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If we need a more neutral term than "crank", rather than "autodidact," why not "outsider"?

An outsider artist is anyone who creates art not easily dismissed, despite not participating in the social and academic communities of their medium, so why can't there be outsider scientists and engineers as well?

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There is a big difference here. In physics, the "outsiders" are easily dismissed. It's just that the outsiders themselves usually don't accept that they're just flat out wrong and convince themselves that it's the establishment working against them.

Haven't many outsiders become insiders? Or really even . . . beatified?

I recall some famous scientists being forced to recant and being . . . completely right. I additionally wouldn't by the argument that the scientific community was on his side. The "community in power" was not on his side. And that's what matters.

The vast majority of those situations are where the people are already scientists and experts in their field. We are talking about people who are not experts in physics.

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