50 Historical Figures People Thought Were Nuts At The Time But Were Proven To Be Right Years Later
Throughout history, sometimes even the smallest actions have turned into pivotal moments. From innovations that led to changes to groundbreaking events that sparked movements and reshaped the entire world. But while some ideas were applauded and celebrated by society at the time, others were greeted with raised eyebrows and suspicious looks.
Many wonderful people were simply ahead of their time and got teased and ridiculed for it in every possible way. User AllofaSuddenStory decided to learn more about these historical figures and posted this question on Ask Reddit: "Who is someone that was mocked at the moment, but then proven right years later?"
Hundreds of history lovers shared their knowledge about people who thought of remarkable things yet didn’t get the recognition they deserved. Whether their suggestions were put together long before our time or in the recent past, we handpicked some of the most interesting responses to remind you not to jump to conclusions too quickly. Continue scrolling, upvote your favorite ones, and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments!
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The doctor in China, Li Wenliang, who was arrested for trying to stop the spread of Covid from the start.
Stella Liebeck, the lady who got burned with McDonald's hot coffee. The media mocked her and accused her of a frivolous lawsuit but it was an ongoing problem that McDonald's served dangerously hot coffees that had injured many others.The coffee was hot enough to cause 3rd degree burns to her pelvic region and she was hospitalized for 8 days while she had to get skin grafts, and continued medical care for 2 years related to the burns. She originally just wanted her medical bills covered but McDonald's tried giving her an insultingly low amount, so then she was forced to open a lawsuit. The courts rightfully sided with her and forced McDonald's to regulate the temperature on their hot beverages.
To find out why historical figures were sometimes dismissed for their ideas, we reached out to historian Bethany Moore who runs the blog History And Moore. She told Bored Panda that those who found themselves mocked and ridiculed were simply misunderstood by others. "This would mostly happen to scientists who were trying to get their ideas out to a wider audience, that necessarily didn’t have the right education to understand or the inclination to even listen," she added.
As an example, Moore mentioned a man called Ignaz Semmelweis. "He was an obstetrician (a doctor who specializes in childbirth) in the 1840s in Vienna and he noticed that fewer women were dying when they were inspected by a doctor who had washed their hands between examining patients." However, since he did not grasp why this was the case, others were reluctant to listen to him.
"He eventually ended up being lured to an asylum," the historian continued. "Tragically, after Semmelweis was removed from the hospital, more women started dying because they were not being examined by doctors who washed their hands. Handwashing didn’t become commonplace in medicine for at least another 30 years after Semmelweis first made the connection."
Ignác Semmelweis
First doctor to champion hand washing as a means to prevent spreading infection. Everyone made fun of him.
He worked in a city hospital for a time, that had many poor women who couldn't afford any care. His contemporary doctors would go from an autopsy of a rotting corpse* to delivering babys without washing their hands, infecting and killing tousands of women. Semmelweiss put up a bassin to wash hands saving many lives. After his dismissal death skyrocketed again.
Henry Freeman, a lifeboatman in Whitby. He tried to get the other lifeboatmen to wear cork lifejackets, but no-one would but him.
During a great storm, the lifeboat was launched several times to help struggling vessels and sailors. On their sixth launch, disaster struck and the lifeboat capsized.
Only Henry survived thanks to his cork life jacket. They became compulsory for lifeboatmen shortly after that.
Johnny Rotten
Banned from the BBC for ousting Jimmy Savile as being a horrendous pedophile.
Some 500 cases of abuse. Had his own set of keys to a psychiatric hospital where he would frequently abuse vulnerable children.
Moore suggested that the study of our past is not only about learning different dates and names. "Yes, those are an important part of the study of history, but there is so much more to the subject. The study of history teaches us the good and the bad of humanity; the developments by ancient civilizations that have led to our society being the way it is today; and gives us a better understanding of the world, to name but a few reasons."
"History, and the study of it, is one of the building blocks of a rounded education, teaching us to be more than just one person and to recognize the influence we have on the world."
Joseph Lister
First proposed that germs caused post-operative infections, and recommended that surgical instruments be sterilized between operations.
People thought he was nuts.
also Ignaz Semmelweis. Wikipedia "Described as the "saviour of mothers", Semmelweis discovered that the incidence of puerperal fever (also known as "childbed fever") could be drastically cut by the use of hand disinfection in obstetrical clinics. Puerperal fever was common in mid-19th-century hospitals and often fatal. Semmelweis proposed the practice of washing hands with chlorinated lime solutions in 1847 while working in Vienna General Hospital's First Obstetrical Clinic, where doctors' wards had three times the mortality of midwives' wards." The doctors didn't washed their hands after they performed an autopsy... this almost ruined his career
Barbara McClintock, she postulated the existence of transposons (certain types of genes) in DNA BEFORE anybody even knew what the actual structure of DNA is like, she was widely mocked by the scientific community at the time. Transposons were later confirmed to exist and she was awarded the Nobel.
