaining the enjoyment aspects
of the original as much as possible.

> In any case, full credit will be given to Baez for the original.
> 
> 
> Do you have suggestions for added entries, plus point scores for each?
> 
> Example additions, exact phrasing and points not yet determined:
> 
> People who agree with an argument promoted by an expert are "worshiping" 
> him, are brainwashed, indoctrinated, or are parrots.

You might point out that some canned replies aren't worth honorable
mention.

> Silence is consent: "I notice that there are no comments on my 
> manifesto. That means that you all agree with it!"
> 
> "Physics is a religion/cult!"
> 
> References to things like "Old Biology" (textbook standard biology) and 
> "New Biology" (the crank's version of biology including bizarre changes, 
> the crank believes his version is or will be accepted)
> 
> Expand Baez's Item #21: "I won a Nobel Prize for my discovery" when they 
> didn't.
> Less delusional: "I should have won a Nobel Prize for my discovery."
> Sour grapes: "The Nobel Prize is worthless"/"the committee awarding it 
> is corrupt", etc. because they didn't win a Nobel.
> "I was offered the Nobel Prize but I turned it down because it's 
> worthless."
> 
> 
> I want to keep this generic, otherwise it may become relativity/Einstein 
> specific or creationism specific. Also certain behavior unique to only 
> one crank probably shouldn't be included.

I think it pays to be discipline (but not subdiscipline) specific.

> I set followups to sci.physics.

I reset followups to both physics and relativity as I think both groups
benefit from this effort. Thanks.

Please be sure to work in some sort of generic while clearly
narcissistic claims. You could probably cover a lot of ground
that way without enlarging the text. After all, we don't want
a Britannica sized work for this task.

