The Experts Speak

I’ve discovered a book titled “The Experts Speak: The Definitive Compendium of Authoritative Misinformation” by Christopher Cerf and Victor Navasky. Some of the statements it contains are:

“Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.” – Popular Mechanics, 1949.

“Forget it. No Civil War picture ever made a nickel.” – MGM executive, advising against investing in Gone With The Wind.

“That rainbow song’s no good. Take it out.” – MGM memo after first showing of The Wizard Of Oz.

“You’d better learn secretarial skills or else get married.” – A modeling agency, rejecting Marilyn Monroe in 1944.

“Can’t act. Can’t sing. Slightly bald. Can dance a little.” – A film company’s notes on Fred Astaire’s 1928 screen test.

“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” – Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.

“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” -Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977.

“But what is it good for?” -IBM Engineer, 1968, commenting on the microchip.

“Louis Pasteur’s theory of germs is ridiculous fiction.” -Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse, 1872.

“Everything that can be invented has been invented.” – Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899.

“We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.” -Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.

“This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” -Western Union internal memo, 1876.

“Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?” -H.M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927.

“Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible.” -Lord Kelvin, president, Royal Society, 1895.

“640K ought to be enough for anybody.” – Bill Gates, 1981.

“Brain work will cause women to go bald.” – Berlin professor, 1914.

“And for the tourist who really wants to get away from it all, safaris in Vietnam.” – Newsweek magazine, predicting popular holidays for the late 1960s.

“Television won’t matter in your lifetime or mine.” – Radio Times editor Rex Lambert, 1936.

What’s the point? Well, we could add some new ones:

“Crop circles are all manmade.”

“UFOs aren’t real.” (And neither are remote viewing or out- of-body travel).

“Cattle mutilations are done by human cults.”

“Prehistoric cultures were savage and ignorant.”

Remember: The “experts” may dominate the media now, but the day will come when their words will come back to haunt them. Just wait.

NOTE: This Diary entry, previously published on our old site, will have any links removed.