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.

Paranormal and spiritual

• immortality rings
• New Age movement adherents' denial of the laws of Physics -- examples of this denial include telekinesis and yogic flying
• Faith healing particularly when advocating it as a replacement for regular visits to a licensed physician
• Divine Revelation and prophecy only when it attempts to trump Science
• Religious fundamentalism when it disguises faith as science (ie: Creationism, and Intelligent design).
• Feng Shui
• Numerology