Just look at one of the more commonly repeated untrue facts: Columbus discovered America. The dude legit didn't know that Vikings and Native Americas had already been to his uncharted wilderness. If you thought you had discovered a whole new freakin' land mass, you'd be pretty pissed that future assholes (on the Internet, no less!) kept trying to diminish your accomplishments.
Pictured: YOUR greatest accomplishment so far...
This list isn't for those mistakes. I wanted to write an article that focused on the things so commonly mistaught, you had NO idea they weren't true. For example...
Thomas Edison DID NOT Invent the Lightbulb
No doubt, Thomas Edison was a bona fide genius. During his illustrious career, Edison held an unbelievable number of patents, totaling 1,093 in the U.S. alone.
Unlike revered, but relatively unknown investors, like Nikola Tesla, Edison truly understood the principles of commercialization that were overtaking the world during his time. Or, to put it another way, Edison really knew how to make money!
Cash rules everything around me, get the money! Dollar, dollar bills y'all...
Before Edison, there were no less than 22 separate patents for the incandescent light bulb. The first light bulb was created by Humphry Davy in 1802, more than 75 years before Edison filed his patent.
The brilliant version created by Edison used cheap carbon filaments, like cotton, making it more commercially viable than any previous design. As a result, Edison's version invaded American homes, securing his places in history... Well, at least among those who don't actually read history books.
In Space, There is No Gravity
This might be nitpicking since this idea has its earliest roots in elementary school. Teachers try to explain space in oversimplified terms to students that may not understand the complicated nuances of gravity. It's almost understandable until you consider... That link quickly shows an interaction between an NPR reporter and a Space writer. It's clear from the exchange each thinks of space in terms of "zero gravity".
Still better than Fox News?... Yes, yes it is.
Gravity isn't exactly the easiest concept to grasp. One of the first rules, however, is that gravity is consistent throughout the universe. While the overall explanation is complicated (ie, I'm fucking confused by it), gravity increases near more massive bodies. This effect makes it seem like gravity "exists" in one place but not another.
For a complete explanation (including all the science-y stuff), check out this link.
Australia is the Only Country That is Also It's Own Continent
Quick, what continent is New Guinea a part of? What about New Zealand?
The idea that Australia is it's own continent is so pervasive the current map on the Wiki page for "continent" looks something like THIS...
Notice Australia in the corner there? While not technically incorrect (unlike that phrasing), the idea that Australia is its own continent grossly oversimplifies the idea of a continent. Many academic subjects use different definitions to refer to the idea of a continent. Geologists will understandably have different technical needs than sociologisst referring to cultural connections. The rest of us just don't care.
Gutenberg Invented the Printing Press
Okay, I'll admit it. There isn't much of an argument to include Gutenberg on this list over Columbus. Honestly, though, Gutenberg needs to be taken down a peg.
Pictured: Smug bastard...
To the guy's credit, Gutenberg did independently create his own printing press and that is pretty fuck impressive... I guess. But so was the fact that the Chinese had been printing paper money... since 500 BC.
When Marco Polo returned from China, one of the many things he relayed to Europeans was the idea of paper currency. Being a merchant first, Polo focused on the brilliance of paper currency because it represented a whole new source of revenue. When paper currency started to wear out, the government charged a replacement fee to issue more money. Unfortunately, Polo missed the fact that the damn money was printed.
Dumbass...
1 comment:
The person who gets credit is rarely the inventor but instead the person who markets the idea. Again it shows why we grasped on so readily to capitalizm and are more fascinated by the ability to market and spread the word instead of the creation of it.
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