Dr Bennet Omalu who found that American football players had chronic traumatic encephalopathy/ brain concussions which were slowly affecting their neurological and psychological functions. He was strongly opposed at first but then proved right. His biographic movie is named ' Concussion'.
After all, this fascinating subject is an endless source of adventure. Just think about the grand battles, significant events, and world-shaking inventions. And it’s especially interesting to learn about intriguing historical figures who were simply regular folk without an obvious connection to greatness, Moore said.
"Ordinary, everyday people like William Shakespeare who helped the English language develop into the rich tapestry it is today. People like Ada Lovelace, who is considered the first computer programmer for her work with Charles Babbage. People like Rosa Parks, who stood up to a system rigged against her. Ordinary people have become well known for a variety of reasons, and it is not unfeasible to think that any of us could have the same influences in years to come."
Greg Lemond. In 2001 he said Lance Armstrong was probably doping. He was threatened he took a huge image hit and his business opportunities suffered.
He never let up on lance despite the media campaigns, threats, damage to his reputation and business, and the recrimination of his peers in the cycling community. Until surprise surprise in 2012 it came out that lance Armstrong was doping. Who could have foreseen that? If only someone had told us.
Oh wait. Greg Lemond did. A decade ago.
Lance Armstrong had loads of corporate backers, and they didn't want some upstart upsetting their precious cash flow.
Jimmy Carter. He recognized the need for The US to become energy independent and put measures into place that would have gotten us there by now. Of course, the first thing Ronnie RayGun did was undo every f*cking one of them. Many of our problems over the last 45 years have stemmed from The Middle East and either directly or indirectly involved oil. I’m obviously simplifying things here, but in the big picture, he was spot on. Even his critics at the time have recently admitted that he was on the correct path. It’s also pretty apparent that Carter was a good man, as evidenced by how he has carried himself over half a lifetime post-presidency.
Lindy Chamberlain. A dingo really did eat her baby.
Poor woman. The loss of her child was horrendous, but almost pales in comparison to what she was put through afterwards.
John Snow in 1854 tried to tell everyone about cholera, and how it was being caused by the water supply, no one believed him until he took illegal action and saved many lives
One of the many things that makes history truly engaging is the people, the historian argued. "Studying [them] makes history far more tangible and enriching than just reeling off a collection of dates and events that happened."
"I think in the world we live in today, history continues to show how important it is as a subject and must continue to encourage those around us to study the subject. The philosopher George Santayana said in 1905 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' And that is certainly happening at the moment, with large and powerful countries choosing to forget the true version of the past and use their own version to justify their actions," Moore noted.
"Yes, history is the study of that which is in the past, and some would argue that the past should be left there. But I disagree. I think history and the study of it will continue to have an importance on us as people, and it is not something we should ever abandon," she concluded.
Richard Stallman. Warned us back in the 80s that if we allow corporations to rule the internet that nobody will have privacy or freedom on the web, among many other things.
Barbara Lee was the only congresswoman to vote against going to war in Afghanistan after September 11. Not going to say she was right, but at the time I remember even as a kid thinking she was crazy, and heard alot of the derisive talk much more common today, directed at her. (Not a patriot, traitor, blahblah) 20 Years later, the world seems alot less black and white, and her decision seems ferociously rational against a tide of fear and rage.
Alexander Fleming, the man who discovered Penicillin, spent almost 10 years trying to convince the medical bodies of his time that it was worth investing time and resources to experiment with it, but was basically told to pound sand despite the respect he had prior to the discovery.
Lot of good it did me, I was lucky enough to be born allergic. Happy for the rest of you at least.
Courtney Love on Weinstein.
Weinstein is an absolutely disgusting human. And his money and “influence” protected him for so long… disgusting
George Bush, in 2005 he read a book about the Spanish Flu and insisted that the United States should be prepared for a pandemic. He said "If we wait for a pandemic to appear it will be too late to prepare. And one day many lives could be needlessly lost because we failed to act today."
Johnny Depp when he tried to tell people about how Amber was abusing him.
At least this person didn't go to the "Amber abused him so he must be innocent himself" conclusion. This doesn't have to be a one good the other bad situation - they can both be abusive AHs. And judging by the testimony so far, it really does seem like that's the case (I mean, their therapist flat out said they were both abusing each other).
Exactly. Finally somebody with common sense. The courts declared both of them to be abusers. Being a victim of abuse does not mean that you cannot be abusive yourself. As much as i like Depp as an actor he was declared guilty
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Too early to tell. The defense is yet to present their case against him.
