A lot of things that we take for granted were not really received with open arms when they were suggested. Even worse, many scientists, inventors, or thinkers, whom we now revere as visionaries, were actually mocked, discredited, and even punished just for their ideas.
So one netizen wanted to hear about historical figures that were unfairly vilified, only to be vindicated later. From being imprisoned for suggesting that doctors wash their hands, to excommunication over saying the Earth actually orbits the Sun, here are the most interesting examples gathered by the internet.
#41
Patrice Lumumba. The United Nations labeled him as an unreasonable, unprincipled madman. In reality he just wanted his country’s independence from Belgium because they had been torturing and oppressing the natives there since the days of king Leopold.
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82points
#42
William H. Seward, arranged the purchase of the Alaska territory from Russia for $7 Million dollars. The media and politician's of the era termed it "Seward's Folly" “Seward’s icebox” and President Andrew Johnson’s “polar bear garden.”
78points
#43
Van Halen and the brown M&Ms.
A lot of people thought they were just being a******s when they had a clause in their contract that required a bowl of M&Ms to be filled but with all the brown ones removed.
This was actually their way to check if the people setting up the venue for lighting, pyro, electrical, etc, actually did all the work. If they had the bowl without brown ones, it meant the venue was trustworthy and safety precautions were followed. If there were any brown ones, it meant they cut corners somewhere and that meant lives at risk.
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72points
#44
Johnny Lyden when he said on the radio that Jimmy Saville was dodgy.
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67points
#45
The "leave Britney alone" guy, Chris Crocker.
Loggerdon:
Yeah, I remember laughing at him as a clown but later felt guilty after her story came to light.
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61points
