[Hodar]

Of course, they are only warning signs -- even a claim with several of the signs could be legitimate.

As rules of thumb, I think the author has a good point. However, just because someone thinks something is impossible, doesn't necessarily make it so.

[gomaaa]

Yeah, they don't always apply. Einstein was a lowly patent clerk who worked largely alone and suddenly turned physics on its head. Then again he did have a good physics education and published first in a good journal. The rules here will allow people to filter out the vast majority of cranks.

[RoughDobermann]

Indeed

[Doctor Stochastic]

And equally valid: just because someone thinks something is possible, doesn't necessarily make it so.

[ggekko]

Dr. Park's rules do not seem to allow for authentic dsicoveries of new natural laws. Admitedly, such an event is rare but that is how science progresses. Many scientific breakthroughs have been put forward by those who did not have formal credentials within a given scientific discipline.

About 10 years ago an Australian Doctor discovered the fact that ulcers were caused by a bacterialogical infection and not the overproduction of stomach acid. His work was initially villified and ridculed by Doctors specializing in ulcer treatment. After several years of travail the Doctors results were accepted and ulscers are now almots always treated by using antibiotics rather than older methods.

The aspect of any new authentic scientific discovery should be repeatability. If other scientists can reproduce the same results using the same methods then it is authentic discovery. Solely relying the assessment of experts who have a vested interest in the current theory is a recipe for scientific stagnation.