Quite. This is about as current as you can get with an ongoing trial happening right now. Doesn't belong on an 'historical' list or on a list where someone has been 'proven right' as it's not proven at this stage either way, no matter what most of us might personally believe. In fact it has gone against him in a previous case. We need to wait for the verdict here. Then maybe it can be on a list like this.
Load More Replies... I love Johnny Depp as an actor but I've never understood the blind loyalty to his personal life. I read his insane Rolling Stone interview (like the rest of the world) and watched him misbehave in absolutely insane relationships for more than three decades of my life. The man is odd, he always falls in love with toxic people, drinks and drugs too much, and gets into trouble. Amber is clearly a lunatic, but he's never been a saint either.
What's wrong with Vanessa Paradis? :-(
Load More Replies... The darker side of the "me too" movement - causing men to be automatically assumed guilty, even without evidence. Stuff like this reallty hurts the movement's credibility.
Agree Vorknkx. And the assumption that it's only men who abuse and a woman taking advantage of that assumption is WRONG.
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After the last two weeks of this trial, I am convinced that both of them are nuts, angry and vindictive people.
For f***s sake, the trial just started. I'm over people acting like they were there and pointing fingers at one person when they both have damming evidence against them.
Making it current, rather than historical... at this stage.
Load More Replies... Depp is essentially suing her because she called herself a domestic abuse survivor in one newspaper editorial (that didn't even name him). But the trial is digging up so much more dirt on both of them, there's no way it's going to redeem his reputation. The testimony just makes her look like a damaged, angry person in a toxic relationship with a raging alcoholic/drug addict. If he thinks that's going to help his future employability in Hollywood, he's delusional. I think he just wants to make sure to take her down with him.
Had a drug addicted friend. He was quite sweet actually. Never aggressive.
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No need to, the fact is she did abuse him. He probably abused her too, but nobody believed him and everybody believed her. It's very likely they are both guilty.
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borepanda is using its platform to side with Johnny Depp, which is not right (by making him here on this list). this is an ongoing trail, at least wait till it's over. what if Depp was lying? although so far seems like they abused each other.
Why not? Is it only right when it's the woman accusing a man of abuse?
Load More Replies... I don't know what this is doing here. Depp is using his defamation trial to try and control Amber Heard, as he clearly did during their relationship. He's a narcissistic drug and alcohol addicted control freak who's admitted he has issues with jealousy. Anyone who's ever been in a relationship with an addict knows just how selfish and self indulgent they are and how frustrating it is. He's furious that she got away from him without his permission and he's determined to annihilate her and her career. he's led an orchestrated campaign against her in Hollywood, which has actually backfired on him hence the current trial. He's destroying whatever employability he had left by telling the world what a nightmare spoiled a**e he actually is, and what a spiteful nasty little man he's become. Sad. All his own fault. Sort out your s**t JD and leave Amber alone.
Ummm. He lost his law suit in the UK against the Sun and the footage and photographs presented in a Virginia court this week are pretty damming for him. Even their relationship therapists testified this week that they were a mutually abusive couple. Plus that trial is still on going. How has has anything been proved other than they're both terribly emotionally unintelligent and narcissistic people. A masterclass in playing the victim on both sides.
I hope it just produces the facts (they don't always). As others have said, their therapist has testified to both being abusive. A toxic relationship with no winners bar the lawyers. Taking sides of people we have never met seems odd to me. In truth, only the two people involved can ever say for certain.
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OMG!!!! He is a drug addict - to some nasty drugs and he bashed the crap out of her. If it was anyone else, no one would question this. She was NOT a drug addict and had to put up with this nasty man child for years. Anyone who's been in the gutter with an addict knows you're going to get dirty trying to get out
Abused people, children and adults, have limits to what they can take. Push them too far and it won't be pretty. Depp was pushed too far.
Johnny Depp was a xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx who thought he was above the law.
Not a criminal trial. It was a defamation lawsuit over in Europe. Another defamation law suit is happening now in Virginia. He has never gone to trial for criminal charges of spousal abuse or anything like that. He has never gone to court, faced charges, been arrested, etc., for spousal abuse, etc. It's amazing what people believe. "According to the proven data which we have to hand, Johnny Depp has not been arrested, charged nor convicted of any form of assault or violence against any woman. We repeat: he has not been charged by any authority in any jurisdiction, nor convicted of any form of violence against women." San Sebastian Fest Director Defends Johnny Depp Honorary Prize: “He Has Not Been Arrested, Charged Nor Convicted https://deadline.com/2021/08/san-sebastian-fest-director-defends-johnny-depp-honorary-prize-he-has-not-been-arrested-charged-nor-convicted-1234814166 8
Yes, all facts. Do I think Amber Heard abused Johnny Depp? Yes. Do I think we can say with any certainty that past history is an indicator for all relationships... not really. Some relationships are toxic and really don't work. Those people push each others buttons. Is all you have said proof that Johnny didn't abuse Amber Heard. No. We don't know right now. Do I think it likely? I lean more to believing Johnny if I'm honest but we don't know. When people are addicted and off their face a lot of the time do they behave in ways they wouldn't normally? Would they even remember? This is why RIGHT NOW we should all WAIT. Hopefully the truth will out (I'm not a massive believer in the 'courts always get it right' point of view as miscarriages of justice happen). I think it will go the way those on Johnny's side want it to but we cannot be sure at this stage. The trial isn't far enough advanced at this point. Many of us think it is just fairer to wait until it is.
