30 Predictions About the Future That Demonstrate How Dumb People Were in the Past

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30 Predictions About the Future That Demonstrate How Dumb People Were in the Past

It’s nearly impossible to accurately predict the future, unless you write for The Simpsons. Those all-knowing Ivy Leaguers seem to do it on a regular basis. But we can’t all go to Harvard now, can we? Sorry, dad! 

Anyone can predict a millionaire submarine disaster, or a controversy springing up around voting machines, but you get that extra special magic when you mix egomaniacal cockiness to your prediction. For example, “TV won’t last six months.” Well, seven decades later, 20th Century Fox’s co-founder is lookin’ pretty dumb now, isn’t he?

Tired: gold. Wired: steel. THOMAS EDISON CRACKED.COM Edison was convinced we were on the verge of dispensing precious metals like a Taco Bell soda fountain. And what would we do with the power of alchemy? Devalue gold and turn all our furniture into cold, hard steel.

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Michael Jordan won't carry this franchise. CHICAGO BULLS GM LLS 1 CRACKED.COM General Manager Rod Thorn was almost apologetic that there was no one taller he could have drafted: What can you do? Jordan isn't going to turn this franchise around.

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Turoine 13 63 INSULIN 167 tv Hondresa INHALERS SOLK Inhaler EXUBERA GRACKED.COM It took eleven years for Pfizer do develop Exubera, and only one year for it to bomb. You'd think people would rather inhale insulin than inject, but they found the gizmo too bulky and embarrassing to take out in public.

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55 50 AVAILABILITY 5 OF MEAT SEPTEMBER 1913 GRAGKED.COM If current trends continue, Americans in the 21st century will live as the low-caste Chinaman does now, on rice and vegetables, and like him, slothful creatures, anaemic and without initiative. -Gustav Bischoff, Meat Packers Association

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55 MOVING 50 5 HOUSES JULY 1971 CRACKED.COM The house of the future would have no roots Gone would be water pipes, drains, power lines; the autonomous home could therefore move, or be moved, to anywhere on earth. -Arthur C. Clarke. Не wasn't predicting RVs, which already existed.

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55 50 5 TRAINS 1850 : 8 SIERRA RAILROAD CRACKED COM Rail travel at high speed is not possible because passengers, unable to breathe, would die of asphyxia. -Irish professor Dionysius Lardner. We do have high-speed trains now, as well as even faster transport methods.

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CRACKED.COM Terrible ideas about the future of movies Thomas Edison thought talkies would fail. No, I don't think the talking motion picture will ever be successful in the United States. Americans prefer silent drama... The American people do not want it, and will not welcome it. - Thomas Edison, March 4, 1927

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