Crank (person)

"Crank" (or kook, crackpot, or quack) is a pejorative term for a person who writes or speaks in an authoritative fashion about a particular subject, often in science, but is alleged to have false or even ludicrous beliefs. Crank can also be used to describe the opinions of these people (see American Heritage Dictionary 2000 - noun definition 3). Usage of the label is often subjective, with proponents of competing theories labeling their opponents cranks, but the term still connotes someone who is well out of mainstream opinion on a matter, as well as connoting a person of dubious mental stability.

Related Topics:
Kook - Quack - Pejorative - Science

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The belief that the earth revolves around the sun was once considered a crank belief, so the mainstream consensus on crank beliefs can change.

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A number of topics are typically associated with the label of crank:

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