Thread

Updated crackpot index? Volney <volney@invalid.invalid> - 2022-12-08 14:46 -0500
  Re: Updated crackpot index? whodat <whodaat@void.nowgre.com> - 2022-12-08 14:13 -0600
  Re: Updated crackpot index? Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-12-08 20:53 +0000
    Re: Updated crackpot index? Volney <volney@invalid.invalid> - 2022-12-08 16:18 -0500
  Re: Updated crackpot index? Stephan Russo <ptrp@susnon.sr> - 2022-12-08 20:58 +0000
    Note to Volney (was Re: Updated crackpot index?) whodat <whodaat@void.nowgre.com> - 2022-12-08 18:15 -0600
      Re: Note to Volney (was Re: Updated crackpot index?) Hanoi Cuocco <ouco@ocaoch.ho> - 2022-12-09 14:35 +0000
        Re: Note to Volney (was Re: Updated crackpot index?) whodat <whodaat@void.nowgre.com> - 2022-12-09 10:59 -0600
  Re: Updated crackpot index? Stephan Russo <ptrp@susnon.sr> - 2022-12-08 21:00 +0000
  Re: Updated crackpot index? Hanoi Cuocco <ouco@ocaoch.ho> - 2022-12-09 21:02 +0000
    Re: Updated crackpot index? Trolidan7 <Trolidan7@eternal-september.org> - 2022-12-10 10:57 -0800
      Re: Updated crackpot index? Lou Abatangelo <lbta@aooutala.nl> - 2022-12-10 20:28 +0000
        Re: Updated crackpot index? Lou Abatangelo <lbta@aooutala.nl> - 2022-12-10 21:19 +0000
          Re: Updated crackpot index? whodat <whodaat@void.nowgre.com> - 2022-12-10 16:18 -0600
            Re: Updated crackpot index? Trolidan7 <Trolidan7@eternal-september.org> - 2022-12-10 14:42 -0800
              Re: Updated crackpot index? whodat <whodaat@void.nowgre.com> - 2022-12-10 17:59 -0600
                Re: Updated crackpot index? Trolidan7 <Trolidan7@eternal-september.org> - 2022-12-12 13:07 -0800
                Re: Updated crackpot index? whodat <whodaat@void.nowgre.com> - 2022-12-12 15:49 -0600
          Re: Updated crackpot index? Lou Abatangelo <lbta@aooutala.nl> - 2022-12-10 22:57 +0000
        Re: Updated crackpot index? whodat <whodaat@void.nowgre.com> - 2022-12-10 16:16 -0600
        Re: Updated crackpot index? Smokey Abbiati <asbk@atmakb.ai> - 2022-12-11 18:21 +0000
          Re: Updated crackpot index? Jim Pennino <jimp@gonzo.specsol.net> - 2022-12-11 10:40 -0800
          Re: Updated crackpot index? whodat <whodaat@void.nowgre.com> - 2022-12-11 13:44 -0600
            Re: Updated crackpot index? Smokey Abbiati <asbk@atmakb.ai> - 2022-12-11 21:37 +0000
              Re: Updated crackpot index? whodat <whodaat@void.nowgre.com> - 2022-12-11 16:07 -0600
          Re: Updated crackpot index? Darron Riva <orvd@raria.ar> - 2022-12-12 16:28 +0000
            Re: Updated crackpot index? whodat <whodaat@void.nowgre.com> - 2022-12-12 13:41 -0600
      Re: Updated crackpot index? Michael Moroney <moroney@world.std.spaamtrap.com> - 2022-12-10 18:08 -0500
        Re: Updated crackpot index? Lou Abatangelo <lbta@aooutala.nl> - 2022-12-10 23:33 +0000
          Re: Updated crackpot index? Trolidan7 <Trolidan7@eternal-september.org> - 2022-12-12 14:27 -0800
        Re: Updated crackpot index? Trolidan7 <Trolidan7@eternal-september.org> - 2022-12-10 15:54 -0800
  Re: Updated crackpot index? Lou Abatangelo <lbta@aooutala.nl> - 2022-12-10 23:22 +0000
  Re: Updated crackpot index? Archimedes Plutonium <plutonium.archimedes@gmail.com> - 2022-12-11 14:17 -0800
    Re: Archimedes "Pope of Failure" Plutonium flunked the math test of a lifetime-generation test Michael Moroney <moroney@world.std.spaamtrap.com> - 2022-12-11 22:56 -0500
      Kate Heinzelman of CIA does Kibo Parry M. necrophilia extend over into roadkill and carcass fucking? Archimedes Plutonium <plutonium.archimedes@gmail.com> - 2022-12-11 20:46 -0800
  Re: Updated crackpot index? Darron Riva <orvd@raria.ar> - 2022-12-12 18:43 +0000
  Re: Updated crackpot index? Volney <volney@invalid.invalid> - 2022-12-18 14:53 -0500
    Re: Updated crackpot index? Vitaliy Bazzoli <zvt@viavzl.oi> - 2022-12-18 20:41 +0000
    Re: Updated crackpot index? Thomas Heger <ttt_heg@web.de> - 2022-12-22 09:29 +0100
      Re: Updated crackpot index? Volney <volney@invalid.invalid> - 2022-12-23 02:00 -0500
        Re: Updated crackpot index? Arindam Banerjee <banerjeeadda1234@gmail.com> - 2022-12-23 02:56 -0800
        Re: Updated crackpot index? Thomas Heger <ttt_heg@web.de> - 2022-12-24 09:57 +0100
          Re: Updated crackpot index? Volney <volney@invalid.invalid> - 2022-12-24 15:32 -0500
            Re: Updated crackpot index? Thomas Heger <ttt_heg@web.de> - 2022-12-25 11:17 +0100
              Re: Updated crackpot index? Volney <volney@invalid.invalid> - 2022-12-26 14:10 -0500
                Re: Updated crackpot index? Thomas Heger <ttt_heg@web.de> - 2022-12-27 09:36 +0100
                Re: Updated crackpot index? Thurman De palma <eaan@phapremr.an> - 2022-12-27 13:57 +0000
                Re: Updated crackpot index? Emmet Robustelli <uttl@etlmms.re> - 2022-12-29 21:28 +0000
            Re: Updated crackpot index? Luigi Tumicelli <llei@cumiicli.lu> - 2023-01-09 09:04 +0000
  Re: Updated crackpot index? Arindam Banerjee <banerjeeadda1234@gmail.com> - 2022-12-21 17:44 -0800
  Re: Updated crackpot index? Archimedes Plutonium <plutonium.archimedes@gmail.com> - 2022-12-24 13:05 -0800

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