4 ms·
People don't care. I've tracked down several popular quotes attributed to influential figures. All of them false. And when you tell the people who are spreadi
by edent 4y ago
People don't care.
I've tracked down several popular quotes attributed to influential figures. All of them false.
And when you tell the people who are spreading them, they're just not interested. It's much more fun to believe Einstein agreed with you. Or that he was bad at maths, just like you. Or that he played electric guitar like a dude.
And, a few people will double-down. Just because you can't find a source, doesn't mean he didn't say it. Or think it. Or tell it to me in a dream.
For those of us who care about accuracy, we struggle with the knowledge that a lie is half-way around the world before the truth has put its boots on. Well, that's what Mark Twain thought anyway.
Sources:
Einstein - https://twitter.com/edent/status/854700205463261184 https://twitter.com/edent/status/854700205463261184
Feynman - https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2020/04/who-do-you-think-you-are-kidding-mr-feynman/ https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2020/04/who-do-you-think-you-are-ki...
Tutu - https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2021/06/whats-the-origin-of-the-phrase-we-shouldnt-just-be-pulling-people-out-of-the-river-we-should-be-going-upstream-to-find-out-whos-pushing-them-in/ https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2021/06/whats-the-origin-of-the-phr...
Tesla - https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2021/07/did-nikola-tesla-receive-nothing-but-insults-and-humiliation/ https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2021/07/did-nikola-tesla-receive-no...
- pomian 4y agoHowever, there is a great movie out there, that proves he not only was a great guitar player, but also invented roll and rock! It's called "Young Einstein". It's a great movie. (Comedy?)
- BurningFrog 4y agoIt really is a fantastic, one-of-a-kind Australian movie!
- Agamus 4y agoYou're right, people don't care. Surely, we're at a point where more well-loved quotes are represented creatively in some way than not? That has been my recent experience. I had a friend who corrected a celebrated Ivy League professor on a quote that appeared at the top of the syllabus of seminal class that was a requirement for all students for decades. That was almost 20 years ago, and the quote is still used. I don't think I'll ever get over that one.
- abecedarius 4y agoI've had the same experience of commenting with a correction and being completely ignored. I mostly gave up.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]