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Totally Unbelievable

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 12:43 am
by HPetrino
This afternoon my wife and I spent a little time browsing in a large nearby book store. I was thumbing through a book that was titled along the lines of Major Inventions and Things That Changed the World", or at least something like that.

Anyhow, I came to a page which contained a photo of a man sitting in what was undoubtedly a new car, probably taken sometime around 1903-05. The caption read, "Henry Ford introduced the Model T, c. 1900."

Well, I don't know what the car was but it was NOT a Model T or even a Ford of any kind for that matter. Of course they had the year way wrong. I don't know who the guy sitting in the car was but he sure the heck was NOT Henry Ford.

It was a nice looking book and quite expensive. I just don't know what to say......

Re: Totally Unbelievable

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 6:36 am
by Hal
You find a glaring error like that and it makes you suspicious of everything else in the book.

Re: Totally Unbelievable

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 9:10 am
by John kuehn
Its probably written as “generalized” history. In other words not real accurate. Somebody with just street knowledge wrote it. Same thing goes on today only now it’s done through social media, the internet and etc. Back then people would think if it’s written down in a book it’s got to be true. Now if it’s on the internet and it has to be true. And on we go.

Re: Totally Unbelievable

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 9:56 am
by Steve Jelf
I once saw a book with a picture of William McKinley identified as Thomas Edison. Other than two eyes and one nose, the two guys share little resemblance. As Hal says, something like that makes the whole book suspect.

Re: Totally Unbelievable

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 11:26 am
by Rich Bingham
:lol: Henry, sounds like the title of this thread should be the title of that book !! :lol:

Those who pretend to write history have an ethical obligation to be accurate. It's hard enough to research factual accounts without some jackass cluttering up a subject with wrong information. Shame on them. No wonder some wit has stated that when reading "history" it all depends on who's lying to you. :shock:

Re: Totally Unbelievable

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 11:32 am
by HPetrino
Rich,

That's exactly what's so frustrating. If you're going to write a non-fiction book you have an obligation to exercise due diligence and make it accurate. Regardless of what's true, many who read what is written believe it.

Re: Totally Unbelievable

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 10:30 pm
by Burger in Spokane
A woman who let me know that my truck should be in a museum or junk pile,
on account of not being fast enough for her, obstructing her reckless driving,
gave me the impetus to have a little fun and check her historical awareness.

When I told her the truck was bought new by Abraham Lincoln, her unfazed
response was "That's just one more reason it belongs in a museum and not out
on the road".

Been asked 4 times in 5 years if I am the original owner. It appears that a lot
of folks don't seem to be too hot with their match skills either.

Guesses as to what year it is have ranged from 1890 to 1965.

These people are the audience those writers are writing for.

Re: Totally Unbelievable

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2019 6:54 pm
by 2nighthawks
Burger - I think you only told the woman half of the story,.....Abraham Lincoln drove a Ford, and Henry Ford drove a Lincoln! :D

Re: Totally Unbelievable

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2019 7:13 pm
by Henry K. Lee
Burger you are aware that those poor people are doomed to repeat history in a very bad sense!

Used to love watching Jay Leno and Jay Walking, LMAO!

Re: Totally Unbelievable

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2019 8:39 pm
by otrcman
Lincoln drove a Ford ? Didn't know that, but it makes sense since he was shot in a Ford dealership (or somthin' like that).