Below is an interesting video on why the Helen Keller story could reasonably be classed as dubious. It doesn't add up as the video title says.
Also interesting is that Wikipedia gives no real hint that there are good reasons to doubt the validity of the Helen Keller story while Grokipedia gives those doubts reasonable coverage.
4 comments:
As I've got older I've learnt about more and more doubtful claims. Ben Franklin, apparently, probably didn't perform the key-and-kite experiment. Anne Frank may not have written her diaries. Even the Wright Brothers are allegedly not entirely above suspicion though the evidence against them seems pretty slight. The medieval church didn't believe the earth to be flat.
Add that to claims that I've known to be fake for ages - e.g. Edison being the first to make a practical light bulb, or Walter Raleigh introducing the potato from Virginia, or Henry Ford inventing the production line - and I might almost become a cynic.
I haven't heard a historical claim quite as stupid as one made by Obama though - that the motor car was an American invention. Where on earth did he get that idea from? Or, remarkably popular - it even featured in a headline in this morning's Telegraph - the moon's dark side. I ask you.
dearieme - yes, an aspect of growing older seems to be about puncturing popular myths. I must have missed the Obama car claim though. It's not easy to see how he had the nerve to make it unless he thought enough Americans wouldn't know anyway. Or maybe he didn't know either.
The dark side of the moon is an odd one as it's easy enough to work out that there can't be a permanently dark side. Maybe it's just the name.
There is a 'Dark Side of the Moon' I have it on vinyl and a very early CD...
I think that the 'Key and Kite' experiment was more of a thought one. Bit like Schroedinger’s Cat. You wouldn't actually carry it out because; 1, It would hurt, momentarily, at least. 2, it would be cruelty to at least one cat.
Tony - I think we had 'Dark Side of the Moon' on vinyl once upon a time. Don't know where it went though.
Yes the 'Key and Kite' experiment probably was a thought experiment which gradually morphed into a myth even though people knew how dangerous lightning is.
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