Incredibly Stupid Predictions & Decisions

VoodooDali · Post by **VoodooDali** » Wed Mar 13, 2002 6:31 pm

"This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us."
-- Western Union (Internal Memo - 1876)

"Everything that can be invented has been invented."
-- Charles H. Duell (Commissioner at the U.S. Office of Patents - 1899)

"Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?"
-- H.M. Warner (Warner Brothers - 1927)

"Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau."
-- Irving Fisher (Professor of Economics at Yale University - 1929)

"I'm just glad it'll be Clark Gable who's falling on his face and not Gary Cooper."
-- Gary Cooper (On his decision not to take the leading role in 'Gone With The Wind'.)

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
-- Thomas Watson (Chairman of IBM - 1943)

"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
-- Popular Mechanics (Forecasting the Relentless March of Science - 1949)

"We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out."
-- Decca Recording Co. (Rejecting the Beatles - 1962)

"The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a 'C', the idea must be feasible."
-- Yale University Management Professor (In response to student Fred Smith's paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. Smith went on to found Federal Express)

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
-- Ken Olson (President, Chairman and Founder of Digital Equipment Corp. - 1977)

"So we went to Atari and said, 'Hey, we've got this amazing thing, even built with some of your parts, and what do you think about funding us? Or we'll give it to you. We just want to do it. Pay our salary, we'll come work for you.' And they said, 'No.' So then we went to Hewlett-Packard, and they said, 'Hey, we don't need you. You haven't got through college yet.'"
-- Steve Jobs (Founder Apple Computer Inc.)

"640K ought to be enough for anybody."
-- Bill Gates (Founder and CEO of Microsoft - 1981)

Dottie · Post by **Dottie** » Wed Mar 13, 2002 6:42 pm

Thats not impressive. One day I will be able to make completley untrue predictions aswell. Im certain of it.

Havnt seen number 4 before btw so i guess it calls for a rofl.

Rofl!

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Wed Mar 13, 2002 6:44 pm

"We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out."
-- Decca Recording Co. (Rejecting the Beatles - 1962)

That is a classic

Possibly one of the most quoted statements in music history

@VDali

Nice work

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Mar 13, 2002 7:34 pm

I remember some research scientist and administrator, in charge of an important facility, claiming after the Three Mile Island disaster that "The worst has happened, which only shows that nothing worse could ever go wrong." That was before, of course, Chernobyl--wtih 10 million dead as a result, at last count.

josh · Post by **josh** » Wed Mar 13, 2002 8:12 pm

This stuff happens all the time.
LOL

Curdis · Post by **Curdis** » Wed Mar 13, 2002 9:55 pm

Originally posted by fable
I remember some research scientist and administrator, in charge of an important facility, claiming after the Three Mile Island disaster that "The worst has happened, which only shows that nothing worse could ever go wrong." That was before, of course, Chernobyl--wtih 10 million dead as a result, at last count.

Interesting you posted the Urban Legends homepage today - the actual full long term death toll is less than 100. Tragic certainly and much bigger than Three Mile Island. Check the references - I'm not saying it is the whole truth - further disclaimers.. - Curdis !

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Wed Mar 13, 2002 11:11 pm

LOL Voodoo

I do believe we all make equally shortsighted prediction rather often, we just get away with it since we don't become as famous as those people quoted.

I read somewhere that the famous 640K Bill Gates is a myth though, we can always check at Urban Legends or Snopes

Originally posted by Dottie
Thats not impressive. One day I will be able to make completley untrue predictions aswell. Im certain of it.

Somewhere, I have a list of what some of the worlds most famous scientists believe will be invented or discovered within the next 30 or was it 50 years. I'm saving it because I know it's going to be fun later

Personally, I hope my friends won't remember my predictions

Ode to a Grasshopper · Wed Mar 13, 2002 11:49 pm

Fox telling George Lucas that they wouldn't increase his budget for Star Wars, but that he could have the rights to the movie and merchandising.

I bet the guy who made that decision is still being tortured today.