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Johnny is into self abuse, she's into mental and physical abuse. Both bad, but Johnny got the dirty end of the stick both ways. She is toxic.
As a male, and survivor of a psychologically abusive relationship, as the victim you tend to do irrational things that you wouldn't normally do because of how that person is f*****g with your mind. I can't even imagine how I would have reacted or responded had it been physical abuse. Some people are just flat toxic and that bleeds into your own self after a time, I think Amber brought out that side to him, I don't think that is his inherent nature.
I REALLY wish all this info about someones private life would nto be shoved down my throat at every turn. Fcking scial media was and is chockfull with this. Two crazy people in an ugly divorce - why is this so interesting to people???
Still makes me mad that Disney cancelled him and not Amber, though. Such double standard
Could be double standards again, they think that just because he's a famous badass actor, he can't be abused. Which is not how that works, everyone can be a victim of abuse
Part 2 "According to the proven data which we have to hand, Johnny Depp has not been arrested, charged nor convicted of any form of assault or violence against any woman. We repeat: he has not been charged by any authority in any jurisdiction, nor convicted of any form of violence against women." San Sebastian Fest Director Defends Johnny Depp Honorary Prize: “He Has Not Been Arrested, Charged Nor Convicted https://deadline.com/2021/08/san-sebastian-fest-director-defends-johnny-depp-honorary-prize-he-has-not-been-arrested-charged-nor-convicted-1234814166 Johnny Depp testifies he's never 'struck any woman' in his life https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/19/entertainment/johnny-depp-amber-heard-defamation-trial-testimony/index.html
There is a difference between a criminal trial and something like a defamation of lawsuit. There was a defamation lawsuit over in Europe. They gave different standards for defamation. Another defamation lawsuit is happening now in Virginia. He has never gone to trial for criminal charges of spousal abuse or anything like that. He has never gone to court, faced charges, been arrested, etc., for spousal abuse, etc. There has been no record or complaints from any relationship he has had (ranging from a short time to 12+ years) of any abuse of any kind. Even some famous women he was engaged to. No complaints / arrests. Nada. Usually? When abuse occurs it goes from one relationship to another. There is a clear pattern of abuse. It happens over and over again. He was never arrested or charged with abusing Amber Heard or any other woman. It's really amazing what people believe. "According to the proven data which we have to hand, Johnny Depp has not been arrested, charged nor conv
Oh come on! They put each other through hell, neither party here is innocent.
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Well, technically it isn't historical. Maybe that is why they were downvoted. It is a current case going through court right now and as such, as Spacey said, we should really wait for the verdict. It's gone against Johnny Depp in the past (Judge ruling that Amber Heard was the victim of domestic abuse on several separate occasions) so perhaps it will go in his favour now. We can hope.... though this won't be a popular comment but I suspect neither of them are completely innocent.
Load More Replies... How is this entry meeting the 'historical figures mocked proven right' part? Regardless of peoples feelings about Depp v Heard it's not historical. It's not been proven. It IS current. So doesn't really belong here.
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Not sure this is really love... co-dependency with lashings of dysfunction. Total mess.
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Given that he. has been a drug-abusing alcoholic for decades and in a lot of "crazy" relationships where the cops were called, I wouldn't consider this his "biggest mistake." Just his most expensive mistake.
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Al Gore.
I mean, ffs, even South Park apologized to him. And it wasnt even sarcastic.
Sherry Rowland. Discovered the effect of CFCs on ozone depletetion and received an immense level of blow back from industry. Not only that, but invited talks and collabs were rescinded within the scientific community. Poor guy was ostracized. 20 years later after his (and Molina’s) discovery, he’s finally recognized with a Nobel prize.
Industry doesn’t want to have to spend money to retool, and potentially lose their good thing. So they use profits to suppress information that proves them wrong, and discredit anyone who dares question them.
My classmate in nursing school. He made a big fuss about a “coronavirus” just noticed in China. He asked about if clinicals or classes would be changed because of it. We thought he was absolutely paranoid and insane. We laughed.
Monica Lewinsky. That poor woman was dragged through the mud and seeing everyone reassess what was done to her has been bittersweet.
ETA: Bittersweet bc more people seem to understand she was a victim (sweet), but she was really young, and decades of her life were spent being a public punching bag (bitter)