Misconceptions of famous people

[Captain Booyah]

I was really shocked when I read somewhere that Nikola Tesla was anti-Semitic. He might have been a crackpot, but I thought that seemed really out of character, especially when you think about how how he loved animals and stuff and seemed pretty progressive, in terms of vegetarianism not really being a "thing" back then like it is now. You'd think that -- if anything -- he and the Jews should have been in the same boat during the WWII period, given that Tesla himself probably would have also been considered somewhat "inferior" for being a Croatian-born Serb. But I digress.

As disappointing as that was, it's probably best not to get too hung up about certain prejudices of historical figures (like Tesla above). I can usually pardon them to some extent if the beliefs they held were common mindsets at the time, though that doesn't make it any better.

(Salvador Dali was a real jerk, though. Seriously, fuck that guy.)

 

[SillyBear]

George W. Bush isn't as stupid as people think he is. He just made bad decisions. And had bad things happen.

George W. Bush wasnt such a bad president and/or world leader.

Agree with both of you. His interview with Matt Laurer after the end of his presidency really put him into a new perspective in my eyes. That interview is, in my opinion, the best piece of journalism of the last twenty years. It tells you what it is really like to be president, and how god damn difficult decisions can be at times. Bush was incredibly unlucky in a lot of ways.

 

[Bobic]

If all other alternatives fail and there has been plenty of warning

Are you saying there is NEVER a point where a man should hit a woman? Because how the hell is he meant to defend himself?

I'd also point out that most women can take down most men with one single move; be it stab, smash or knee.

How about a man found today with serious injuries after being beaten by a woman? [http://www.leics.police.uk/canyouhelp/appeals/8510_police_appeal_for_witnesses_after_man/]

Is he a misogynist if he fought back?

While it can be argued that there is a right time to hit a woman I would like to point out the last sentence of that quote. 'I think a man has to be slightly advanced, ahead of the woman.' That sounds like a pretty damn fine example of misogynism to me.

 

[F-I-D-O]

Sarah Palin never said "I can see Russia from my house"
That was a pretty good SNL skit, but it wasn't true. I get really pissed off when people say it as fact.
That's all I got right now.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

'I think a man has to be slightly advanced, ahead of the woman.' That sounds like a pretty damn fine example of misogynism to me.

And you've never heard a woman say "Give it to me, you'll only break it" or "Men! Useless lot!"? C'mon...give him a break.

 

[The Night Shade]

'I think a man has to be slightly advanced, ahead of the woman.' That sounds like a pretty damn fine example of misogynism to me.

And you've never heard a woman say "Give it to me, you'll only break it" or "Men! Useless lot!"? C'mon...give him a break.

I agree with you i don't think Sean is a misogynist i think he is kinda oldschool with the ladies if you get what i mean

 

[PeePantz]

In before "Napoleon wasn't a shortie." Because he wasn't, you know.

Wasn't that over confusion with French and English inches and feet or soemthing stupid like that?

Apparently Ghandi used to like to sleep naked with young girls also naked including his niece. I do say apparently.

No confusion.

It was just a British propaganda campaign against him, portraying in him in an unfavourable image etc.

He was average height for anyone at that time.

Actually, Gandhi was 5'4", which is pretty short even for that time...... (chuckle, chuckle)

 

[Carlston]

George Washington was nicknamed the father of our country cause the man tapped every fanny attached to some boobs.

He died catching cold after running out of a bedroom into a cold rain storm naked when his latest patriots husband came home and got pneumonia.

 

[Gladiateher]

Ted Kennedy was a murderer but still got reelected multiple times.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

In before "Napoleon wasn't a shortie." Because he wasn't, you know.

Wasn't that over confusion with French and English inches and feet or soemthing stupid like that?

Apparently Ghandi used to like to sleep naked with young girls also naked including his niece. I do say apparently.

Indeed he did. Although apparantly this was to help him 'resist temptation' in order that he may be enlightened or some such. But yes, at points he slept naked with his two neices in a bed. He was also rather racist in his early years. During his civil rights campaign for Indians in South Africa he went to lengths to agree with the British on their treatment of the natives of the country. This is somewhat lost to most of the writings about him however, they tend to be hero worship really.

I thought it was for that reason and I didn't want to state it as fact in case I was flat out wrong but thanks for clearing that up.

 

[SSoSFAGTiaCaGwaP]

Snippety-snip

I know this is very off-topic, but...

Are you my evil, lost twin? (I'm talking about the avatars)

 

[awnman]

im going to rate your facts between 0 and 1 from lies to truth

Abraham Lincoln didn't believe blacks were equal to whites.

ok first off while that is right in some ways it wrong in most of them. the reason why he wasnt aggressive on slavery was that he knew to much pushing on the issue was likley to make kentucky and/or maryland defect. il give you a 1/2 for that

- Robert E. Lee thought that blacks were equal as human beings and detested slavery. He just thought that they would be assimilated into white society over time, slavery would eventually come to pass as time went on, and so forth.

well he didnt oppose slavery but he never wanted to free them as he said they were vital fro the econmy but ill stil give you a 1

- Adolph Hitler had Jewish commanders.

yes but he didnt know that they were jewish ie they hid it so im going to say 0

- George Washington was a terrible tactician.

now this is an interesting as while he was relitivly awful at some points at others he really shines trenton yorktown. he also was a huge booster for morale so ill give you 1/2

- The partially blind Spartan from the movie 300, refered to as Dilios with the real name of Aristodemus, was sent back to shame and public humiliation for having left the battlefield.

and that is completly true or atleast true from the historical records we have so 1

so your grand total is 3/5 congrats