It's a good thing that someone invented the footnote then, Robb. It gives the people who compile these lists the ability to show why something is factual. I wouldn't necessarily trust Wikipedia, but if you look into it yourself (a radical, crazy idea I know, Josie--er, I mean Robb) you'll find that they are true.
Some on the list probably don't belong. For example, I'm pretty sure the accurate definition of entrapment is common knowledge.
About fifteen years ago, I read a good synopsis of ancient knowledge about the Earth's shape in a book published by National Geographic.
The evidence for spherical shape of the Earth was available to the Greeks of the classical era, as well as to any other culture that regularly sent people on long-distance trips by boat.
Interestingly, ca. 300 BC, one of the Greek-speaking philosophers from Egypt used the knowledge that the Earth was spherical to measure the size of the Earth. His tools were those of elementary geometry, and his results look very close to modern values. (If we understand the size of the stadia, the unit of measurement that was used.)
All in all, it's fun to learn about such things. However, they do show me that at several places in history, the "moderns" looked down their noses at the "ancients", and considered the "ancients" ignorant fools. In doing so, the "moderns" easily believed and spread lies about the "ancients" (Flat Earth Myth, an assumption of zero cultural activity in Europe before the Renaissance, etc).
Does our current age have a similar short-sightedness about the past? If so, what myths will our grand-children have to unlearn?
To answer your question, Karrde, I'd wager on THIS myth: "The 20th century saw the invention of war and genocide"... Another likely myth is the following: "Kapitalism is the exploitation of man by man. Kommunism is the exakt opposite, Komrad!"
I like lists. :-) But, exceptionally and just for this one time, I'll spare you the complete huge list of all the lists I like! :-D "Good evening. My name is Pascal, and I'm a listless listaholic. I... haven't made a single list for a month and four days now."
As Wikipedia said, "this list of common misconceptions is bound to remain incomplete". So here's my contribution with another common misconception: "Robb in Houston and Josie are one and the same" : actually, Robb is the ace drummer in the famous pop band "The Pussycats", NOT their lead singer. ;-)
Interesting list.
ReplyDeleteInteresting concepts.
Interesting points of view.
But the 'list' doesn't make the statements factual.
But it's a nice list. People like lists.
It's a good thing that someone invented the footnote then, Robb. It gives the people who compile these lists the ability to show why something is factual. I wouldn't necessarily trust Wikipedia, but if you look into it yourself (a radical, crazy idea I know, Josie--er, I mean Robb) you'll find that they are true.
ReplyDeleteSome on the list probably don't belong. For example, I'm pretty sure the accurate definition of entrapment is common knowledge.
Interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt includes the Myth of the Flat Earth.
About fifteen years ago, I read a good synopsis of ancient knowledge about the Earth's shape in a book published by National Geographic.
The evidence for spherical shape of the Earth was available to the Greeks of the classical era, as well as to any other culture that regularly sent people on long-distance trips by boat.
Interestingly, ca. 300 BC, one of the Greek-speaking philosophers from Egypt used the knowledge that the Earth was spherical to measure the size of the Earth. His tools were those of elementary geometry, and his results look very close to modern values. (If we understand the size of the stadia, the unit of measurement that was used.)
All in all, it's fun to learn about such things. However, they do show me that at several places in history, the "moderns" looked down their noses at the "ancients", and considered the "ancients" ignorant fools. In doing so, the "moderns" easily believed and spread lies about the "ancients" (Flat Earth Myth, an assumption of zero cultural activity in Europe before the Renaissance, etc).
Does our current age have a similar short-sightedness about the past? If so, what myths will our grand-children have to unlearn?
To answer your question, Karrde, I'd wager on THIS myth: "The 20th century saw the invention of war and genocide"...
ReplyDeleteAnother likely myth is the following: "Kapitalism is the exploitation of man by man. Kommunism is the exakt opposite, Komrad!"
I like lists. :-)
But, exceptionally and just for this one time, I'll spare you the complete huge list of all the lists I like! :-D
"Good evening. My name is Pascal, and I'm a listless listaholic. I... haven't made a single list for a month and four days now."
As Wikipedia said, "this list of common misconceptions is bound to remain incomplete". So here's my contribution with another common misconception:
"Robb in Houston and Josie are one and the same" : actually, Robb is the ace drummer in the famous pop band "The Pussycats", NOT their lead singer. ;-)